Synthesis, crystal and magnetic structure of a novel brownmillerite-type compound Ca2Co1.6Ga0.4O5

The novel compound Ca₂Co_1.6Ga_0.4O₅ with brownmillerite (BM) structure has been prepared from citrates at 950 °C. The crystal structure of Ca₂Co_1.6Ga_0.4O₅ was refined, from neutron powder diffraction (NPD) data, in space group Pnma, , , , χ²=1.798, , R_wp=0.0378 and R_p=0.0292. On the basis of the NPD refinement the compound was found to be a G-type antiferromagnet (space group Pn^′m^′a) at room temperature, with the magnetic moments of cobalt atoms directed along chains of tetrahedra in the BM structure. Electron diffraction and electron microscopy studies revealed disorder in the crystallites, which can be interpreted as the presence of slabs with BM-type structure of Pnma and I2mb symmetry.     

Composition-induced phase transition in Ca14Zn6−xGa10+xO35+x/2 (x=0.0 and 0.5)

Novel complex oxides Ca₁₄Zn₆Ga₁₀O₃₅ and Ca₁₄Zn_5.5Ga_10.5O_35.25 were prepared in air at 1200 °C, 72 h. Refinements of their crystal structures using X-ray powder diffraction data showed that Ca₁₄Zn₆Ga₁₀O₃₅ is ordered (S.G. F23, =0.0458, R_p=0.0485, R_wp=0.0659, χ²=1.88) and Ca₁₄Zn_5.5Ga_10.5O_35.25 disordered (S.G. F432, =0.0346, R_p=0.0601, R_wp=0.0794, χ²=2.82) variants of the crystal structure of Ca₁₄Zn₆Al₁₀O₃₅. In the crystal structure of Ca₁₄Zn₆Ga₁₀O₃₅, there are large empty voids, which could be partially occupied by additional oxygen atoms upon substitution of Zn²⁺ by Ga³⁺ as in Ca₁₄Zn_5.5Ga_10.5O_35.25. These oxygen atoms are introduced into the crystal structure of Ca₁₄Zn_5.5Ga_10.5O_35.25 only as a part of four tetrahedra (Zn, Ga)O₄ groups sharing common vertex. This creates a situation where even a minor change in the chemical composition leads to considerable anion and cation disordering resulting in a change of space group from F23 (no. 196) to F432 (no. 209).     

Ca6.3Mn3Ga4.4Al1.3O18—A novel complex oxide with 3D tetrahedral framework

A new Ca_6.3Mn₃Ga_4.4Al_1.3O₁₈ compound has been prepared by solid state reaction in a dynamic vacuum of 5×10⁻⁶ mbar at 1200 °C. The crystal structure of Ca_6.3Mn₃Ga_4.4Al_1.3O₁₈ was studied using X-ray powder diffraction (, SG F432, Z=8, R_I=0.031, R_P=0.068), electron diffraction and high resolution electron microscopy. The Ca_6.3Mn₃Ga_4.4Al_1.3O₁₈ structure can be described as a tetrahedral [(Ga_0.59Mn_0.24Al_0.17)₁₅O₃₀]^18.24− framework stabilized with embedded [(Ca_0.9Mn_0.1)₁₄MnO₆]^18.24+ polycations, which consists of an isolated MnO₆ octahedron surrounded by a capped cube of (Ca_0.9Mn_0.1) atoms. The Ca_6.3Mn₃Ga_4.4Al_1.3O₁₈ structure is related to the structure of Ca₇Zn₃Al₅O_17.5, but appears to be significantly disordered due to the presence of two orientations of oxygen tetrahedra around the cationic 0,0,0 and x,x,x () positions in a random way according to the F432 space symmetry. The analogy between the Ca_6.3Mn₃Ga_4.4Al_1.3O₁₈ crystal structure and the structure of the “fullerenoid” Sr₃₃Bi_24+δAl₄₈O_141+3δ/2 oxide is discussed. Ca_6.3Mn₃Ga_4.4Al_1.3O₁₈ adopts a Curie-Weiss behavior of χ(T) above with a Weiss temperature and per formula unit. At lower temperatures, the χ(T) deviates from the Curie-Weiss law indicating a strengthening of the ferromagnetic component of the exchange interaction.     

Synthesis and crystal structure of CaxCo4Sb12 skutterudites

New skutterudite compounds Ca_xCo₄Sb₁₂ (0<x?0.2) have been prepared by traditional metallurgical synthesis. The compounds have been characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), electron probe microanalysis (EPMA) and neutron powder diffraction. Rietveld refinement of the structures against neutron powder diffraction data (on Ca_0.1Co₄Sb₁₂, , a=9.0429 Å, χ²=1.55; wR_p=1.52) enabled the location of Ca in the voids of the skutterudite structure to be verified. The large displacement ellipsoid for Ca is consistent with “rattling” in the cage of the crystalline structure. XRD combined with EPMA analyses showed that the maximum occupancy of Ca atoms is about 0.2.     

The crystal structure determinations and refinements of K2S2O7, KNaS2O7 and Na2S2O7 from X-ray powder and single crystal diffraction data

The crystal structures of K₂S₂O₇, KNaS₂O₇ and Na₂S₂O₇ have been solved and/or refined from X-ray synchrotron powder diffraction data and conventional single-crystal data. K₂S₂O₇: From powder diffraction data, monoclinic C2/c, Z=4, a=12.3653(2), b=7.3122(1), , β=93.0792(7)°, R_Bragg=0.096. KNaS₂O₇: From powder diffraction data; triclinic , Z=2, a=5.90476(9), b=7.2008(1), , α=101.7074(9), β=90.6960(7), γ=94.2403(9)°, R_Bragg=0.075. Na₂S₂O₇: From single-crystal data; triclinic , Z=2, a=6.7702(9), b=6.7975(10), , α=116.779(2), β=96.089(3), γ=84.000(3)°, R_F=0.033. The disulphate anions are essentially eclipsed. All three structures can be described as dichromate-like, where the alkali cations coordinate oxygens of the isolated disulphate groups in three-dimensional networks. The K-O and Na-O coordinations were determined from electron density topology and coordination geometry. The three structures have a cation-disulphate chain in common. In K₂S₂O₇ and Na₂S₂O₇ the neighbouring chains are antiparallel, while in KNaS₂O₇ the chains are parallel. The differences between the K₂S₂O₇ and Na₂S₂O₇ structures, with double-, respectively single-sided chain connections and straight, respectively, corrugated structural layers can be understood in terms of the differences in size and coordinating ability of the cations.     

Inherent instabilities of some W5Si3-type binary phases with large electropositive metal atoms: Six examples in the Ba-Pb, Ca-Sn-Mg,Cu,Zn, and La-Ga-Al,Zn systems

A particular pathology of certain W₅Si₃-type A₅B₃ structures (I4/mcm) appears to arise because of unduly close approaches of the A1-type atoms on the cell faces at , 0, () that occur with the larger and more electropositive A and/or in the presence of smaller B atoms. A structure refinement of binary Ba_4.81Pb₃ indicates such a marginal stability in that the Ba atoms in the facial Ba_0.81 chains exhibit an extreme displacement ellipsoid along . Although Ca₅Sn₃ and La₅Ga₃ binaries are unknown in this structure type, five stable ternary derivatives of these have been synthesized via substitution reactions and characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction means: Ca₄Sn_3.223(4)Mg_0.777, Ca₄Sn₃Cu_1.30(4), Ca_4.66(6)Sn₃Zn_0.704(4), La_4.81(1)Ga_1.38(2)Al_1.62, and La_4.762(5)Ga_1.5(1)Zn_1.5. Only the Ca-Sn-Zn phase exhibits lower symmetry, P4/mbm. The problematic A1 sites exhibit diverse changes in these, whereas the surrounding B2 tetrahedra are largely unaltered. The Ca-Sn results are, respectively: direct Mg/Sn substitution at the Ca1 site; mixed fractional distribution of the smaller Cu at two sites around the A1 position with an unresolved disorder; a pair of apparently independent modes, fractional Ca in the normal position and fractional Zn rectangles thereabout. The two La-Sn phases contain normal Ga,Al (Ga,Zn) tetrahedral chains with pairs of fractional disordered La atoms along , 0, z. Each can be rationalized in terms of a reasonable incommensurate structure. Electronic effects may also be operable.     

Crystal growth, structural characterization and magnetic properties of Ca3CuRhO6, Ca3Co1.34Rh0.66O6 and Ca3FeRhO6

Single crystals of Ca₃CuRhO₆, Ca₃Co_1.34Rh_0.66O₆ and Ca₃FeRhO₆ were synthesized by high temperature flux growth in molten K₂CO₃ and structurally characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction. While Ca₃Co_1.34Rh_0.66O₆ and Ca₃FeRhO₆ crystallize with trigonal (rhombohedral) symmetry in the space group , Z=6: Ca₃Co_1.34Rh_0.66O₆a=9.161(1) Å, c=10.601(2) Å; Ca₃FeRhO₆a=9.1884(3) Å, c=10.7750(4) Å; Ca₃CuRhO₆ adopts a monoclinic distortion of the K₄CdCl₆ structure in the space group C2/c, Z=4: a=9.004(2) Å, b=9.218(2) Å, c=6.453(1) Å, β=91.672(5). All crystals of Ca₃CuRhO₆ examined were twinned by pseudo-merohedry. Ca₃CuRhO₆, Ca₃Co_1.34Rh_0.66O₆, and Ca₃FeRhO₆ are structurally related and contain infinite one-dimensional chains of alternating face-sharing RhO₆ octahedra and MO₆ trigonal prisms. In the monoclinic modification, the copper atoms are displaced from the center of the trigonal prism toward one of the rectangular faces adopting a pseudo-square planar configuration. The magnetic properties of Ca₃CuRhO₆, Ca₃Co_1.34Rh_0.66O₆, and Ca₃FeRhO₆ are discussed.     

Isolated spin 3/2 plaquettes in Na3RuO4

The crystal structure of Na₃RuO₄ determined by powder neutron diffraction is reported. The structure consists of isolated tetramers of edge sharing RuO₆ octahedra in the ab plane, creating isolated four-member plaquettes of Ru atoms comprised of two equilateral triangles sharing an edge. Magnetic susceptibility measurements reveal an antiferromagnetic transition at ∼29 K, with . Neutron diffraction data indicate the onset of three-dimensional magnetic ordering at 29 K.     

Superstructure of a phosphor material Ba3MgSi2O8 determined by neutron diffraction data

Ba₃MgSi₂O₈, a phosphor host examined for use in white-light devices and plant-growth lamps, was synthesized at 1225 °C in air. Its crystal structure has been determined and refined by a combined powder X-ray and neutron Rietveld method (, Z=3, a=9.72411(3) Å, c=7.27647(3) Å, V=595.870(5) Å³; R_p/R_wp=3.79%/5.03%, χ²=4.20). Superstructure reflections, observed only in the neutron diffraction data, provided the means to establish the true unit cell and a chemically reasonable structure. The structure contains three crystallographically distinct Ba atoms—Ba1 resides in a distorted octahedral site with S₆ () symmetry, Ba2 in a nine-coordinate site with C₃ (3) symmetry, and Ba3 in a ten-coordinate site with C₁ (1) symmetry. The Mg atoms occupy distorted octahedral sites, and the Si atom occupies a distorted tetrahedral site.     

High pressure synthesis, crystal, magnetic structure and magnetotransport of SrFe0.5Co0.5O3−δ

A polycrystalline sample with SrFe_0.5Co_0.5O_3−δ stoichiometry has been prepared under moderate pressures of 2 GPa in the presence of KClO₄ as oxidizing agent. The crystallographic and magnetic structures have been studied from neutron powder diffraction (NPD), complemented with magnetotransport and magnetic susceptibility data. The study of the crystallographic structure confirms that this compound, with the actual stoichiometry SrFe_0.5Co_0.5O_2.88(3), is a simple cubic perovskite at 2 and 295 K, defined in the Pm-3m space group, where Fe and Co atoms are distributed at random over the B positions. The magnetic measurements show that SrFe_0.5Co_0.5O_2.88 is a ferromagnet with , which is also confirmed by neutron diffraction: the magnetic structure is collinear, characterized by a propagation vector k=0; the ordered magnetic moment values for the (Fe⁴⁺,Co⁴⁺) cations are 1.54(9) and 0.65(15) μ_B at T=2 and 295 K, respectively. Transport measurements show a semiconducting behaviour, and a negative magnetoresistance (MR) of −6.5% is observed at for .     

The structural investigation of Ba4Bi3F17

The anion-excess ordered fluorite-related phase Ba₄Bi₃F₁₇ has been synthesized by a solid state reaction of BaF₂ and BiF₃ at 873 K. The crystal structure of Ba₄Bi₃F₁₇ has been studied using electron diffraction and X-ray powder diffraction (a=11.2300(2) Å, c=20.7766(5) Å, S.G. , R_I=0.020, R_P=0.036). Interstitial fluorine atoms in the Ba₄Bi₃F₁₇ structure are considered to form isolated cuboctahedral 8 : 12 : 1 clusters. The structural relationship between Ba₄Bi₃F₁₇ and similar rare-earth-based phases is discussed.     

Single-crystal synthesis and structure refinement of the LiCoO2-LiAlO2 solid-solution compounds: LiAl0.32Co0.68O2 and LiAl0.71Co0.29O2

Single crystals of the LiCoO₂-LiAlO₂ solid solution compounds LiAl_0.32Co_0.68O₂ and LiAl_0.71Co_0.29O₂ were synthesized by a flux method using alumina crucibles. A single-crystal X-ray diffraction study confirmed the trigonal space group and the lattice parameters a=2.8056(11) Å, c=14.1079(15) Å, and c/a=5.028 for LiAl_0.32Co_0.68O₂, and a=2.8023(7) Å, c=14.184(4) Å, and c/a=5.061 for LiAl_0.71Co_0.29O₂. The crystal structures have been refined to the conventional values R=3.2% and wR=2.4% for LiAl_0.32Co_0.68O₂, and R=3.6% and wR=3.5% for LiAl_0.71Co_0.29O₂. The evidence of the location of Al atoms in the pseudotetragonal coordination (6c site), reported previously in LiAl_0.2Co_0.8O₂, could not be observed in the present electron density distribution maps in both LiAl_0.32Co_0.68O₂ and LiAl_0.71Co_0.29O₂. The octahedral distortion analysis indicated that the Al-substitution strongly affected the distortion of the LiO₆ octahedron in this solid-solution compound system, but hardly affected that of the (Al.Co)O₆ octahedron.     

Neutron diffraction and X-ray absorption study of Ag5Pb2O6

Neutron diffraction and X-ray absorption measurements were carried out for a silver-lead oxide Ag₅Pb₂O₆. The powder neutron diffraction patterns could be fitted to the trigonal structure, as was found by X-ray diffraction. From the bond-valence-sum (BVS) analysis, the valences of the Ag and Pb ions were estimated to be about 1+ and 3.7+, respectively. The X-ray absorption measurements indicated that the ionic state of Ag is close to 1+, while that of Pb stands between 3+ and 4+. The deviation of the valence of the Pb ion from 4+ suggests a contribution of Pb orbitals to the metallic conduction as well as the possible superconductivity of this material, consistently with a recent band-structure calculation.     

Structure and magnetism of rare-earth-substituted Ca3Co2O6

Yttrium- and rare-earth-substituted derivatives of Ca_3−vR_vCo₂O₆ (RY, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Yb, and Lu) have been synthesized and structurally characterized by powder X-ray and neutron diffraction. All phases adopt the K₄CdCl₆-type structure with space group R3¯c), in which the trivalent R³⁺ substituents randomly occupy the Ca²⁺ site. The homogeneity range of Ca_3−vR_vCo₂O₆ extends to v≈0.90 for the substituents concerned. A significant increase in the Co2-O distances within the trigonal-prismatic Co2O₆ co-ordination polyhedra upon introduction of R³⁺ confirms that extra electrons from the R³⁺-for-Ca²⁺ substitution exclusively enter the Co2 site of the quasi-one-dimensional Ca_3−vR_vCo₂O₆ structure, thereby formally reducing its oxidation state. This is furthermore supported by magnetic susceptibility and low-temperature neutron diffraction measurements. The long-range ferrimagnetic ordering temperature is reduced upon R substitution and appears to vanish for v>∼0.30.     

Synthesis of LiNi1/3Co1/3Mn1/3O2−zFz cathode material from oxalate precursors for lithium ion battery

The layered LiNi_1/3Co_1/3Mn_1/3O_2−zF_z (0 ≤ z ≤ 0.12) cathode materials were synthesized from oxalate precursors by a simple self-propagating solid-state metathesis method with the help of the ball milling and the following calcination. Li(Ac)·2H₂O, Ni(Ac)₂·4H₂O, Co(Ac)₂·4H₂O, Mn(Ac)₂·4H₂O(Ac = acetate), LiF and excess H₂C₂O₄·2H₂O were used as starting materials without any solvent. The structural and electrochemical properties of the prepared LiNi_1/3Co_1/3Mn_1/3O_2−zF_z were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and electrochemical measurements, respectively. The XRD patterns indicate that all samples have a typical hexagonal structure with a space group of . The FESEM images show that the primary particle size of LiNi_1/3Co_1/3Mn_1/3O_2−zF_z gradually increases with increasing fluorine content. Though the fluorine-substituted LiNi_1/3Co_1/3Mn_1/3O_2−zF_z have lower initial discharge capacities, a small amount of fluorine-substituted LiNi_1/3Co_1/3Mn_1/3O_2−zF_z (z = 0.04 and 0.08) exhibit excellent cycling stability and rate capability compared to fluorine-free LiNi_1/3Co_1/3Mn_1/3O₂.     

Structure and magnetism of NaRu2O4 and Na2.7Ru4O9

The structures of NaRu₂O₄ and Na_2.7Ru₄O₉ are refined using neutron diffraction. NaRu₂O₄ is a stoichiometric compound consisting of double chains of edge sharing RuO₆ octahedra. Na_2.7Ru₄O₉ is a non-stoichiometric compound with partial occupancy of the Na sublattice. The structure is a mixture of single, double and triple chains of edge-shared RuO₆ octahedra. NaRu₂O₄ displays temperature independent paramagnetism with . Na_2.7Ru₄O₉ is paramagnetic, χ₀= with and a Curie constant of 0.0119 emu/mol Oe K. Specific heat measurements reveal a small upturn at low temperatures, similar to the upturn observed in La₄Ru₆O₁₉. The electronic contribution to the specific heat (γ) for Na_2.7Ru₄O₉ was determined to be15 mJ/mole_Ru K².     

Structures of the reduced niobium oxides Nb12O29 and Nb22O54

The crystal structure of Nb₂₂O₅₄ is reported for the first time, and the structure of orthorhombic Nb₁₂O₂₉ is reexamined, resolving previous ambiguities. Single crystal X-ray and electron diffraction were employed. These compounds were found to crystallize in the space groups P2/m (, , , β=102.029(3)^°) and Cmcm (, , ), respectively and share a common structural unit, a 4×3 block of corner sharing NbO₆ octahedra. Despite different constraints imposed by symmetry these blocks are very similar in both compounds. Within a block, it is found that the niobium atoms are not located in the centers of the oxygen octahedra, but rather are displaced inward toward the center of the block forming an apparent antiferroelectric state. Bond valence sums and bond lengths do not show the presence of charge ordering, suggesting that all 4d electrons are delocalized in these compounds at the temperature studied, T=200 K.     

Modelling, refinement and analysis of the “Type III” δ-Bi2O3-related superstructure in the Bi2O3-Nb2O5 system

The structure of the “Type III” δ-Bi₂O₃-related superstructure phase in the system Bi₂O₃-Nb₂O₅ is presented. A starting model was constructed by considering the crystal-chemistry of the system in the context of symmetry constraints determined by electron diffraction. After applying initial distortions, this could be Rietveld-refined against a combination of synchrotron X-ray and time-of-flight neutron powder diffraction data. The undistorted starting model was independently optimized using solid-state ab initio energy calculations, giving a fully optimized structure in excellent agreement with that obtained by Rietveld refinement. This dual approach both validates the structure and demonstrates the value of combining accurate total energy calculations with traditional refinement techniques for the solution of complex structures using powder diffraction data. The structure (Bi₉₄Nb₃₂O₂₂₁, Z=1, (#119), a=11.52156(18), ) consists of interacting corner-connected strings of NbO₆ octahedra along 〈110〉_F directions of the FCC subcell, and can be described as a hybrid of fluorite and pyrochlore types.     

Crystal structure and magnetic properties of the solid-solution phase Ca3Co2-vMnvO6

The homogeneity range of the Ca₃Co_2-vMn_vO₆ solid-solution phase covers the entire composition interval from v=0 to 1. A systematic powder X-ray and neutron diffraction, magnetic susceptibility, and magnetization study has been carried out to investigate effects of the Mn-for-Co substitution on structural and magnetic properties. The Mn substitution concerns primarily only the octahedral Co1 site of the Ca₃Co1Co2O₆ crystal structure, whereas the trigonal-prismatic Co2 site structurally is left essentially unaffected. The Ca₃Co_2-vMn_vO₆ crystal structure belongs to space group with unit-cell dimensions (in hexagonal setting) 9.084?a?9.134 Å and 10.448?c?10.583 Å. A cut through the magnetic phase diagram at 10 K shows a ferrimagnetic domain for 0?v<∼0.3 and an antiferromagnetic domain for ∼0.50<v<∼1. The magnetic ordering temperatures are quite low (<∼25/18 K), and even so further magnetic transitions appear to take place at still lower temperature. The legitimity and reliability of the different indicators used to establish the magnetic transitions, their individual accuracy, and mutual consistency are briefly discussed. Variable parameters of the crystal and magnetic structures of Ca₃Co1_1-vMn_vCo2O₆ are determined and their variation with v is briefly discussed in relation to chemical bonding. The magnetic structure in the ferrimagnetic region is essentially the same as that of the pristine v=0 phase, but since the moments at the Co2 site decrease and those at the (Co1,Mn) site increase with increasing v; characteristic traits of ferrimagnetism in magnetic susceptibility and magnetization gradually disappear. The magnetic arrangement in the antiferromagnetic region is characterized by differently sized moments at the (Co1,Mn) and Co2 sites, moments at adjacent sites in each of these sublattices being oppositely oriented along [001].