The structure of niobium and tantalum oxides processed by concentrated light flux

Abstract

The article reports on significant changes occurring in the structure under treatment of Nb 2 O 5 and Та 2 O 5 ceramics by a concentrated light flux (CLF). The changes comprise, in particular, appearance of micro-and nanostructures, as well as changing type of chemical bonding and coordination number of polyhedrons. These structural changes manifest themselves in the corresponding changes in the physical properties. The influences of the CLF on the Nb 2 O 5 and Та 2 O 5 ceramics turn out to be different. The number of nanosize structures appearing in the Та 2 O 5 ceramics is higher, while the changes in the chemical bonding and the coordination of polyhe-drons are different. The differences observed by us are explained by differing melting temperatures of Nb 2 O 5 and Та 2 O 5 and degree of covalence of the chemical bonds Nb-O and Ta-O.