No abstract

Perovskite nanoparticles of La 1−x Ca x CoO 3 (x = 0, 0.2, 0.3, 0.5) were synthesized by the combustion method using polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and corresponding metal nitrates. Microstructure of samples was characterized by high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and selected area electron diffraction (SAED) combined with x-ray diffraction (XRD). The nanoparticles were characterized by thermogravimetric and differential thermal analysis (TG-DTA) and BET (Brunauer-Emmet-Teller). A high surface area (15-21 m 2 g −1 ) at low temperature (600 °C) of samples was obtained. The optimal preparative conditions were PVA/metals 2:1 by mole, pH = 3 and 80 °C for gel formation. Perovskites exhibit a good catalytic activity in total oxidation of CO at the low temperature (<250 °C) of reaction.

Nd 10.5 Fe 83.5−x Ga x B 6 (x=1.5, 3 and 4.5) ribbons were prepared by melt-spinning method with various wheel speeds from 5 to 40 m  s −1. Strong crystallographic texture with c-axis of Nd 2 Fe 14 B crystallites along normal of the ribbon surface was observed. The texture degree can be enhanced by decreasing the quenching rate during solidification of the melt and by increasing the concentration of Ga. Preferred orientation of the nanocrystallites with their size of 10–30 nm is obtained not only by controlling the quenching rate of the melt during solidification but also by appropriately annealing the over-quenched ribbons. The texture of microstructure clearly affects magnetic anisotropy of the ribbons. With increasing concentration of Ga, the magnetic anisotropy of the ribbons is considerably increased. The coercivity above 6.5 kOe and maximum energy products larger than 15 MGOe can be achieved on the ribbons with Ga-concentration of 1.5%.