Solid solution of iron doped potassium strontium niobate with KSr2(FeNb4)O15-Δ stoichiometry was prepared by high efficiency ball milling method. Structural characterization was carried out by X-ray diffraction. Crystalline structure was analyzed by the Rietveld refinements using the FullProf software. The results showed a tetragonal system with the tetragonal tungsten bronze structure - TTB (a = 12.4631 (2) Å and c = 3.9322 (6) Å, V = 610.78 (2) ų). In this work, the sites occupancy by the K+, Sr2+ and Fe3+ cations on the TTB structure were determined. NbO6 polihedra distortion and its correlation with the theoretical polarization are discussed.

The study of fossils has made considerable progress over the last years as a result of the use of new experimental techniques. This paper describes the chemical composition of a fossilized fish of the Cretaceous period, from a 100 million-year-old, material originated from the Araripe Basin (northeastern Brazil). The chemical composition of the fossilized fish was analyzed by means of X-ray powder diffraction and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). The spectroscopic study has proven that the main substances found in the fossilized fish are CaCO3 and Ca5(PO4)3(OH). A tentative mechanism to explain the fossilization process is also given.

Coprolites are fossilized faeces that constitute an important source of palaeobiological informations. This paper describes the characterization of some coprolite materials originated from the Romualdo Member of the Santana Formation (Araripe Basin, south of Ceará State in Brazil) by means of two techniques: X-ray powder diffraction and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). This characterization allowed us to determine the main composition of the coprolites, of the nodulus (where the coprolites were extracted) and of the sediment (where the nodulus was found) suggesting that the material was produced by a carnivorous fish of the Lower Cretaceous.

Impedance spectroscopy technique was used to investigate the electric properties of Zn7Sb2O12, an electroceramic with inverse spinel type structure. The electric characterization of the Zn7Sb2O12 semiconducting ceramic was performed at temperature from 250 to 550 °C, in the frequency range from 5 Hz to 13 MHz. Zinc antimoniate phase was synthesized by the polymeric precursors method. The bulk resistance curve as a function of temperature exhibits a thermistor behavior with negative temperature coefficient. The bulk conductivity follows the Arrhenius law with two linear branches of different slopes positioned at around a region of transition, 450 °C > T > 350 °C. The activation energy values at low temperature (< 350 °C) and high temperature (> 450 °C) are equals to 0.78 and 0.61 eV, respectively. The existence of a phase transition limiting these regions is discussed.

The electric and dielectric properties of Bi3Zn2Sb3O14 ceramic were studied by impedance spectroscopy. The measurements were performed in the frequency range 5 to 13 MHz and at temperature ranges from 25 to 700 °C. The permittivity was calculated by the variation of the imaginary part of the impedance (-Im(Z)) as function of 1/omega, where omega represents the angular frequency (2pif). The parameter epsilon = f(T) exhibits values in the range from 40 to 48. The dielectric losses (tandelta) show slight dependence with the temperature up to 400 °C. A strong increasing of the tandeltaoccurs at temperatures higher than 400 °C. In a general way, a decrease of the parameter tandelta occurs with the increasing frequency.