The radiation response of nano-sized tantalate pyrochlores, KxLnyTa2O7-v (Ln = Gd, Y, and Lu) with average grain sizes of ~ 10 nm was investigated using 1 MeV Kr2+ ion beam irradiations. EDS measurements and XRD refinement reveal that the Y3+ and Lu3+-doped samples consist of two pyrochlore phases as K0.8YTa2O6.9/K0.4Y0.8Ta2O6.4 and KLuTa2O7/K0.4Lu0.8Ta2O6.4 respectively; whereas a single phase of K0.8GdTa2O7 only exists in the Gd3+-doped tantalate pyrochlore. In situ TEM observation confirms ion beam-induced amorphization occurring in all of the nano-sized KxLnyTa2O7-v. At elevated temperatures, both K0.8GdTa2O7 and K0.8YTa2O6.9/K0.4Y0.8Ta2O6.4 exhibit higher radiation tolerance than KLuTa2O7/K0.4Lu0.8Ta2O6.4, and the critical temperatures of K0.8GdTa2O7 and K0.8YTa2O6.9/K0.4Y0.8Ta2O6.4 are estimated to be 1167 ± 41 K and 1165 ± 34 K, respectively, lower than that of KLuTa2O7/K0.4Lu0.8Ta2O6.4 (~ 1291 K). The K0.8GdTa2O7, K0.8YTa2O6.9 and KLuTa2O7 phases have less structural deviation from the parent fluorite structure and thus may be responsible for the overall radiation tolerance. The high K+ occupancy at pyrochlore A sites in KLuTa2O7 is believed to contribute to the decrease of radiation tolerance, consistent with the large ionic radius ratio of K+/Ta5+. These results highlight that the radiation tolerance of nanostructured materials is highly compositional dependent, and nano-sized tantalate pyrochlores are sensitive to radiation damage.

Nanowires and nanotubes have attracted significant interest during recent years due to their novel electrical, magnetic, and photonic properties. Quantum confinement, proximity interaction, and surface plasmon enhancement effects are among a few unique phenomena associated with these materials. A convenient procedure to prepare these materials is through anodized aluminum oxide (AAO) template synthesis. Nanoporous AAO membranes with pore diameters ranging from 10 to 200 nm can be prepared with anodization in oxalic, sulfuric and phosphoric acids under various reaction conditions. With repeated anodization-etching cycles, highly ordered straight channels can be prepared through self-organization. With electro- and electroless deposition, a variety of nanowires and nanotubes such as Ni, Co, Au, Pb, Bi, etc. have been prepared. The synthesis, characterization, and physical properties of these materials are presented.

A Seemann-Bohlin X-ray diffration attachment has been developed recently. In addition, two new intensity factors are introduced to existing intensity formula of Seemann-Bohlin diffractometer. Its characteristic is that the glancing angle is rather small and that no crystal monochromator is put in the incident path. Compared with the conventional diffractometer, it is superior in many aspects: (1). Very high sensitivity in identifying the structures of solid surfaces and thin films, with the intensities being 7–20 times those of the conventional method. For example, in analysing a gold film of 70 Å thick by 1KW X-ray, a fairly good pattern was obtained up to 2θ=120° with the scanning speed of 4°(2θ)/min. (2). All diffraction peaks obtained give the information of the surface layer in nearly the same depth. It thus enables one to study the variation of the composition, the lattice constants, and the structures with depth. (3). It can also be used for thick polycrys-talline samples, and the intensities are 3–20 times those of the conventional diffractometer. This method can be used for various ordinary diffractometers.