Raman scattering study of the low temperature phase of ammonium nitrate

Raman spectra of NH₄NO₃ and ND₄NO₃ have been recorded from room temperature down to 11K. A sluggish transition from phase IV to phase V was clearly observed but no evidence was found for another low temperature phase. Large splitting of the ν₃ mode indicates that the interionic interaction between NH⁺₄ and NO^-₃ is rather strong in both phases. A possible mechanism for the transition involving coupled modes is discussed.     

An EPR study of a triplet state center in (NH4)2SO4

Heating ammonium sulphate to near its dissociation temperature and then quenching to room temperature produces a stable triplet state center that is identified as NH₂⁺. The symmetry of the EPR spectra indicates that the center is located in two non equivalent sites with each of these sites having slightly different EPR parameters and two measurably differents orientations. Thus the center is apparently occupying the positions of the NH₄⁺ groups in the perfect lattice. A study is made of this center both at room temperature and also well below the ferroelectric phase transition of (NH₄)₂SO₄. It is found that above and below the transition temperature (?50°C) there is very little temperature dependence of the EPR spectra but at the phase transition there is an abrupt change in the spectra. The number of detectable centers doubles below the phase transition indicating that the inversion symmetry of the NH₂⁺ sites is eliminated at the transition temperature.     

EPR study of central peak fluctuations in an ADA-ADP mixed crystal

The spontaneous dynamic symmetry breaking in the high temperature phase EPR spectra of AsO^4-₄ centers in antiferroelectric NH₄H₂AsO₄ - - NH₄H₂PO₄ mixed crystals was studied as a function of the concentration of paramagnetic defects. The results are not compatible with a Halperin-Varma type “relaxing” defect model. The width of the central peak seen by EPR strongly decreases at lower temperatures.     

The effect of pressure on the Raman spectrum of NH4Cl

The Raman spectra of NH₄C1 are reported over a very wide pressure range at room temperature and some features of the well-known disorder-order transition as well as the spectra of the ordered phase at high pressures are discussed. The mode Grüneisen parameter has been determined to be equal to 2.1 ± 0.03 for ν₅(TO) in this phase showing that the volume-dependent anharmonicity is relatively large. Above 110kbar, significant spectral changes take place, a large number of lattice modes appear and some internal modes also reflect changes. Since these features closely resemble the ones observed in the newly discovered V of NH₄I, it is concluded that phase V also exists in NH₄Cl. The structure of phase V as well as the mechanism of the IV–V transition are still largely unknown but it is shown that the IV–V transition pressures in the ammonium halides vary linearly with the anionic radii.     

81Br NQR Study of [NH3(CH2) n NH3]CdBr4 (n = 4 and 5) and [NH3(CH2) n NH3]ZnBr4 (n = 5 and 6)

⁸¹Br NQR frequencies and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) were measured as a function of temperature. [NH₃(CH₂)₄ NH₃]CdBr₄ (1) and [NH₃(CH₂)₅NH₃]CdBr₄ (2) showed a doublet and quartet ⁸¹Br NQR spectrum, respectively. [NH₃(CH₂)₅NH₃]ZnBr₄ (3) and [NH₃(CH₂)₆NH₃]ZnBr₄ (4) exhibited a four-line ⁸¹Br NQR spectrum. From the NQR results, it is inferred that (1) and (2) consist of infinite two-dimensional sheets of corner-sharing CdBr₆ octahedra, whereas (3) and (4) have isolated [ZnBr₄]²⁻ tetrahedra. All of the crystals except (1) showed at least one structural phase transition above 380 K.     

Low frequency Raman scattering from ammonium ions is sodium beta-alumina

Based on isotopic frequency shifts and model calculations, bands observed near the region of 155 cm^-1 in Raman spectra of sodium beta-alumina containing ammonium ions have been assigned to translational modes of NH₄⁺. The spectra of a crystal containing 61% NH₄⁺ ions show a pair of bands at 165 and 145 cm^-1 (11 K). Possible origins of these bands are discussed.     

Temperature evolution of the intra-ion absorption spectra of (NH2(C2H5)2)2CoCl4 crystals in the region of their phase transitions

On the basis of spectroscopic studies of (NH₂(C₂H₅)₂)₂CoCl₄ crystals, the absorption bands corresponding to the internal electronic transitions in the Co²⁺ ion were identified. The values of the crystal field and Racah parameters were calculated. The temperature evolution of the absorption spectra of (NH₂(C₂H₅)₂)₂CoCl₄ crystals reveals the anomalies of their parameters at the points of phase transitions. The corresponding changes of the absorption spectra were discussed in terms of distortion of the metal-halogen complex. The temperature dependences of the absorption spectra of (NH₂(C₂H₅)₂)₂CoCl₄ crystals confirm the presence of the thermochromic phase transitions at 255 and 330?K.     

Superionic phase transition in (NH4)2SeO4·2NH4HSeO4 single crystal at 378 K

Abstract

DTA, structural and electric conductivity investigations were made for (NH₄)₄H₂(SeO₄)₃ single crystals. A high-temperature phase transition at 378 K to a superionic phase was found. The phase is characterized by a high electrical conductivity (～4.10^?3 Ω^?1 cm^?1) and a low activation energy (0.11 eV).     

The Raman spectra of NH4I at high pressures. The existence of a new phase in the ammonium halides

The Raman spectra of NH₄I and ND₄I show significant changes at higher pressures which can only be interpreted in terms of the existence of a new phase. This is not an intermediate phase occurring between phases II and IV, but is observed upon further compression of the ferro-ordered phase IV. Preliminary measurements show that the same phase transition occurs in NH₄Br and NH₄Cl, but at significantly higher pressures than the one in NH₄I.     

Raman spectroscopic study of the phase transitions in the (NH4)3WO3F3 oxyfluoride

The Raman spectra of (NH₄)₃WO₃F₃ perovskite-like oxyfluorides are measured in the frequency range 70–3600 cm^?1. The anomalies observed in the spectral parameters upon phase transitions at a temperature of 200 K under atmospheric pressure and at room temperature under a pressure of 1.4 GPa are interpreted.     

Raman study of NH4NO3 and ND4NO3—250–420K

Raman spectra of NH₄NO₃, and ND₄NO₃, were studied from 250 to 420K. The results show that there are four phases separated by first order transitions. No evidence of the previously reported phase II' was observed.The present results combined with the results of other experiments present the following picture of the state of order of the molecules.In phase I, the highest temperature phase, the NH₄⁺ groups are in a free rotation and the nitrate groups are likely in random reorientation among 12-equivalent positions. In phase II, the NH₄⁺ groups are likely in rapid random reorientation under the local force field of S₄ symmetry. The nitrate groups are in hindered rotation but are disordered with one of the O-N bonds directed in one sense or the other along the c-axis. In phase III, the absence of the librational mode indicates that the NH₄⁺ groups are in nearly free rotation but the rotational motion is restricted by the local force field of C₃ symmetry. The nitrate groups are probably ordered as suggested by the well polarized character of the modes associated with the nitrate groups. In phase IV, the nitrate groups are ordered with their molecular planes perpendicular to the b-axis. The NH₄⁺ groups are in orientational disorder but may undergo bindered rotations. An optical mode was observed to couple to an anomalous mode which is believed to be a zone edge acoustical mode.     

Phase transition in ammonium sulphate at -50°C: A study of librational mode softening by paramagnetic NH3+ probes

Paramagnetic NH₃⁺ probes in irradiated (NH₄)₂SO₄ crystals were used to study the phase transition at -50°C. The ¹⁴N hyperfine tensor was found to be nearly uniaxial and assumed to represent NH₄⁺ orientations in the lattice, thereby allowing their change with temperature in the range between -40 and -150°C to be investigated. Although soft modes in this material have not been found in far infrared measurements, it is evident from the present EPR studies that optically coupled B_1M lattice modes involving NH₄⁺ librational motion soften at the transition point, as predicted theoretically by Sawada, Takagi and Ishibashi. It was also found in this experiment that occurrence of an antiparallel orientational coupling between the two dissimilar NH₄⁺ sublattices is responsible for the excitation of the coupled B_1M modes.     

A raman scattering study of the phase transition in the ammonium oxyfluoride (NH4)3TiOF5

Raman spectra of a polycrystalline sample of the perovskite-like oxyfluoride (NH₄)₃TiOF₅ are measured in the frequency region 100–3600 cm^?1 at temperatures ranging from 91 to 370 K under hydrostatic pressures of up to 9 GPa, which include the range of the phase transition from the orientationally disordered cubic phase to the low-symmetry phase. Anomalies in the spectral parameters due to the phase transition are revealed in the range of vibrations of TiOF₅ octahedral groups.     

Vibrational study of H3OUO2PO4 · 3 H2O (HUP) and related compounds. phase transitions and conductivity mechanisms: part I,KUO2PO4 · 3 H2O (KUP)

Infrared and Raman spectra of polycrystalline KUO₂PO₄ · 3 H₂O (KUP) and its isotopic derivatives KUO₂P¹⁸O₄ · 3 H₂O and KUO₂PO₄ · 3 D₂O have been investigated in the 4000-10-cm^?1 range at different temperatures. An assignment of the bands in terms of UO₂, PO₄ and H₂O vibrations has been proposed. Combined differential scanning calorimetry and spectroscopic data show two diffuse phase transitions near 130 and 230 K. Comparison of the vibrational spectra of phase I at 300 K and phase IV at 100 K indicates that ordering of the water molecules with subsequent ordering of PO₄ tetrahedra on a site with lower symmetry appears to be the main mechanism responsible for the phase transformation. All the six O-H distances of water molecules in phase IV are found to be crystallographically nonequivalent. Conducting ion frequencies and the corresponding force constants have been determined for the analogous compounds MUP with M = K⁺, Na⁺, Ag⁺, NH⁺₄, Tl⁺ and H₃O⁺ and compared with other properties of these ionic conductors. Conductivity mechanisms in these materials are discussed.     

1H NMR study of proton dynamics in (NH4)3H(SO4)2

Proton dynamics in (NH₄)₃H(SO₄)₂ has been studied by means of ¹H solid-state NMR. The ¹H magic-angle-spinning (MAS) NMR spectra were traced at room temperature (RT) and at Larmor frequency of 400.13 MHz. ¹H static NMR spectra were measured at 200.13 MHz in the range of 135–490 K. ¹H spin-lattice relaxation times, T₁, were measured at 200.13 and 19.65 MHz in the ranges of 135–490 and 153–456 K, respectively. The ¹H chemical shift for the acidic proton (14.7 ppm) indicates strong hydrogen bonds. In phase III, NH₄⁺ reorientation takes place; one type of NH₄⁺ ions reorients with an activation energy (E_a) of 14 kJ mol^− 1 and the inverse of a frequency factor (τ₀) of 0.85 × 10^− 14 s. In phase II, a very fast local and anisotropic motion of the acidic protons takes place. NH₄⁺ ions start to diffuse translationally, and no proton exchange is observed between NH₄⁺ ions and the acidic protons. In phase I, both NH₄⁺ ions and the acidic protons diffuse translationally. The acidic protons diffuse with parameters of E_a = 27 kJ mol^− 1 and τ₀ = 4.2 × 10^− 13 s. The translational diffusion of the acidic protons is responsible for the macroscopic proton conductivity, as the NH₄⁺ translational diffusion is slow and proton exchange between NH₄⁺ ions and the acidic protons is negligible.     

Phase transition in ammonium hexafluorovanadate (III)

Heat capacity of ammonium hexafluorovanadate (NH₄)₃ [VF₆] has been measured with a miniaturized adiabatic calorimeter from 20 to 300 K. A phase transition was found at 280.44 ± 0.05 K with the associated entropy change Δ_trs S = 24.9 ± 0.5 JK^?1 mol^?1. The entropy transition is accounted for by the orientational order-disorder changes of hexafluorovanadate ion and ammonium ion occupying respective octahedral sites, as in the cases of (NH₄)₃AlF₆ and (NH₄)₃FeF₆ crystals. Changes in infrared spectra relative to v₃ vibrational mode of [VF₆]^3? ion can be explained by an orientational disorder of the anions in the high-temperature phase (HTP). The dependence of cubic root of the unit-cell volume of a family of ammonium cryolites on their transition temperatures is discussed in relation to the nature of interactions which induce the phase transition.     

Infrared Studies on Structural Phase Transition in [N(CH3)4]3Bi2Br9

Abstract

FT-IR (4000 - 400 cm^?1) spectroscopy was used for the study of the phase transition at 183 K in [N(CH₃]₄]₃Bi₂Br₉. The changes in the spectra confirmed the presence of the phase transition of first order type at 183 K. The most spectacular changes in the vicinity of the phase transition are found for the stretching CH3 and skeletal NC4 modes. The mechanism of the phase transition of the order-disorder type is believed to be connected with the reorientation motions of the tetramethylammonium cation.     

Splitting of libration mode frequencies in the vicinity of orientation phase transition in NH4Br

Abstract

Vibrational spectra of NH₄Br at high pressures up to 4·5GPa have been studied by means of incoherent inelastic neutron scattering using sapphire anvil high pressure cell technique. Libration mode splitting was investigated in the vicinity of the orientation phase transition (P_tr = 2·7 GPa) and this effect disappears if pressure is less or higher than P_tr. This effect is explained in terms of two-well asymmetric potential.     

The infra-red spectra of some ferroelectric compounds with short hydrogen bonds

The infra-red spectra of KH₂PO₄, NH₄H₂PO₄, NaH₂PO₄, KH₂AsO₄, NH₂H₂AsO₄, Ag₂H₃IO₆ and (NH₄)₂H₃IO₆ and of their deuterated analogues have been recorded at room temperature and some of them also at low temperature in the ferroelectric phase. The interpretation of the particularly interesting spectral region between 3000 and 1500 cm^?1, containing several OH bands, has been made in terms of the tunnelling of the protons between two minima of potential energy. These were taken to be of equal depth in the non-ferroelectric phase and unsymmetrical in the ferroelectric form. A quantum-mechanical treatment of the vibrational problem of the latter type has been carried out and is presented in the Appendix. Good agreement has been found between the theoretically predicted energy levels and the experimental data.     

Infrared spectra and lattice vibrations of the spin-chain compound LiCuVO 4

The infrared spectra of the one-dimensional antiferromagnet LiCuVO₄ are measured in the frequency range from 10 cm^-1 to 10 000 cm^-1 and at temperatures from 2 K to 300 K, for the electric field vector E of the radiation polarized either along the a- or along the b-crystallographic directions. For each polarization six infrared active phonon modes are observed in accordance with factor group analysis of the crystal structure of LiCuVO₄. The theoretical group analysis of the possible spinel low-symmetry phases is performed within the framework of Landau's theory of phase transitions. The parameters of several phonon lines show noticeable anomalies around 150 K where the magnetic correlations appear in the copper chains, which may indicate a finite interaction between the phonon and the magnon subsystems in LiCuVO₄. Received 19 February 2001 and Received in final form 26 June 2001