Structure of ten-layer orthorhombic Ba5Fe5O14 (BaFeO2.8) determined from single crystal X-ray diffraction

The structure of the mixed-valent Ba₅Fe₅O₁₄ (BaFeO_2.8), prepared using a molten KOH-Ba(OH)₂ flux, has been determined using single crystal X-ray diffraction. Ba₅Fe₅O₁₄ forms twinned crystals with the orthorhombic space group Cmcm, a=5.7615(8), b=9.9792(14) and c=24.347(3) Å, Z=4. The structure, which is closely related to the 10H BaFeO_2.65 perovskite, is composed of two oxygen-deficient BaO₂ layers and eight BaO₃ layers with a (hchhc)₂ stacking sequence, where h and c denote hexagonal or cubic layers. A displacement of barium and oxygen atoms in the BaO₂ layers from hexagonal special positions lowers the symmetry from hexagonal to orthorhombic. This combination of stacking and vacancies creates trimers of face-sharing FeO₆ octahedra pillared by dimers of corner-sharing FeO₄ tetrahedra. The Fe⁴⁺ atoms are located in the center of the trimer and in the tetrahedral sites. The magnetism of Ba₅Fe₅O₁₄, investigated using SQUID magnetometry, is characteristic of a strongly coupled antiferromagnet.     

Luminescent and structural properties of the series Ba6−xEuxTi2+xTa8−xO30 and Ba4−yKyEu2Ti4−yTa6+yO30

The series Ba_6−xEu_xTi_2+xTa_8−xO₃₀ and Ba_4−yK_yEu₂Ti_4−yTa_6+yO₃₀ have been synthesized at 1400°C in air. They exhibit efficient excitation at about 400 nm and typical emission of Eu³⁺ at about 580-620 nm, form solid solutions within 0.0?x?2.0 and 0?y?4 respectively, and crystallized in P4/mbm at room temperature with Eu atoms occupied at centrosymmetric site (0, 0, 0). Their conductivity is very low (2.8×10⁻⁶ Ω⁻¹ cm⁻¹ at 740°C for Ba₆Ti₂Ta₈O₃₀).     

The six-layer structure of BaSn0.9Fe5.47O11

The crystal structure of BaSn_0.9Fe_5.47O₁₁ was determined using neutron powder diffraction data and the profile refinement method. The hexagonal compound, space group , has hcc-stacked BaO₃ and O₄ layers. A new building unit for this type of structure is introduced, the Q block with formula Ba₂M₇O₁₄, consisting of two c-stacked BaO₃ layers and two O₄ layers. Between the BaO₃ and O₄ layers one tetrahedral and one octahedral site is occupied; between the BaO₃ layers there are no other cations. BaSn_0.9Fe_5.47O₁₁ shows a magnetic behavior with an ordering temperature T_c of 420 K. Starting models for the structure determination were derived from the known structures of hexagonal ferrites and related compounds. Several isomorphs with formula Ba₂Sn₂M²⁺Fe₁₀O₂₂ could be prepared, in which a partial substitution of Fe by Ga is possible. The nonstoichiometry of BaSn_0.9Fe_5.47O₁₁ can be explained by the surplus of positive charge if the available tetrahedral and octahedral sites of the structure are completely occupied with Sn⁴⁺ and Fe³⁺. To achieve charge compensation either the occupation rates of Sn⁴⁺ and Fe³⁺ have to be lowered or a divalent ion has to be introduced, as is effected in the isomorphs.     

Synthesis and structure of Ba6Co6ClO16, a new cobalt oxychloride with a layered perovskite-related structure

Well-developed single crystals of the title compound were prepared using a BaCl₂ flux and investigated by X-ray diffraction methods using Mo(Kα) radiation and a Charge Coupled Device (CCD) detector. The crystal structure was solved and refined in the hexagonal symmetry with space group, a=5.6698(2) Å and c=14.4654(5) Å to a final R₁=0.022 for 44 parameters with 1418 individual reflections. The structure of Ba₆Co₆ClO₁₆, which is related to the 6H-perovkite-type structure of BaMnO_2.88, is formed by the periodic stacking along [001] of five [BaO₃] layers separated by a [BaOCl] with a (hhhchc) stacking sequence. The [BaO₃] stacking creates tetranuclear face sharing octahedra units Co₄O₁₅ containing Co(III) connected by dimers of corner-sharing CoO₄ tetrahedra. This new oxychloride belongs to the family of compounds formulated as [BaOCl]M′₂[Ba_n+1M_nO_3n+3] where n represents the thickness of the octahedral string in hexagonal perovskite slabs.     

Polaron morphologies in SrFe1−xTixO3−δ

The morphologies of the charge carriers in the perovskite system SrFe_1−xTi_xO_3−δ are explored by transport and magnetic measurements. Oxygen vacancies are present in all samples, but they do not trap out the Fe³⁺ ions they introduce. The x=0.05 composition was prepared with three different values of δ. They all show small-polaron conduction above 225 K; but where there is a ratio c=Fe⁴⁺/Fe<0.5, the polaron morphology appears to change progressively with decreasing temperature below 225 K to two-Fe polarons that become ferromagnetically coupled in an applied magnetic field at lower temperatures; With an applied field of 2500 Oe, divergence of the paramagnetic susceptibility for zero-field-cooled and field-cooled samples manifests a greater stabilization of ferromagnetic pairs on cooling in the applied field. With a c>0.5, the data are consistent with a disproportionation reaction 2Fe⁴⁺=Fe³⁺+Fe(V)O_6/2 that inhibits formation of two-Fe polarons and, on lowering the temperature, creates Fe³⁺-Fe(V)-Fe³⁺ superparamagnetic clusters.     

Diffraction and DAFS Studies of a Ba4(BaxPt1−x)Pt2O9Twinned Crystal, a Member of the Bap(BaxPt1−x)Ptp−2O3p−3Series

Crystallographic studies of the Ba–Pt–O system have been undertaken using X-ray and electron diffraction techniques. The system is described by means of a Ba_p(Ba_xPt²⁺_1−x)Pt⁴⁺_p−2O_3p−3formula which corresponds to a BaO₃hexagonal based framework with Pt chains, whereprepresents the oxygen deficiency and the presence of both Pt⁴⁺and Pt²⁺cations in the compounds, andxa possible substitution of Pt²⁺by Ba²⁺in trigonal prismatic sites. The structure of a Ba₄(Ba_0.04Pt²⁺_0.96)Pt⁴⁺₂O₉crystal has been solved by using 5548 X-ray difraction reflections collected on a twinned crystal. Refinements were performed with two distinct models: an “average”P321 space group and an “orthorhombic”C2 space group with cell parametersa=17.460(4) Å,b=10.085(2) Å,c=8.614(3) Å. In this structure, two Pt⁴⁺and one Pt²⁺cations are distributed over four Ba planes and form chains along thecaxis, consisting of two face-sharing Pt⁴⁺O₆octahedra connected with one Pt²⁺O₆trigonal prism. A lattice misfit occurs between the rigid barium lattice and the PtO₃chains, giving rise to a composite structure. Twinning and domain configurations are described and taken into account in the refinement. This twinning is related to the presence of Pt²⁺cations, whose positions break the threefold axis symmetry. A diffraction anomalous fine structure (DAFS) study was also performed on this twinned single crystal. Anomalous scattering factorsf′ andf″ for platinum in this crystal were refined near the L_IIIPt absorption edge. They confirm the weak barium occupancy of the trigonal prismataic site and the Pt⁴⁺valence of the octahedral sites. Reflection overlaps, due to twinning, flatten the DAFS sensitivity to Pt atoms in the prismatic sites and did not allow their clear valence determination, but Pt–O bond lengths agree with the presence of Pt²⁺cations at the center of prismatic faces. Electron diffraction patterns of powders having slightly different composition show a continuous evolution of incommensurate Bragg peaks and a weak correlation between the PtO₃chains. They also confirm the composite nature and the one-dimensionality of the Ba_p(Ba_xPt²⁺_1−x)Pt⁴⁺_p−2O_3p−3series, which can produce highly anisotropic physical properties.     

Enzyme mimics of spinel-type CoxNi1−xFe2O4 magnetic nanomaterial for eletroctrocatalytic oxidation of hydrogen peroxide

A series of spinel-type Co_xNi_1−xFe₂O₄ (x = 0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.8, 1.0) magnetic nanomaterials were solvothermally synthesized as enzyme mimics for the eletroctrocatalytic oxidation of H₂O₂. X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscope were employed to characterize the composition, structure and morphology of the material. The electrochemical properties of spinel-type Co_xNi_1−xFe₂O₄ with different (Co/Ni) molar ratio toward H₂O₂ oxidation were investigated, and the results demonstrated that Co_0.5Ni_0.5Fe₂O₄ modified carbon paste electrode (Co_0.5Ni_0.5Fe₂O₄/CPE) possessed the best electrocatalytic activity for H₂O₂ oxidation. Under optimum conditions, the calibration curve for H₂O₂ determination on Co_0.5Ni_0.5Fe₂O₄/CPE was linear in a wide range of 1.0 × 10⁻⁸–1.0 × 10⁻³ M with low detection limit of 3.0 × 10⁻⁹ M (S/N = 3). The proposed Co_0.5Ni_0.5Fe₂O₄/CPE was also applied to the determination of H₂O₂ in commercial toothpastes with satisfactory results, indicating that Co_xNi_1−xFe₂O₄ is a promising hydrogen peroxidase mimics for the detection of H₂O₂.     

Investigations of vanadium oxide bronzes θ-(Fe1−yAly)xV2O5

The vanadium oxide bronzes θ-(Fe_1?yAl_y)_xV₂O₅ are Curie-Weiss paramagnets and hopping semiconductors. The samples studied were synthesized by direct solid-state reaction and investigated by the X-ray diffraction, differential thermal analysis, electrical resistivity, magnetic susceptibility, and Mössbauer techniques. The crystal lattice parameters, effective magnetic moments of Fe³⁺ cations, Curie-Weiss temperatures, and the values of ⁵⁷Fe hyperfine interaction parameters were determined. Endothermic effects were observed for some of the samples.     

Thermochemistry of La0.7Sr0.3Mn1−xFexO3 solid solutions (0<x<1)

The structure, the energetics and the internal redox reactions of La_0.7Sr_0.3Fe_xMn_1−xO₃ have been studied in the complete solid solution range 0.0<x<1.0. High temperature oxide melt drop solution calorimetry was performed to determine the enthalpies of formation from binary oxides and the enthalpy of mixing. There is a noticeable change in the energetics of the solid solution near x=0.7, which is due to the growing concentration of Fe⁴⁺ at higher Fe/(Fe+Mn) ratio. The balance between different valences of the transition metals, Mn and Fe, is the main factor in determining the energetics of the La_0.70Sr_0.30Fe_xMn_1−xO₃ solid solution.     

Structure and photoluminescence properties of Ce-doped novel silicon-oxynitride Ba4−zMzSi8O20−3xN2x (M=Mg, Ca, Sr)

Structural and photoluminescence properties of undoped and Ce³⁺-doped novel silicon-oxynitride phosphors of Ba_4−zM_zSi₈O_20−3xN_2x (M=Mg, Sr, Ca) are reported. Single-phase solid solutions of Ba_4−zM_zSi₈O_20−3xN_2x oxynitride were synthesized by partial substitutions of 3O²⁻→2N³⁻ and Ba→M (M=Mg, Ca, Sr) in orthorhombic Ba₂Si₄O₁₀. The influences of the type of alkaline earth ions of M, the Ce³⁺ concentration on the photoluminescence properties and thermal quenching behaviors of Ba₃MSi₈O_20−3xN_2x (M=Mg, Ca, Sr, x=0.5) were investigated. Under excitation at about 330 nm, Ba₃MSi₈O_20−3xN_2x:Ce³⁺ (x=0.5) exhibits efficient blue emission centered at 400-450 nm in the range of 350-650 nm owing to the 5d→4f transition of Ce³⁺. The emission band of Ce³⁺ shifts to long wavelength by increasing the ionic size of M due to the modification of the crystal field, as well as the Ce³⁺ concentrations due to the Stokes shift and energy transfer or reabsorption of Ce³⁺ ions. Among the silicon-oxynitride phosphors of Ba₃MSi₈O_18.5N:Ce³⁺, M=Sr_0.6Ca_0.4 possesses the best thermal stability probably related to its high onset of the absorption edge of Ce³⁺.     

Crystal structure, microstructure and reducibility of LaNixCo1−xO3 and LaFexCo1−xO3 Perovskites (0<x≤0.5)

Nickel and iron substituted LaCoO₃ with rhombohedrally distorted perovskite structure were obtained in the temperature range of 600-900 °C by thermal decomposition of freeze-dried citrates and by the Pechini method. The crystal structure, morphology and defective structure of LaCo_1−xNi_xO₃ and LaCo_1−xFe_xO₃ were characterized by X-ray diffraction and neutron powder diffraction, TEM and SEM analyses and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy. The reducibility was tested by temperature programmed reduction with hydrogen. The products of the partial and complete reduction were determined by ex-situ XRD experiments. The replacement of Co by Ni and Fe led to lattice expansion of the perovskite structure. For perovskites annealed at 900 °C, there was a random Ni, Fe and Co distribution. The morphology of the perovskites does not depend on the Ni and Fe content, nor does it depend on the type of the precursor used. LaCo_1−xNi_xO₃ perovskites (x>0.1) annealed at 900 °C are reduced to Co/Ni transition metal and La₂O₃ via the formation of oxygen deficient Brownmillerite-type compositions. For LaCo_1−xNi_xO₃ annealed at 600 °C, Co/Ni metal, in addition to oxygen-deficient perovskites, was formed as an intermediate product at the initial stage of the reduction. The interaction of LaCo_1−xFe_xO₃ with H₂ occurs by reduction of Co³⁺ to Co²⁺ prior to the Fe³⁺ ions. The reducibility of Fe-substituted perovskites is less sensitive towards the synthesis procedure in comparison with that of Ni substituted perovskites.     

The Crystal Structures, Microstructure and Ionic Conductivity of Ba2In2O5 and Ba(InxZr1−x)O3−x/2

This paper describes the results of electron microscopy, high-temperature powder neutron diffraction, and impedance spectroscopy studies of brownmillerite-structured Ba₂In₂O₅ and perovskite structured Ba(In_xZr_1−x)O_3−x/2. The ambient temperature structure of Ba₂In₂O₅ is found to adopt Icmm symmetry, with disorder of the tetrahedrally coordinated (In³⁺) ions of the type observed previously in Sr₂Fe₂O₅. Ba₂In₂O₅ undergoes a ∼6-fold increase in its ionic conductivity over the narrow temperature range from ∼1140 K to ∼1230 K, in broad agreement with previous studies. This transition corresponds to a change from the brownmillerite structure to a cubic perovskite arrangement with disordered anions. Electron microscopy investigations showed the presence of extended defects in all the crystals analyzed. Ba(In_xZr_1−x)O_3−x/2 samples with x=0.1 to 0.9 adopt the cubic perovskite structure, with the lattice parameter increasing with x.     

Structural aspects of Pr1−xSrxFeO3−w

Structural aspects of the distorted perovskite ABO₃ phase Pr_1−xSr_xFeO_3−w,x=0.00-0.80,w=0.000-0.332, were studied by powder X-ray diffraction, powder neutron diffraction, Mössbauer spectroscopy, and Fe K-, Sr K-, and Pr L_III-edge EXAFS techniques. The diffraction data revealed no indications for ordering of Pr and Sr at the A site, nor for oxygen vacancy ordering at O sites for heavily reduced samples. Mössbauer spectroscopy showed octahedral, square pyramidal, and tetrahedral Fe coordinations with relative amounts closely following the predictions for a binomial distribution of oxygen vacancies. In addition to Fe³⁺ and Fe⁴⁺, also Fe⁵⁺ appears at 77 K for (G-type) antiferromagnetic samples with high average Fe valence. This suggests dynamic 2 Fe⁴⁺↔Fe³⁺+Fe⁵⁺ fluctuations. At 296 K, a mixed valence Fe⁽³⁺ⁿ⁾⁺ component significantly improved the fit of Mössbauer spectra for the most oxidized paramagnetic samples. The qualitative EXAFS study shows that the local environments for Fe, Pr, and Sr strongly depend on x and w. The local Pr- and Sr-site geometries differ significantly from the cubic average structure for Pr_0.50Sr_0.50FeO_2.746.     

Layered perovskite-related ruthenium oxychlorides: crystal structure of two new compounds Ba5Ru2Cl2O9 and Ba6Ru3Cl2O12

Single crystals of the title compounds were prepared using a BaCl₂ flux and investigated by X-ray diffraction methods using MoKα radiation and a charge coupled device (CCD) detector. The crystal structures of these two new compounds were solved and refined in the hexagonal symmetry with space group P6₃/mmc, a=5.851(1) Å, c=25.009(5) Å, ρ_cal=4.94 g cm⁻³, Z=2 to a final R₁=0.069 for 20 parameters with 312 reflections for Ba₅Ru₂Cl₂O₉ and space group , a=5.815(1) Å, c=14.915(3) Å, ρ_cal=5.28 g cm⁻³, Z=1 to a final R₁=0.039 for 24 parameters with 300 reflections for Ba₆Ru₃Cl₂O₁₂. The structure of Ba₅Ru₂Cl₂O₉ is formed by the periodic stacking along [001] of three hexagonal close-packed BaO₃ layers separated by a double layer of composition Ba₂Cl₂. The BaO₃ stacking creates binuclear face-sharing octahedra units Ru₂O₉ containing Ru(V). The structure of Ba₆Ru₃Cl₂O₁₂ is built up by the periodic stacking along [001] of four hexagonal close-packed BaO₃ layers separated by a double layer of composition Ba₂Cl₂. The ruthenium ions with a mean oxidation degree +4.67 occupy the octahedral interstices formed by the four layers hexagonal perovskite slab and then constitute isolated trinuclear Ru₃O₁₂ units. These two new oxychlorides belong to the family of compounds formulated as [Ba₂Cl₂][Ba_n+1Ru_nO_3n+3], where n represents the thickness of the octahedral string in hexagonal perovskite slabs.     

Preparation and Mo¨ssbauer studies of (FeyNb1−y)1+xS2 compounds

The phase relations for iron niobium sulfides (Fe_yNb_1?y)_1+xS₂ have been examined by varying the partial pressure of sulfur at 950°C. While niobium is difficult to dissolve in iron sulfide, iron dissolves in niobium sulfide up to about 35% of the total metal sites. Iron niobium sulfide has the layered hexagonal type structure (2s-Nb_1+xS₂) with change in the lattice parameters depending on both the value of x and the amount of the iron dissolved. The Mo¨ssbauer spectra of sulfides with three different Fe/Nb ratios, 1/9(y =1/10), 1/4(y =1/5), and 1/2(y =1/3) were taken at 77 and 295 K. Each spectrum is composed of a quadrupole doublet which can be attributed to the Fe²⁺ ions in high spin state. The quadrupole splitting at 295 K decreases markedly with decrease in x which is related to change of the lattice parameters. Fe atoms cannot enter at random into all metal sites, and prefer to intercalate in the sites of partially filled layers. Possible models for the cation distribution in each metal layer are discussed.     

Structural and magnetic characterization of BiFexMn2-xO5 oxides (x=0.5, 1.0)

The title compounds have been synthesized by a citrate technique followed by thermal treatments in air (BiFe_0.5Mn_1.5O₅) or under high oxygen pressure conditions (BiFeMnO₅), and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), neutron powder diffraction (NPD) and magnetization measurements. The crystal structures have been refined from NPD data in the space group Pbam at 295 K. These phases are isostructural with RMn₂O₅ oxides (R=rare earths) and contain infinite chains of Mn⁴⁺O₆ octahedra sharing edges, linked together by (Fe,Mn)³⁺O₅ pyramids and BiO₈ units. These units are strongly distorted with respect to those observed in other RFeMnO₅ compounds, due to the presence of the electronic lone pair on Bi³⁺. It is noteworthy the certain level of antisite disorder exhibited in both samples, where the octahedral positions are partially occupied by Fe cations, and vice versa. BiFe_xMn_2−xO₅ (x=0.5, 1.0) are short-range magnetically ordered below 20 K for x=0.5 and at 40 K for x=1.0. The main magnetic interactions seem to be antiferromagnetic (AFM); however, the presence of a small hysteresis in the magnetization cycles indicates the presence of some weak ferromagnetic (FM) interactions.     

Mo¨ssbauer studies of thiospinels. IV. The system FeCr2S4-Fe3S4

Spinel compounds of the composition Fe_1+xCr_2?xS₄, with 0 ≦ x ≦ 0.5, have been prepared in polycrystalline form. The ionic distribution Fe²⁺[Cr³⁺_2?xFe³⁺_x]S^2?₄ is derived from both X-ray and ⁵⁷Fe Mo¨ssbauer data. Room temperature Mo¨ssbauer spectra show the typical behavior of tetrahedral-site Fe²⁺ surrounded by different octahedral-site neighbors. Octahedral-site Fe³⁺ absorbs as a doublet with Δ ≈ 0.5 mm/s. Samples of overall composition FeCr₂S₄ consist mainly of a spinel Fe²⁺[Cr³⁺_2?yFe³⁺_y]S^2?₄, y ≈ 0.02.     

Magnetostructural correlations in the antiferromagnetic Co2−x Cux(OH)AsO4 (x=0 and 0.3) phases

The Co_2−xCu_x(OH)AsO₄ (x=0 and 0.3) compounds have been synthesized under mild hydrothermal conditions and characterized by X-ray single-crystal diffraction and spectroscopic data. The hydroxi-arsenate phases crystallize in the Pnnm orthorhombic space group with Z=4 and the unit-cell parameters are a=8.277(2) Å, b=8.559(2) Å, c=6.039(1) Å and a=8.316(1) Å, b=8.523(2) Å, c=6.047(1) Å for x=0 and 0.3, respectively. The crystal structure consists of a three-dimensional framework in which M(1)O₅-trigonal bipyramid dimers and M(2)O₆-octahedral chains (M=Co and Cu) are present. Co₂(OH)AsO₄ shows an anomalous three-dimensional antiferromagnetic ordering influenced by the magnetic field below 21 K within the presence of a ferromagnetic component below the ordering temperature. When Co²⁺ is partially substituted by Cu²⁺ions, Co_1.7Cu_0.3(OH)AsO₄, the ferromagnetic component observed in Co₂(OH)AsO₄ disappears and the antiferromagnetic order is maintained in the entire temperature range. Heat capacity measurements show an unusual magnetic field dependence of the antiferromagnetic transitions. This λ-type anomaly associated to the three-dimensional antiferromagnetic ordering grows with the magnetic field and becomes better defined as observed in the non-substituted phase. These results are attributed to the presence of the unpaired electron in the dx²−y² orbital and the absence of overlap between neighbour ions.     

Valence state of the Fe ions in Sr1−yLayFeO3

The Sr²⁺_1?yLa³⁺_yFeO₃ system with 0.1 ≦ y ≦ 0.6 has been studied mainly by the Mössbauer effect. The results are discussed referring to the Ca_1?xSr_xFeO₃ system. The following four kinds of electronic phases have been observed: the paramagnetic and the antiferromagnetic average valence phases and the corresponding mixed valence phases. Two kinds of Fe ions coexist, in general, in the mixed valence phases. In the antiferromagnetic mixed valence phase, typically at 4 K, the magnetic hyperfine field and the center shift each takes a wide range of value depending on the composition, while a beautiful correlation is kept between them. The extreme values are close to those expected for Fe³⁺ and Fe⁵⁺. The appropriate chemical formulas are, therefore, Ca_1?xSr_xFe^(3+Δ)+_0.5Fe^(5?Δ)+_0.5O₃ and $\text{Sr}{}_{\mathrm{1?y}}\text{La}{}_{\mathrm{y}}\text{Fe}{}^{\mathrm{(3+\delta )+}}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>(1+y)</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}\text{Fe}{}^{\mathrm{(5?\delta )+}}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>(1?y)</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}\text{O}{}_3$.