Electrical conductivity of Cs<Subscript>2</Subscript>CuCl<Subscript>4</Subscript> crystals

The electrical conductivity of Cs₂CuCl₄ single crystals, synthesized by crystallization from aqueous solutions in the CsCl–CuCl₂–H₂O system, has been investigated. The temperature dependence of the electrical conductivity of crystals in a temperature range of 338–584 K exhibits no anomalies. The electrical transfer activation enthalpy is ΔH_σ = 0.72 ± 0.05 eV and the conductivity is σ = 3 × 10^–4 S/cm at 584 K. The most likely carriers in Cs₂CuCl₄ are Cs⁺ cations, which transfer electric charge according to the vacancy mechanism.     

Investigation of zirconium phosphate Zr<Subscript>3</Subscript>(PO<Subscript>4</Subscript>)<Subscript>4</Subscript> during heating

Zirconium phosphate Zr₃(PO₄)₄ has been synthesized by the sol-gel technique and investigated using X-ray powder diffraction, IR spectroscopy, and differential scanning calorimetry. It has been established that the symmetry of the unit cell, R \(\bar 3\) c, which is characteristic of the NaZr₂(PO₄)₃ (NZP) family, is lowered to P \(\bar 3\) c. The behavior of the zirconium phosphate during heating has been examined using high-temperature X-ray diffraction at temperatures ranging from 25 to 575°C. It has been revealed that the structure of the zirconium phosphate is hardly subjected to expansion due to heating in the temperature ranges 25–125°C (α _a < 1 × 10^?6 K^?1, α _c < 1 × 10^?6 K^?1, Δα < 1 × 10^?6 K^?1) and 325–575°C (α _a = ?1.4 × 10^?6 K^?1, α _c < 1 × 10^?6 K^?1, Δα < ?2.4 × 10^?6 K^?1). In the temperature range 125–325°C, the synthesized compound undergoes a second-order phase transition (upon heating), which is accompanied by the contraction of the structure along all crystallographic directions. Upon cooling in the range from 75 to 25°C, the phase transition is accompanied by the expansion of the structure.     

Ionic conductivity of ScF<Subscript>3</Subscript> single crystals (ReO<Subscript>3</Subscript> type)

Electrical conductivity σ of ScF₃ single crystals (sp. gr. \(Pm\overline 3 m\), ReO₃ structure type) has been studied by impedance spectroscopy and compared with the electrical conductivity of rare earth HoF₃ (β-YF₃ type) and LaF₃ (tysonite type) trifluorides. ScF₃ crystals obtained by Bridgman directional solidification have ionic conductivity σ = 4 × 10^–8 S/cm at 673 K. It is smaller than the σ values for LaF₃ (sp. gr. \(P\overline 3 c1\)) and HoF₃ (sp. gr. Pnma) single crystals by a factor of 10⁴–10⁵. The low conductivity of ScF₃ crystals is due to the weak coordinating ability (coordination number CN = 6) and low electronic polarizability (α_cat = 1.1 ų) of Sc³⁺ ions. Mobile V_F⁺ vacancies and less mobile interstitial V_i^- ions (defects are formed according to the Frenkel mechanism) are involved in the ion transport. HoF₃ and LaF₃ single crystals have a high coordinating ability (CN = 9 for Ho³⁺ and CN = 11 for La³⁺) and a high electronic polarizability of cations (α_cat = 1.6–1.9 ų for Ho³⁺ and α_cat = 2.2 ų for La³⁺). Only mobile V_F⁺ vacancies (defects are formed according to the Schottky mechanism) are involved in ion transport.     

Electrical conductivity of CsCuCl<Subscript>3</Subscript> crystals at structural phase transition

The electrical conductivity σ of CsCuCl₃ single crystals synthesized by the crystallization method from aqueous solutions in the ternary CsCl–CuCl₂–H₂O system has been studied. The σ measurements for CsCuCl₃ crystals have been carried out in the temperature range of 397–455 K, which covers the structural phase transition from the low-temperature (sp. gr. P6₁22, Z = 6) to the high-temperature (sp. gr. P6₃mc, Z = 2) modification at T _tr = 423 ± 8 K. A jump of σ by a factor of ~3 is observed on the σ(T) dependence in the region of the structural transition, which indicates the existence of first-order phase transition. The electric transfer activation enthalpies ΔHσ are found to be 1.0 ± 0.1 eV at T > T _tr and 0.8 ± 0.1 eV at T < T _tr. The σ value for CsCuC_l3 crystals amounts to 7 × 10^–6 S/cm at 455 K.     

Increase in the Fluorine-Ion Conductivity of Single Crystals of Tysonite-type CeF<Subscript>3</Subscript> Superionic Conductor by Substituting Polarized Cd<Superscript>2+</Superscript> Ions for Ce<Superscript>3+</Superscript> Ions

The fluorine-ion conductivity of single crystals with a tysonite (LaF₃) structure with heterovalent isomorphic substitutions of highly polarizable Cd²⁺ cations with a 18-electron shell for rare earth ions Ce³⁺ have been studied for the first time. Ce_0.995Cd_0.005F_2.995 single crystals have been grown from melt by the Bridgman technique in a fluorinating atmosphere. The fluorine-ion conductivity of single crystal is measured by impedance spectroscopy in the temperature range from 153 to 1073 K, where it increases by a factor of 10⁹, approaching the value σ_dc = 5 × 10^–2 S/cm at 1073 K. At T₀ = 450 ± 20 K, the dependence σ_dc(T) is split into two portions with the ion-transport activation enthalpy ΔH_σ = 0.39 ± 0.01 eV (T < T₀) and ΔH_σ = 0.23 ± 0.02 eV (T > T0). It is found that at T = 293 K the conductivity σ_dc = 3 × 10^–5 S/cm of Ce_0.995Cd_0.005F_2.995 crystal is higher by a factor of 10 than the conductivity of the tysonite matrix CeF₃ and close to the σ_dc value for Ce_0.995Sr_0.005F_2.995 crystal. This finding indicates a significant effect of the substitutions of Cd²⁺ ions for Ce³⁺ on the σdc value and the advantage of Cd²⁺ ions over Ca²⁺ and Ba²⁺ from the viewpoint of increasing σ_dc.     

Growth and crystal structure of binary molybdate CsFe(MoO<Subscript>4</Subscript>)<Subscript>2</Subscript>

CsFe(MoO₄)₂ single crystals have been grown by solution-melt crystallization with a charge-to-solvent ratio of 1: 3 (with Cs₂Mo₃O₁₀ used as a solvent). The crystal structure of this compound has been refined by X-ray diffraction (X8 APEX automatic diffractometer, MoK _α radiation, 356 F(hkl), R = 0.0178). The trigonal unit cell has the following parameters: a = b = 5.6051(2) Å, c = 8.0118(4) Å, V = 217.985(15) ų, Z = 1, ρ_calc = 3.875 g/cm³, and sp. gr. P \(\bar 3\) m1. The structure is composed of alternating layers of FeO₆ octahedra (with MoO₄ tetrahedra attached by sharing vertices) and CsO₁₂ icosahedra.     

Low-temperature X-ray diffraction studies of [(CH<Subscript>3</Subscript>)<Subscript>2</Subscript>NH<Subscript>2</Subscript>]<Subscript>5</Subscript>Cd<Subscript>3</Subscript>Cl<Subscript>11</Subscript> crystals

[(CH₃)₂NH₂]₅Cd₃Cl₁₁ crystals are grown by the method of isothermal evaporation from saturated aqueous solutions containing dimethylamine and cadmium chlorides, [(CH₃)2NH₂]Cl and CdCl_2.5H₂O. The crystal grown are studied by the X-ray diffraction method. It is established that the crystals are orthorhombic with the unit-cell parameters at room temperature a = 18.115 ± 0.004 Å, b = 11.432 ± 0.002 Å, and c = 15.821 ± 0.003 Å. The unit-cell parameters a, b, and c of the [(CH₃)₂NH₂]₅Cd₃Cl₁₁ crystals are measured as functions of temperature in the temperature range 100–320 K. The data obtained were used to determine the thermal expansion coefficients along the main crystallographic axes. The temperature curves of the unit-cell parameters and thermal expansion coefficients showed pronounced anomalies in the vicinity of the temperatures T ₁ = 120, T ₂ = 150, and T ₃ = 180 K corresponding to the phase transitions in the [(CH₃)₂NH₂]₅Cd₃Cl₁₁ crystals. The crystals are also characterized by a pronounced anisotropy of thermal expansion.     

Molecular structure of [(C<Subscript>5</Subscript>H<Subscript>5</Subscript>)<Subscript>2</Subscript>(C<Subscript>5</Subscript>H<Subscript>4</Subscript>CH<Subscript>3</Subscript>)(C<Subscript>4</Subscript>H<Subscript>8</Subscript>O)Sm]

The mixed tris-cyclopentadienyl tetrahydrofuranato samarium complex bis-(cyclopentadienyl) methylcyclopentadienyl tetrahydrofuranato samarium (I) was synthesized by reaction of (C₅H₅)₂SmCl with methyl cyclopentadienyl sodium in THF. [(C₅H₅)₂(C₅H₄CH₃)(C₄H₈O)Sm] (I) was characterized by elemental analyses—IR spectra and MS spectra. The structure of [(C₅H₅)₂(C₅H₄CH₃)(C₄H₈O)Sm] (I), which has two slightly different independent molecules per asymmetric unit, has been elucidated through complete X-ray analysis. The crystals are monoclinic, with a = 12.791(3) Å, b = 10.467(2) Å, c = 26.108(5) Å, β = 98.22(2)°, and space group Cc, R = 0.0381 for 2103 observed-reflection with I ≥ 3σ(I).     

The Influence of Cation Substitution on the Kinetics of Phase Transitions in Crystals of (K,NH<Subscript>4</Subscript>)<Subscript>3</Subscript>H(SO<Subscript>4</Subscript>)<Subscript>2</Subscript> Solid Solutions

The structure of (K_0.967(NH₄)_0.033)₃H(SO₄)₂ crystals, belonging to the K₃H(SO₄)₂–(NH₄)₃H(SO₄)₂–H₂O salt system, has been investigated by X-ray structural analysis. The room-temperature characteristics of the atomic structure of these crystals are found to be as follows: sp. gr. C2/c, Z = 4, a = 14.7025(4) Å, b = 5.6859(2) Å, c = 9.7885(3) Å, and R/wR = 0.021/0.030%. The thermal and optical properties of (K,NH₄)₃H(SO₄)₂ and K₃H(SO₄)₂ single crystals have been investigated and compared in a temperature range of 295–500 K.     

Crystal chemistry of KCuMn<Subscript>3</Subscript>(VO<Subscript>4</Subscript>)<Subscript>3</Subscript> in the context of detailed systematics of the alluaudite family

The crystal structure of new manganese potassium copper vanadate KCuMn₃(VO₄)₃, which was prepared by the hydrothermal synthesis in the K₂CO₃–CuO–MnCl₂–V₂O₅–H₂O system, was studied by X-ray diffraction (R = 0.0355): a = 12.396(1) Å, b = 12.944(1) Å, c = 6.9786(5) Å, β = 112.723(1)°, sp. gr. C2/c, Z = 4, ρ_calc = 3.938 g/cm³. A comparative analysis of the crystal-chemical features of the new representative of the alluaudite family and related structures of minerals and synthetic phosphates, arsenates, and vanadates of the general formula A(1)A(1)′A(1)″A(2)A(2)′M(1)M(2)₂(TO₄)₃ (where A are sites in the channels of the framework composed of MО₆ octahedra and TО₄ tetrahedra) was performed. A classification of these structures into subgroups according to the occupancy of A sites is suggested.     

Synthesis and an X-ray diffraction study of Rb<Subscript>2</Subscript>[(UO<Subscript>2</Subscript>)<Subscript>2</Subscript>(C<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>4</Subscript>)<Subscript>3</Subscript>]

The synthesis and X-ray diffraction study of compound Rb₂[(UO₂)₂(C₂O₄)₃], which crystallizes in the monoclinic crystal system, are performed. The unit cell parameters are as follows: a = 7.9996(6) Å, b = 8.8259(8) Å, c = 11.3220(7) Å, β = 105.394(2)°, and V = 770.7(1) ų; space group P2₁/n, Z = 2, and R ₁ = 0.0271. [(UO₂)₂(C₂O₄)₃]^2? layers belonging to the AK _0.5 ⁰² T ¹¹ crystal chemical group of uranyl complexes (A = UO ₂ ²⁺ , K ⁰² = C₂O ₄ ^2? , and T ¹¹ = C₂O ₄ ^2? ) are uranium-containing structural units of the crystals. The layers are connected with outer-sphere rubidium cations by electrostatic interactions.     

Crystal structure of the new radical cation salt (<Emphasis Type="Italic">DOET</Emphasis>)<Subscript>4</Subscript>[Fe(CN)<Subscript>5</Subscript>NO]<Subscript>1.25</Subscript>(C<Subscript>6</Subscript>H<Subscript>5</Subscript>Cl)<Subscript>0.75</Subscript>

A new radical cation salt based on 4,5-(1,4-dioxanediyl-2,3-dithio)-4′,5′-ethylenedithiotetrathiafulvalene (DOET) with the photochromic anion [Fe(CN)₅NO]^2?, namely, (DOET)₄[Fe(CN)₅ NO]_1.25(C₆H₅Cl)_0.75, is synthesized. Single crystals of this salt are studied using X-ray diffraction [a = 10.398(2) Å, b = 11.168(2) Å, c = 18.499(4) Å, α = 103.14(3)°, β = 92.80(3)°, γ = 106.02(3)°, V = 1996.3(7) ų, space group \(P\bar 1\), and Z = 1]. In the structure, radical cation layers alternate with anion layers along the c axis. The centrosymmetric dimers are formed by DOET radical cations in the donor layer with packing of the β type. Like the vast majority of DOET-based salts, the new salt possesses semiconductor properties.     

Structure and some properties of [UO<Subscript>2</Subscript>(C<Subscript>5</Subscript>H<Subscript>12</Subscript>N<Subscript>2</Subscript>O)<Subscript>5</Subscript>](ClO<Subscript>4</Subscript>)<Subscript>2</Subscript>

Compound [UO₂(C₅H₁₂N₂O)₅](ClO₄)₂ is synthesized and characterized by thermogravimetry, IR spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction. The compound crystallizes in the monoclinic crystal system; a = 15.2985(9) Å, b = 26.9676(15) Å, c = 20.6962(11) Å, β = 100.697(1)°, space group P2₁/c, Z = 8, and R = 0.0445. Discrete [UO₂(C₅H₁₂N₂O)₅]²⁺ groups belonging to the AM ₅ ¹ crystal chemical group of uranyl complexes (A = UO ₂ ²⁺ and M ¹=C₅H₁₂N₂O) are uranium-containing structural units of the crystals.     

Elastic and dielectric properties of A<Superscript>II</Superscript>B<Stack><Subscript>2</Subscript><Superscript>V</Superscript></Stack> (<Emphasis Type="Italic">A</Emphasis> = Cd or Zn, <Emphasis Type="Italic">B</Emphasis> = P or As) single crystals

Elastic and dielectric properties of CdP₂, ZnP₂, and ZnAs₂ single crystals are investigated at frequencies of 10², 10³, 10⁴, 10⁶, and 10⁷ Hz in the [00l], [h00], and [hk0] directions in the temperature range 78–400 K. The elastic constants, the Gruneisen parameters, and the force constants of the crystals are calculated from the measured ultrasonic velocities. The elastic constants C_ij decrease with an increase in temperature and anomalously change in narrow (ΔT = 10–20 K) temperature ranges. The permittivity sharply increases from ε ≈ 7–14 at 78–150 K to ε ≈ 10²–10³ in the temperature range 175–225 K without any signs of a structural phase transition. The behavior of the temperature-frequency dependences of the complex permittivity ε*(f, T) is typical of relaxation processes. The dielectric relaxation in A^IIB ₂ ^V is considered on the basis of the model of isolated defects. The conuctivity σ of the single crystals under study is a sum of the frequency-dependent (hopping) conductivity σ_h and the conductivity σ_s that is typical of semiconductors. The hopping conductivity increases with an increase in frequency according to the law σ _h ～f^α, where α < 1 at low temperatures and α > 1 at high temperatures.     

Novel Polyoxovanadate K<Subscript>2</Subscript>ZnV<Subscript>5</Subscript>O<Subscript>14</Subscript>: Crystal Structure and Peculiarities of Crystal Chemistry

A novel structure type has been established as a result of studying a non-merohedral microtwin of polyoxovanadate (K₂ZnV₅O₁₄) by X-ray diffractometry (R = 0.0595). The new compound, synthesized under hydrothermal conditions in the ZnCl₂–K₂CO₃–V₂O₅–H₂O system, is characterized as follows: a = 8.066(5) Å, b = 8.117(5) Å, c = 9.236(5) Å, β = 105.287(5)°, sp. P2₁/m, Z = 2, ρ_calcd = 3.54 g/cm³. Edge-shared five-core “clusters” consisting of vanadium octahedra, between which ZnO₄ tetrahedra (sharing vertices with octahedra) are located, form two-dimensional two-layer anion packets of the (ZnV₅O₁₄)^2– composition, alternating along the c axis with layers of potassium atoms. Structural peculiarities determine the morphology and color of new-phase crystals.     

Birefringence of (NH<Subscript>4</Subscript>)<Subscript>2</Subscript>SO<Subscript>4</Subscript> crystals under the action of uniaxial pressures

The influence of uniaxial mechanical pressure σ _m ≤ 150 bar on the spectral (300–800 nm) dependence of the birefringence Δn _i of (NH₄)₂SO₄ crystals is studied. The dispersion Δn _i (λ) is shown to be normal and greatly increases when approaching the absorption edge. Uniaxial pressure changes the value of dispersion dΔn _i /dλ but not its character. It is found that the simultaneous action of pressures σ _x ～ σ y ～ 560 bar results in the occurrence of a uniaxial isotropic state. Piezoelectric constants of the crystals are estimated.     

New multicell model for describing the atomic structure of La<Subscript>3</Subscript>Ga<Subscript>5</Subscript>SiO<Subscript>14</Subscript> piezoelectric crystal: Unit cells of different compositions in the same single crystal

Accurate X-ray diffraction study of langasite (La₃Ga₅SiO₁₄) single crystal has been performed using the data obtained on a diffractometer equipped with a CCD area detector at 295 and 90.5 K. Within the known La₃Ga₅SiO₁₄ model, Ga and Si cations jointly occupy the 2d site. A new model of a “multicell” consisting of two different unit cells is proposed. Gallium atoms occupy the 2d site in one of these cells, and silicon atoms occupy this site in the other cell; all other atoms correspondingly coordinate these cations. This structure implements various physical properties exhibited by langasite family crystals. The conclusions are based on processing four data sets obtained with a high resolution (sin θ/λ ≤ 1.35 Å^–1), the results reproduced in repeated experiments, and the high relative precision of the study (sp. gr. P321, Z = 1; at 295 K, a = 8.1652(6) Å, c = 5.0958(5) Å, R/wR = 0.68/0.68%, 3927 independent reflections; at 90.5 K, a = 8.1559(4) Å, c = 5.0913(6) Å, R/wR = 0.92/0.93%, 3928 reflections).     

Structural study of new compound Bi<Subscript>2.53</Subscript>Li<Subscript>0.29</Subscript>Nb<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>9</Subscript> by the powder neutron diffraction method

A new compound of composition Bi_2.53Li_0.29Nb₂O₉ was synthesized in the course of the search for new materials with high ionic conductivity. Its crystal structure was determined from the neutron diffraction data. The new compound Bi_2.53Li_0.29Nb₂O₉ is crystallized in the orthorhombic system, sp. gr. Cmc2₁, and unit-cell parameters a = 24.849(1) Å, b = 5.4536(3) Å, and c = 5.4619(2) Å at T = 290 K (a = 24.843(2) Å, b = 5.4456(5) Å, and c = 5.4546(5) Å at T = 10 K). Within the temperature range 10–870 K, no structural phase transitions were revealed. The atomic coordinates and the thermal factors in the isotropic approximation were refined by the Rietveld method at 290 and 10 K. The data obtained were analyzed based on the calculated local balance of bond strengths.     

Ionic Conductivity of KTiOPO<Subscript>4</Subscript> Single Crystals Grown by Flux Crystallization under Different Conditions

The ionic conductivity of three KTiOPO₄ crystals grown from high-temperature solution–melts in combination with the Czochralski technique under different conditions has been investigated. The first crystal was obtained at a cooling rate V_g = 0.2–0.5 mm/day and a ratio of potassium and phosphorus concentrations in the solution–melt [K]/[P] = 2. The other two crystals were grown at a much higher velocity (V_g = 3–7 mm/day) from solution–melts with [K]/[P] = 1.5 and 1. It is shown that the crystal grown upon slow cooling at [K]/[P] = 2 has the lowest ionic conductivity: σ_||c = 1.0 × 10^–5 and 3 × 10^–11 S/cm at 573 and 293 K, respectively.     

Structural Conditionality of the Ionic Conductivity of MTiORO<Subscript>4</Subscript> (M = K,Rb; R = P,As) Single Crystals

The ionic conductivity σ_||c along the crystallographic axis c and the structural imperfection of the lattices of KTiOPO₄, RbTiOPO₄, and RbTiOAsO₄ single crystals with low defect concentration, grown by the high temperature solution growth technique, have been investigated by impedance spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction analysis. Isomorphic substitutions of Rb⁺ ions for conduction K⁺ cations in MTiOPO₄ crystals decreases the σ_||c value, whereas the substitution of As⁵⁺ ions for framework P⁵⁺ cations in RbTiORO₄ crystals increases the σ_||c value. The σ_||c values at 573 K are found to be 1.0 × 10^–5, 5.7 × 10^–6, 2.0 × 10^–6, and 3.3 × 10^–5 S/cm for the KTiOPO₄, RbTiOPO₄ {100}, RbTiOPO₄ {201}, and RbTiOAsO₄ crystals, respectively (the growth zone of the crystalline boule from which the samples were cut is indicated in braces).