CEMG --- FACILITIES

Extensive facilities are available for the preparation and basic characterization of materials. Numerous furnaces, some under hoods, are available that operate up to 1775 K in air; a few are available that operate up to 2075 K in air. Several furnaces are set up to operate in an inert atmosphere, including an Astro furnace which reaches 2575 K. A commercial piston-cylinder high-pressure synthesis apparatus (35 kbar, 2300 K) is available for preparing metastable phases of TMOs. A 20-ton hot press is available for preparing dense ceramics. Argon arc-furnaces and RF induction melters are in place, as is the necessary apparatus for evacuating and sealing silica tubes. Thermal analysis equipment (thermal gravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, and differential thermal analysis) is available for mapping out phase diagrams, determining decomposition temperatures, studying O2 take-up and loss, screening for phase transitions, etc.

An NEC optical floating zone furnace (model SC-M15HD) has recently been purchased for the growth of high-quality TMO single crystals. Facilities are available for Czochralski, Bridgman, gradient-freeze, flux, and vapor transport growths. Extensive apparatus is available for single-crystal orientation and surface preparation, including a real-time Laue camera, string and wire saws, low- and high-speed diamond saws, and automated polishing equipment.

A powder x-ray diffractometer is available for determining phase purity and lattice parameters. For single-crystal refinements, both x-ray and neutron 4-circle instruments are available. A scanning electron microscope is available for studying the texture, topography, and surface features of samples. The microscope has a recently upgraded energy dispersive x-ray capability that is useful for elemental analysis.

A Quantum Design Physical Property Measurement System with a 9-T magnet that is equipped to measure the specific heat, resistivity, thermopower, thermal conductivity, and Hall coefficient of samples is available, as is a Quantum Design MPMS SQUID magnetometer.

Materials Characterization Facilities

Technique or Measurement	Remark
Resistivity	2–900 K
Thermopower	2–900 K
Thermal conductivity	2–300 K
Hall coefficient	2–400 K
Differential scanning calorimetry	77–900 K
Thermo-gravimetric analysis	300–1200 K
Differential thermal analysis	300–1200 K
Thermal expansion	77–1200 K
Mössbauer spectroscopy	2–300 K
Elastic moduli	4–350 K
SQUID magnetometer	2–350 K
Heat capacity	2–400 K
AC susceptibility	2–400 K