MSE631 Electroceramic Materials and Applications

20/01/2015

Home Assignment 1 (Structure of Electroceramics)

Question 1
Identify the tetrahedral and octahedral voids in a HCP structure.
Question 2
Carry out the determination of Madelung constant for a 1-D lattice of NaCl. Consult Solid Sate Physics by Kittel for
assistance.
Question 3
Satisfy yourself with the bond strength rule for materials such as BaTiO3, NiFe2O4 and other oxides consisting of more
than one cation.
Question 4
Calculate the packing factor of NaCl and ZnS. Should these be more than or lower than an ideal FCC lattice?
Question 5
Following atomic pattern is of a metal oxide compound (MxOy) which has a unit cell of dimensions a= b = 4.04 , c =
5.80 , with orthogonal axes. A plan of the structure projected on the plane normal to the x-axis is shown in figure 1.

M
O

a) Outline the conventional unit cell on the pattern itself defining the origin. Determine the type of the lattice.
b) Explain the structure in terms of number of unit-cells of the lattice defined in (a).
c) What is the formula unit i.e. what are the values of x and y in MxOy? How many formula units are present in a unit
cell?
d) Write the fractional coordinates of the atoms in an unit cell.
e) What is the co-ordination of the both ions?
f) What must be the range of radius of cation to anion for the observed co-ordination? Show the procedure.
g) Finally, it is a valid structure?
Question 6
Draw the plan view of Wurtzite structure with c-axis pointing out of the plane? Determine the atomic positions. What
is the lattice type and what will the motif be?
Question 7
Draw the (110) plane of CaF2 structure and point out which are the columns of tetrahedral and octahedral voids.

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