Synthesis, crystal and electronic structure, and physical properties of the new lanthanum copper telluride La3Cu5Te7

The new lanthanum copper telluride La₃Cu_5−xTe₇ has been obtained by annealing the elements at 1073 K. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies revealed that the title compound crystallizes in a new structure type, space group Pnma (no. 62) with lattice dimensions of a=8.2326(3) Å, b=25.9466(9) Å, c=7.3402(3) Å, V=1567.9(1) Å³, Z=4 for La₃Cu_4.86(4)Te₇. The structure of La₃Cu_5−xTe₇ is remarkably complex. The Cu and Te atoms build up a three-dimensional covalent network. The coordination polyhedra include trigonal LaTe₆ prisms, capped trigonal LaTe₇ prisms, CuTe₄ tetrahedra, and CuTe₃ pyramids. All Cu sites exhibit deficiencies of various extents. Electrical property measurements on a sintered pellet of La₃Cu_4.86Te₇ indicate that it is a p-type semiconductor in accordance with the electronic structure calculations.     

Syntheses and structures of CsHo3Te5 and Cs3Tm11Te18 and the electronic structure of CsHo3Te5

Single crystals of CsHo₃Te₅ and Cs₃Tm₁₁Te₁₈ have been grown as byproducts in the synthesis of CsLnZnTe₃ (Ln=Ho or Tm) through the reaction of Ln, Zn, and Te with a CsCl flux at 850 °C. The crystal structures have been determined from single-crystal X-ray diffraction data. CsHo₃Te₅ crystallizes in space group Pnma of the orthorhombic system whereas Cs₃Tm₁₁Te₁₈ crystallizes in the space group C2/m of the monoclinic system. Each of the compounds adopts a three-dimensional structure; each possesses tunnels built from LnTe₆ octahedra that are filled with Cs atoms. The pseudo-rectangular tunnel in CsHo₃Te₅ is large enough in cross-section to accommodate two symmetrically equivalent Cs atoms. In the Cs₃Tm₁₁Te₁₈ structure there are two different sized tunnels: the smaller one is only large enough to host one Cs atom per unit cell whereas the larger one can accommodate two Cs atoms. The electronic structure of CsHo₃Te₅ was calculated. The band gap is estimated to be about 1.2 eV, consistent with the black color of the crystals.     

Syntheses, structures, physical properties, and electronic structures of KLn2CuS4 (Ln=Y, Nd, Sm, Tb, Ho) and K2Ln4Cu4S9 (Ln=Dy, Ho)

Seven new quaternary metal sulfides, KY₂CuS₄, KNd₂CuS₄, KSm₂CuS₄, KTb₂CuS₄, KHo₂CuS₄, K₂Dy₄Cu₄S₉, and K₂Ho₄Cu₄S₉, were prepared by the reactive flux method. All crystallographic data were collected at 153 K. The isostructural compounds KLn₂CuS₄ (Ln=Y, Nd, Sm, Tb, Ho) crystallize in space group Cmcm of the orthorhombic system with four formula units in cells of dimensions (Ln, a, b, c (Å)): Y, 3.9475(9), 13.345(3), 13.668(3); Nd, 4.0577(3), 13.7442(10), 13.9265(10); Sm, 4.0218(4), 13.6074(14), 13.8264(14); Tb, 3.9679(5), 13.4243(17), 13.7102(18); Ho, 3.9378(3), 13.3330(11), 13.6487(11). The corresponding R₁ indices for the refined structures are 0.0197, 0.0153, 0.0158, 0.0181, and 0.0178. The isostructural compounds K₂Dy₄Cu₄S₉ and K₂Ho₄Cu₄S₉ crystallize in space group C2/m of the monoclinic system with two formula units in cells of dimensions (Ln, a, b, c (Å), β (°)): Dy, 13.7061(13), 3.9482(4), 15.8111(15), 109.723(1); Ho, 13.6760(14), 3.9360(4), 15.7950 (16), 109.666(2). The corresponding R₁ indices are 0.0312 and 0.0207. Both structure types are closely related three-dimensional tunnel structures. The tunnels are filled with bicapped trigonal-prismatically coordinated K atoms. Their anionic frameworks are built from LnS₆ octahedra and CuS₄ tetrahedra. KLn₂CuS₄ contains _∞¹[CuS₃⁵⁻] chains of vertex-sharing tetrahedra and K₂Ln₄Cu₄S₉ contains _∞¹[Cu₄S₈¹²⁻] chains of tetrahedra. K₂Ho₄Cu₄S₉ shows Curie-Weiss paramagnetic behavior between 5 and 300 K, and has an effective magnetic moment of 10.71 μ_B for Ho³⁺ at 293 K. Optical band gaps of 2.17 eV for KSm₂CuS₄ and 2.43 eV for K₂Ho₄Cu₄S₉ were deduced from diffuse reflectance spectra. A first-principles calculation of the density of states and the frequency-dependent optical conductivity was performed on KSm₂CuS₄. The calculated band gap of 2.1 eV is in good agreement with the experimental value.     

Serendipitous syntheses of the series Cs3Ln7Te12 (Ln = Sm,Gd, Tb): Compounds with large tunnels

Single crystals of Cs₃Ln₇Te₁₂ (Ln = Sm, Gd, Tb) have been grown accidentally through the reaction of Ln and Te with a CsCl or Cs₂Te₃ flux at elevated temperatures. The crystal structures have been determined from single crystal X-ray diffraction data. These compounds, which are isostructural with Rb₃Yb₇Se₁₂, crystallize in space group Pnnm of the orthorhombic system with two molecules in the following cells: Cs₃Sm₇Te₁₂, a=13.750(6), b=28.332(7), c=4.473(3) Å, T=293 K; Cs₃Gd₇Te₁₂, a=13.6064(13), b=28.209(3), c=4.4324(4) Å, T=153 K; Cs₃Tb₇Te₁₂, a=13.5708(16), b=28.116(3), c=4.4147(5) Å, T=153 K.     

The New Phosphates Ln1/3Zr2(PO4)3 (Ln = Rare Earth)

The new phases Ln_1/3 Zr₂(PO₄)₃ (Ln = Rare Earth) crystallize with the Nasicon-type structure. The rare earth is located in the usually labeled M₁ site with rather ionic Ln -O bonds. The ceramics resulting from the decomposition of these phosphates have been characterized in the case of lanthanum and europium. They exhibit a very low thermal expansion between room temperature and 1340°C.     

Electronic band structures and physical properties of ALnTe4 and ALn3Te8 compounds (A=alkali metal; Ln=lanthanoid)

We report about the LMTO-ASA band structure, ELF and COHP calculations for a number of alkali metal rare earth tellurides of the formulas ALnTe₄ (A=K, Rb, Cs and Ln=Pr, Nd, Gd) and KLn₃Te₈ (Ln=Pr, Nd) to point out structure-properties relations. The ALnTe₄ compounds crystallize in the KCeSe₄ structure type with Te ions arranged in the form of 4.3².4.3 nets, in which interatomic homonuclear distances indicate an arrangement of isolated dumbbells. This could be verified by the COHP and ELF calculations, both of which revealed isolated [Te₂] units. But in contrast to the ionic formulation as A⁺Ln³⁺ ([Te₂]²⁻)₂, which can be deduced from this observation, the band structure calculations for KPrTe₄, KNdTe₄, RbNdTe₄ and CsNdTe₄ reveal metallic conductivity. This behavior was verified for KNdTe₄ by resistivity measurements performed by a standard four-probe technique. We explain these results by an incomplete carryover of electrons from the rare earth cation onto tellurium due to covalent bonding leaving parts of the Te-Te ppπ^* antibonding states unoccupied. On the other hand the calculations suggest insulating behavior for KGdTe₄ resulting from a complete filling of the Te-Te ppπ^* antibonding states due to the increased stability of the half filled 4f shell. The ALn₃Te₈ compounds crystallize in the KNd₃Te₈ structure type, a distorted addition-defect variant of the NdTe₃ type with 4⁴ Te nets. As polyanionic fragments L-shaped [Te₃]²⁻ and infinite zig-zag chains _∞¹[Te₄]⁴⁻ are observed (with interatomic homonuclear distances in the range 2.82-3.00 Å), which are separated from each other by distances in the range 3.27-3.49 Å. Again COHP calculations made evident that these latter interactions are secondary. Within the infinite zig-zag chains _∞¹[Te₄]⁴⁻ the Te ions at the corners of the chain have a higher negative charge than the linear coordinated ones in the middle. KPr₃Te₈ and KNd₃Te₈ are semiconductors, verified for the latter by resistivity measurements.     

Uniform AMoO4:Ln (A=Sr, Ba; Ln=Eu, Tb) submicron particles: Solvothermal synthesis and luminescent properties

Rare-earth ions (Eu³⁺, Tb³⁺) doped AMoO₄ (A=Sr, Ba) particles with uniform morphologies were successfully prepared through a facile solvothermal process using ethylene glycol (EG) as protecting agent. X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectra (XPS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), photoluminescence (PL) spectra and the kinetic decays were performed to characterize these samples. The XRD results reveal that all the doped samples are of high purity and crystallinity and assigned to the tetragonal scheelite-type structure of the AMoO₄ phase. It has been shown that the as-synthesized SrMoO₄:Ln and BaMoO₄:Ln samples show respective uniform peanut-like and oval morphologies with narrow size distribution. The possible growth process of the AMoO₄:Ln has been investigated in detail. The EG/H₂O volume ratio, reaction temperature and time have obvious effect on the morphologies and sizes of the as-synthesized products. Upon excitation by ultraviolet radiation, the AMoO₄:Eu³⁺ phosphors show the characteristic ⁵D₀–⁷F_1–4 emission lines of Eu³⁺, while the AMoO₄:Tb³⁺ phosphors exhibit the characteristic ⁵D₄–⁷F_3–6 emission lines of Tb³⁺. These phosphors exhibit potential applications in the fields of fluorescent lamps and light emitting diodes (LEDs).     

High-pressure synthesis and structures of lanthanide germanides of LnGe5 (Ln=Ce, Pr, Nd, and Sm) isotypic with LaGe5

A series of lanthanide penta-germanides LnGe₅ (Ln=Ce, Pr, Nd and Sm) has been prepared by high-pressure (5–13 GPa) and high-temperature (500–1200 °C) reaction. CeGe₅ crystallizes in an orthorhombic unit cell (S.G. Immm (71)) with a=4.000(5) Å, b=6.192(5) Å, c=9.86(1) Å, and V=244.1(5) Å³. The new germanides are isotypic with LaGe₅ consisting of a Ge covalent network with tunnels where guest ions Ln³⁺ are situated. The network is composed of sublayers with edge-sharing Ge six-membered rings with only boat conformation. The sublayers are connected by rare eight-coordinated Ge atoms. The cell volume of the compounds systematically decreases from La to Sm compounds, except for CeGe_5, owing to the lanthanide contraction. The lattice constants of CeGe₅ are smaller than those of the Pr compound because it contains Ce⁴⁺ ions. CeGe₅ is paramagnetic above 2 K, but does not obey the Curie–Weiss law. PrGe₅ and NdGe₅ are Curie–Weiss type paramagnets with Weiss temperatures of –3.3 and –18.4 K. SmGe₅ shows an antiferromagnetic transition at 10.4 K.     

Rare-earth-rich tellurides: Gd4NiTe2 and Er5M2Te2 (M=Co, Ni)

Three new rare earth metal-rich compounds, Gd₄NiTe₂, and Er₅M₂Te₂ (M=Ni, Co), were synthesized in direct reactions using R, R₃M, and R₂Te₃ (R=Gd, Er; M=Co, Ni) and single-crystal structures were determined. Gd₄NiTe₂ is orthorhombic and crystallizes in space group Pnma with four formula units per cell. Lattice parameters at 110(2) K are a=15.548(9), b=4.113(2), . Er₅Ni₂Te₂ and Er₅Co₂Te₂ are isostructural and crystallize in the orthorhombic space group Cmcm with two formula units per cell. Lattice parameters at 110(2) K are a=3.934(1), b=14.811(4), , and a=3.898(1), b=14.920(3), , respectively. Metal-metal bonding correlations were analyzed using the empirical Pauling bond order concept.     

Neue Oxocuprate (I). Über Cs3Cu5O4, Rb2KCu5O4, RbK2Cu5O4 und K3Cu5O4

New Oxocuprates(I). On Cs₃Cu₅O₄, Rb₂KCu₅O₄, RbK₂Cu₅O₄ and K₃Cu₅O₄ Cs₃Cu₅O₄ light yellow, powder as well as single crystals [a = 10.313(9), b = 7.630(1), c = 14.750(4) Å, β = 106.48(6)°], Rb₂KCu₅O₄ [a = 9.724(2), b = 7.443(0), c = 14.246(2) Å, β = 106.78(8)°], RbK₂Cu₅O₄ [a = 9.561(1), b = 7.411(0), c = 14.111(1) Å, β = 106.76(7)°] and K₃Cu₅O₄ [a = 9.422(1), b = 7.364(1), c = 13.995(2) Å, β = 107.00(2)°] are new prepared. The colour of the powders becomes lighter according to the sequence showed above. K₃Cu₅O₄ shows pale yellow. The Madelung Part of Lattice Energy, MAPLE, is calculated and discussed.     

Crystal growth and structural study of the new series Ln(OH)CrO4 (Ln = Y, Dy---Lu): Crystal structure of Er(OH)CrO4

Single crystals of the new series Ln(OH)CrO₄ (Ln = Y, Dy---Lu) have been obtained by hydrothermal procedures. The structure of Er(OH)CrO₄ has been determined by single-crystal X-ray techniques. The compound has monoclinic symmetry, space group P2₁/n, Z = 8, with a = 8.106(3), B = 11.324(2), C = 8.251(1) Å, β = 94.14(2)° and V = 755.4(3) ų. Final R values were R = 0.034, R_w = 0.049, for 2207 observed reflections. X-ray powder data show that all compounds of the title series are isomorphous. The coordination polyhedron of the lanthanide cations can be considered a square antiprism, with hydrogen bonds linking CrO₄ and LnO₈ groups. The X-ray data in this series provide evidence for the lanthanide contraction.     

Crystal chemistry peculiarities of Cs2Te4O12

The Raman and IR-absorption spectra of the Cs₂Te₄O₁₂ lattice are first recorded and interpreted. Extraordinary features observed in the structure and Raman spectra of Cs₂Te₄O₁₂ are analyzed by using ab initio and lattice-dynamical model calculations. This compound is specified as a caesium-tellurium tellurate Cs₂Te^IV(Te^VIO₄)₃ in which Te^IV atoms transfer their 5p electrons to [Te^VIO₄]₃⁶⁻ tellurate anions, thus fulfilling (jointly with Cs atoms) the role of cations. The Te^VI-O-Te^VI bridge vibration Raman intensity is found abnormally weak, which is reproduced by model treatment including the Cs⁺ ion polarizability properties in consideration.     

Rapid synthesis of ultrafine K2Ln2Ti3O10 (Ln=La, Nd, Sm, Gd, Dy) series and its photoactivity

Ultrafine-layered lanthanon titanates K₂Ln₂Ti₃O₁₀ (Ln=La, Nd, Sm, Gd, Dy) were fabricated at relatively low temperature by a stearic acid method (SAM). The obtained products were characterized by FT-IR, X-ray diffractometer, DTA-TG, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and BET experiments. The photocatalytic activity of the obtained products was studied and was compared with that of solid-state reaction (SSR) using photodecomposition of methyl orange as the model system. Results showed that by using SAM, the fabricating temperature was lowered (from 1100 to 800 °C) and the reacting time was shortened (from at least 11-2 h). Comparing with the product of traditional SSR, the particle size of K₂Ln₂Ti₃O₁₀ synthesized by SAM is smaller, BET surface area is higher (more than 16.97 m²/g), and photoreactivity is better. It was very interesting to find the difference in d(002) of obtained K₂Ln₂Ti₃O₁₀ for Ln=La, Nd, Sm, Gd, Dy separately and the photoactivity of K₂Ln₂Ti₃O₁₀ is strongly dependent on lanthanide, increasing in the sequence of La<Sm<Nd<Gd <Dy. A possible reason was put forward.     

Seven new rare-earth transition-metal oxychalcogenides: Syntheses and characterization of Ln4MnOSe6 (Ln=La, Ce, Nd), Ln4FeOSe6 (Ln=La, Ce, Sm), and La4MnOS6

The quaternary oxychalcogenides Ln₄MnOSe₆ (Ln=La, Ce, Nd), Ln₄FeOSe₆ (Ln=La, Ce, Sm), and La₄MnOS₆ have been synthesized by the reactions of Ln (Ln=La, Ce, Nd, Sm), M (M=Mn, Fe), Se, and SeO₂ at 1173 K for the selenides or by the reaction of La₂S₃ and MnO at 1173 K for the sulfide. Warning: These reactions frequently end in explosions. These isostructural compounds crystallize with two formula units in space group of the hexagonal system. The cell constants (a, c in Å) at 153 K are: La₄MnOSe₆, 9.7596(3), 7.0722(4); La₄FeOSe₆, 9.7388(4), 7.0512(5); Ce₄MnOSe₆, 9.6795(4), 7.0235(5); Ce₄FeOSe₆, 9.6405(6), 6.9888(4); Nd₄MnOSe₆, 9.5553(5), 6.9516(5); Sm₄FeOSe₆, 9.4489(5), 6.8784(5); and La₄MnOS₆, 9.4766(6), 6.8246(6). The structure of these Ln₄MOQ₆ compounds comprises a three-dimensional framework of interconnected LnOQ₇ bicapped trigonal prisms, MQ₆ octahedra, and the unusual LnOQ₆ tricapped tetrahedra.     

Morphology-dependent photoluminescence property of red-emitting LnOCl:Eu (Ln=La and Gd)

Three different synthetic methods, the liquid phase process in HCl solution, the solvothermal reaction, and the surfactant-assisted solvothermal reaction, were explored to selectively control the particle shape and to enhance the luminescence intensity of the PbFCl-type red-emitting oxychloride phosphors LnOCl:Eu (Ln=La and Gd). The solvothermal pressure facilitated the low-temperature crystallization of the rod-shape particles for both Ln=La and Gd. It is noted that LaOCl:Eu nanorods show highly porous particle surface and quite low photoemission intensity. In contrast, the solvothermal synthesis could highly enhance the red-emission of GdOCl:Eu with no porous surface so as to be comparable to that of commercial Y₂O₃:Eu phosphor. An addition of surfactant material during solvothermal reaction yielded a rhomboidal-shape phosphor particles with no porous surface for both Ln=La and Gd. Interestingly, the elimination of surface porosity by using a surfactant significantly increased the emission intensity of LaOCl:Eu. It is proposed that the application of solvothermal technique for the synthesis of the PbFCl-type oxychloride phosphors is very effective to selectively control the particle shape and consequently to enhance the photoemission intensity if we use an appropriate surfactant material.     

Metalloktaederdoppel in den Clusterverbindungen Gd10I16(C2)2 und Gd10Br15B2/Tb10Br15B2

Gd₁₀I₁₆(C₂)₂ and Gd₁₀Br₁₅B₂/Tb₁₀Br₁₅B₂ Cluster Compounds with M₁₀ Twin Octahedra The compound Gd₁₀I₁₆(C₂)₂ can be prepared from Gd metal, GdI₃ and C at 950 °C. It crystallizes in P1 with a = 10.463(4) Å, b = 16.945(6) Å, c = 11.220(4) Å, α = 99.15(3)°, β = 92.68(3)° und γ = 88.06(3)°. Gd₁₀Br₁₅B₂ is formed between 900 und 950 °C, Tb₁₀Br₁₅B₂ between 900 und 930 °C from stoichiometric amounts of the rare earth metals, tribromide and boron. Both compounds crystallize in the space group P1 for Gd₁₀Br₁₅B₂ with a = 8.984(2) Å, b = 9.816(2) Å, c = 10.552(5) Å, α = 91.14(3)°, β = 114.61(3)° and γ = 110.94(3)° and for Tb₁₀Br₁₅B₂ with a = 8.939(4) Å, b = 9.788(3) Å, c = 10.502(2) Å, α = 91.19(3)°, β = 114.51(3)° and γ = 111.10(2)°. In the crystal structures of all three compounds the rare earth metals form edge‐shared Ln₁₀ twin octahedra. In Gd₁₀I₁₆(C₂)₂ the Gd octahedra are centered with C₂ groups (d_C–C = 1.43(7) Å). In Ln₁₀Br₁₅B₂ (Ln = Gd, Tb) the octahedra contain single boron atoms. The clusters are connected through halide atoms to chains [Ln₁₀(Z)₂X X X ]. Adjacent chains are fused threedimensionally via I I for the Gd iodide carbide and via Br Br for the bromide borides of Gd und Tb. It is interesting to see an identical pattern of connection between the chains for the reduced oxomolybdates, e. g. PbMo₅O₈.     

Synthesis, structure and properties of new chain cuprates, Na3Cu2O4 and Na8Cu5O10

Na₃Cu₂O₄ and Na₈Cu₅O₁₀ were prepared via the azide/nitrate route from stoichiometric mixtures of the precursors CuO, NaN₃ and NaNO₃. Single crystals have been grown by subsequent annealing of the as prepared powders at 500 °C for 2000 h in silver crucibles, which were sealed in glass ampoules under dried Ar. According to the X-ray analysis of the crystal structures (Na₃Cu₂O₄: P2₁/n, Z=4, a=5.7046(2), b=11.0591(4), c=8.0261(3) Å, β=108.389(1)°, 2516 independent reflections, R₁(all)=0.0813, wR₂ (all)=0.1223; Na₈Cu₅O₁₀: Cm, Z=2, a=8.228(1), b=13.929(2), , β=111.718(2)°, 2949 independent reflections, R₁(all)=0.0349, wR₂ (all)=0.0850), the main feature of both crystal structures are CuO₂ chains built up from planar, edge-sharing CuO₄ squares. From the analysis of the Cu-O bond lengths, the valence states of either +2 or +3 can be unambiguously assigned to each copper atom. In Na₃Cu₂O₄ these ions alternate in the chains, in Na₈Cu₅O₁₀ the periodically repeated part consists of five atoms according to Cu^II-Cu^II-Cu^III-Cu^II-Cu^III. The magnetic susceptibilities show the dominance of antiferromagnetic interactions. At high temperatures the compounds exhibit Curie-Weiss behaviour (Na₃Cu₂O₄: , , Na₈Cu₅O₁₀: , , magnetic moments per divalent copper ion). Antiferromagmetic ordering is observed to occur in these compounds below 13 K (Na₃Cu₂O₄) and 24 K (Na₈Cu₅O₁₀).     

Les phases SrLnMnO4 (Ln = La,Nd, Sm,Gd), BaLnMnO4 (Ln = La,Nd) et M1+xLa1−xMnO4 (M = Sr,Ba)

The phases SrLnMnO₄ (Ln = La, Nd, Sm, Gd), BaLnMnO₄ (Ln = La, Nd) and the solid solutions M_1+xLa_1?xMnO₄ (M = Sr: 0 ? x ? 1; M = Ba: 0 ? x ? 0.50) have a K₂NiF₄-type structure. The $\text{c}\text{a}$ ratio of the unit cell is related to the electronic configuration of the Mn³⁺ ions.     

Untersuchungen zur Reaktivität in den Systemen A/Cu/M/O (A = Na–Cs und M = Co,Ni, Cu,Ag); Synthese und Kristallstrukturen von K3Cu5O4 und Cs3Cu5O4

Reactivity in the Systems A/Cu/M/O (A = Na–Cs and M = Co, Ni, Cu, Ag); Synthesis and Crystal Structures of K₃Cu₅O₄ und Cs₃Cu₅O₄ The systems A/Cu/M/O with A = Na–Cs and M = Co, Ni, Cu, Ag have been investigated with preparative, thermoanalytical and in situ X‐ray techniques to study the reactivity. For the redox reaction Co/CuO in the presence of Na₂O the intermediate, NaCuO, has been characterized. K₃Cu₅O₄ was obtained by annealing intimate mixtures of K₂O and CuO (molar ratio 1 : 1) in Ag containers at 500 °C. Cs₃Cu₅O₄ could be synthezised by reaction of KCuO₂ with Cs₂O (molar ratio 1 : 1) in Cu containers at 500 °C. Both compounds crystallize in the space group P2₁/c with Z = 4 isotypic to Rb₃Cu₅O₄ [IPDS data, Mo–Kα; K₃Cu₅O₄: a = 946.0(1), b = 735.61(6), c = 1401.3(2) pm, β = 107.21(1)°; 2249 F²(hkl), R₁ = 7.09%, wR₂ = 11.42%; Cs₃Cu₅O₄: a = 1027.7(1), b = 761.42(7), c = 1473.4(2) pm, β = 106.46(1)°, 1712 F²(hkl), R₁ = 6.04%, wR₂ = 14.22%]. Force constants obtained from FIR experiments for the deformation mode δ(O–Cu–O), the Madelung Part of the Lattice Energie, MAPLE, Effective Coordination Numbers, ECoN, calculated via Mean Effective Ionenradii, MEFIR, are given.     

Magnetic and Crystallographic Properties of LnCrO4 (Ln=Nd, Sm, and Dy)

Zircon-type compounds LnCrO₄ (Ln=Nd, Sm, and Dy) were prepared. Their precise crystal structures at room temperature were determined from X-ray diffraction measurements. These compounds have a tetragonal system with space group I4₁/amd. Magnetic susceptibility and specific heat measurements have been performed for all the compounds in the temperature range between 1.8 and 300 K. For NdCrO₄, an antiferromagnetic transition was found at 25.2 K. SmCrO₄ and DyCrO₄ show magnetic transitions at 15.0 and 22.8 K, respectively. In addition, structural phase transitions were observed at 58.5 and 31.2 K, respectively. For DyCrO₄, the crystal structure below the transition temperature was determined by low-temperature powder X-ray diffraction measurements to be orthorhombic with space group Imma.