Crystallization of MIGe2(PO4)3 (MI – Na,K, Ag) from molten phosphate media

A number of NASICON‐related M^IGe₂(PO₄)₃ (M^I – Na, K, Ag) have been prepared using a high‐temperature solution method in the molten system M^I‐Ge‐P‐O (M^I – Na, K) based on the solubility data for GeO₂ at 1123 K for the Na‐P‐O system and 1173 K for the K‐P‐O one. The single crystals of AgGe₂(PO₄)₃ were obtained after crystallization of a melt with Ag/P = 1.4. It crystallizes in the trigonal system, space group R‐3, cell parameters a = 8.06340(1) Å, c = 21.8385(4) Å, Z = 6. The framework is built up from two GeO₆ units that are isolated from each other by PO₄ tetrahedra to form the main building block of the structure [Ge₂(PO₄)₃]⁻. Two types of silver cations M1 and M2 are found to have different coordination requirements shown by the bond valence sum calculations.     

Composition and morphology control of Fex(PO4)y(OH)z·nH2O microcrystals

A series of Fe_x(PO₄)_y(OH)_z·nH₂O microcrystals were prepared by the hydrothermal reaction at 150 °C. The ratio of Fe²⁺/Fe³⁺ in Fe_x(PO₄)_y(OH)_z·nH₂O microcrystals can be adjusted by using Na₂S₂O₃·5H₂O as a reducing agent. The morphology control of Fe_x(PO₄)_y(OH)_z·nH₂O microcrystals was realized through regulating the molar ratio of LiAc·2H₂O/FeCl₃. Further, the morphology, structure and composition of Fe_x(PO₄)_y(OH)_z·nH₂O microcrystals were also investigated by x‐ray diffraction (XRD), x‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) techniques. (© 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Phase formation in molten system (Na/K)2O‐TiO2‐P2O5. Crystal structures of NASICON and langbeinite‐related phosphates (K/Na)1+xTi2(PO4)3 (x = 0 and 0.357)

Crystallization of high temperature self‐flux of system Na₂O‐K₂O‐TiO₂‐P₂O₅ was investigated at different molar ratios (Na+K)/P = 0.9; 1.0 or 1.2 and Na/K = 1.0 or 2.0 over the temperature range 1000–650°C. The conditions of formation of complex phosphates K_0.10Na_0.90Ti₂(PO₄)₃ (NASICON‐related) and K_0.877Na_0.48Ti^ІІІ_0.357Ti^ІV_1.643(PO₄)₃ (langbeinite‐related) have been established. The new obtained compounds were investigated using FTIR‐spectroscopy, powder and single crystal X‐ray diffraction and optical microscopy methods. The influence of alkaline metal nature on the structure formation of complex phosphates in the high temperature self‐fluxes is discussed.     

Interaction in the molten system Rb2O‐P2O5‐TiO2‐NiO. Crystal structure of the langbeinite‐related Rb2Ni0.5Ti1.5(PO4)3

The interaction in the molten system Rb₂O‐P₂O₅‐TiO₂‐NiO was investigated at different molar ratios Rb/P = 0.5‐1.3, fixed Ti/P = 0.15, Ti/Ni = 1.0 at temperature range 1073–953 K. The conditions of formation of complex phosphates RbTi₂(PO₄)₃, Rb₂Ni_0.5Ti_1.5(PO₄)₃ and RbNiPO₄ have been determined. The new phosphate Rb₂Ni_0.5Ti_1.5(PO₄)₃ (space group P2₁3, a = 9.9386(2) Å) has been obtained and investigated by the single crystal X‐ray diffraction and FTIR‐spectroscopy. It has langbeinite‐like structure, that is built up from mixed (Ni/Ti)O₆‐octahedra and РО₄‐tetrahedra. Rubidium atoms are located in closed cavities of 3D‐framework.     

Synthesis and crystal structure of langbeinite related mixed‐metal phosphates K1.822Nd0.822Zr1.178(PO4)3 and K2LuZr(PO4)3

Two potassium lanthanide zirconium orthophosphates with general composition K_1.822Nd_0.822Zr_1.178(PO₄)₃ (KNdZrP) and K₂LuZr(PO₄)₃ (KLuZrP) were prepared using the flux technique. Original synthetic procedure has been examined for the flux growth of the complex phosphates containing zirconium and lanthanide. Both compounds have been synthesized in the complex melts containing at the same time potassium phosphates and transition metal fluorides. The structures were solved from the single crystal (KNdZrP) and powder (KLuZrP) X‐ray diffraction data. Both compounds are isotypic to langbeinite mineral and crystallize in cubic system (sp. gr. P2₁3) with the cell parameters a = 10.3228(2) and a = 10.29668(5) Å respectively. The rigid framework is built up from the isolated [MO₆] octahedra and [PO₄] tetrahedra interlinked via vertices. The potassium cations are located in the large closed cavities of the framework. (© 2007 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Synthesis and crystal structure of novel complex phosphate Li5Cu2Al(PO4)4

A new complex phosphate Li₅Cu₂Al(PO₄)₄ has been obtained by the flux method in the Cs-Li-Cu-V-P-O system. Its crystal structure has been determined by X-ray diffraction (R ₁ = 2.74%) to be as follows: sp. gr. $P\bar 1$ , a = 4.860(5) Å, b = 7.788(5) Å, c = 8.324(5) Å, α = 69.542(5)°, β = 90.016(5)°, γ = 75.318(5)°, Z = 1, and V = 284.2(4) ų. The compound under study has a dense structure and a three-dimensional framework build up of [LiO₅], [AlO₆], [Cu/LiO₅], and [CuO₄] polyhedra and [PO₄] tetrahedra. A comparative crystal-chemical analysis of two isotypic compounds with a general formula Li₅Cu₂ M(PO₄)₄ (M = Fe, Al) has been performed. Topological relations between the Na₂Mg₅(PO₄)₄ and Li₅Cu₂ M(PO₄)₄ crystal structures, which are characterized by different cationic compositions, are revealed.     

Microwave dielectric properties of La(1‐2x/3)Bax(Mg0.5Sn0.5)O3 ceramics

This study examined the potential applications of microwave dielectric properties of La_(1‐2x/3)Ba_x(Mg_0.5Sn_0.5)O₃ ceramics in rectenna. The La_(1‐2x/3)Ba_x(Mg_0.5Sn_0.5)O₃ ceramics were prepared by the conventional solid‐state method with various sintering temperatures. An apparent density of 6.62 g/cm³, a dielectric constant of 20.3, a quality factor of 51,700 GHz, and a temperature coefficient of resonant frequency of ‐78.2 ppm/K were obtained for La_2.98/3Ba_0.01(Mg_0.5Sn_0.5)O₃ ceramics that were sintered at 1550 °C for 4 h. (© 2010 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Structural and spectroscopic study of Mg13.4(OH)6(HVO4)2(H0.2VO4)6

Single‐crystals of the polar compound magnesium hydrogen vanadate(V), Mg_13.4(OH)₆(HVO₄)₂(H_0.2VO₄)₆, were synthesized hydrothermally. It represents the first hydrogen vanadate(V) among inorganic compounds. Its structure was determined by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction [space group P 6₃mc, a = 12.9096(2), c = 5.0755(1) Å, V = 732.55(2) ų, Z = 1]. The crystal structure of Mg_13.4(OH)₆(HVO₄)₂(H_0.2VO₄)₆ consists of well separated, vacancy‐interrupted chains of face sharing Mg2O₆ octahedra, with short Mg2—Mg2 distances of 2.537(1) Å, embedded in a porous magnesium vanadate 3D framework having the topology of the zeolite cancrinite. All three hydrogen positions in the structure were confirmed by FTIR spectroscopy. (© 2008 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Structural,optical and dielectric studies on K1‐x(NH4)xH2PO4 mixed crystals grown from z‐cut seeds

Mixed crystals of K_1‐x(NH₄)_xH₂PO₄(KADP) were grown from KDP (KH₂PO₄) dominated mixed solutions with varying molar proportion of ADP (NH₄H₂PO₄) addition. It was found that, as the increase of ADP molar concentration, the growth rate along z‐axis of KADP crystal decreased rapidly. The structure of KADP crystals was investigated by powder XRD and the lattice parameter was calculated. The results showed that the lattice parameter c of KADP crystal increased with the molar concentration of ADP. The optical homogeneity of grown KADP crystals was determined with a differential phase‐shifting interferometry. Frequency dependences of the dielectric constant and dielectric loss of KADP crystals were measured at room temperature (290 K). The dielectric constants of KADP crystals were almost invariant with the increase of frequency. In the region of 10²∼10⁴Hz, the values of the dielectric loss reduced with the increase of frequency. The piezo‐resonance coupling effect still exists in KADP crystals at room temperature, but shifted to low frequency band. (© 2010 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Magneto‐transport properties of polycrystalline YBa2(Cu1‐xMx)3O7‐δ (M = B and Mn)

The magnetic and transport properties of polycrystalline YBa₂ (Cu_1‐xM_x)₃ O_7‐δ (M = B and Mn) superconductor was investigated. Samples of YBa₂(Cu_1‐xB_x)₃O_7‐δ doped with several concentrations of boron B(x = 0.05 and 0.1) were investigated using magnetization measurements. A YBa₂(Cu_1‐xMn_x)₃O_7‐δ sample doped with Mn with concentration of x = 0.02 was investigated using current‐voltage (I‐V) measurements. Our results on the YBa₂(Cu_1‐xB_x)₃O_7‐δ samples reveal a considerable increase in the hysterisis width of the magnetization, M versus the applied magnetic field H with increasing boron concentration. The lower critical field was also found to be enhanced by boron doping. The critical current density, J_c was found to be significantly enhanced in the Mn‐doped sample. The enhancement of J_c was found to be more significant at the lower temperatures for all applied magnetic fields used (0 Oe, 300 Oe, and 500 Oe). Thus, chemical doping is suggested to enhance the vortex pinning forces in the YBCO samples. From the resistivity (R‐T) measurements, chemical doping of the samples was found to have no significant effect on the critical temperature, T_c. (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Growth,structure, and superconducting properties of Bi2Sr2Ca2Cu3O10 and (Bi,Pb)2Sr2Ca2Cu3O10‐y crystals

Large and high‐quality single crystals of both Pb‐free and Pb‐doped high temperature superconducting compounds (Bi_1‐xPb_x)₂Sr₂Ca₂Cu₃O_10‐y (x = 0 and 0.3) were grown by means of a newly developed “Vapour‐Assisted Travelling Floating Zone” technique (VA‐TSFZ). This modified zone‐melting technique was realised in an image furnace and allowed for the first time to grow Pb‐doped crystals by compensating for the Pb losses occurring at high temperature. Crystals up to 3×2×0.1 mm³ were successfully grown. Post‐annealing under high pressure of O₂ (up to 10 MPa at T = 500°C) was undertaken to enhance T_c and improve the homogeneity of the crystals. Structural characterisation was performed by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction (XRD) and the structure of the 3‐layer Bi‐based superconducting compound was refined for the first time. Structure refinement showed an incommensurate superlattice in the Pb‐free crystals. The space group is orthorhombic, A2aa, with cell parameters a = 27.105(4) Å, b = 5.4133(6) Å and c = 37.009(7) Å. Superconducting studies were carried out by A.C. and D.C. magnetic measurements. Very sharp superconducting transitions were obtained in both kinds of crystals (ΔT_c ≤ 1 K). In optimally doped Pb‐free crystals, critical temperatures up to 111 K were measured. Magnetic critical current densities of 2�10⁵ A/cm² were measured at T = 30 K and μ₀H = 0 T. A weak second peak in the magnetisation loops was observed in the temperature range 40‐50 K above which the vortex lattice becomes entangled. We have measured a portion of the irreversibility line (0.1‐5 Tesla) and fitted the expression for the melting of a vortex glass in a 2D fluctuation regime to the experimental data. Measurements of the lower critical field allowed to obtain the dependence of the penetration depth on temperature: the linear dependence of λ(T) for T < 30 K is consistent with d‐wave superconductivity in Bi‐2223. (© 2004 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Crystal structures of two modifications of sodium pentahydrogendiphosphate NaH5(PO4)2

Two crystalline modifications of NaH₅(PO₄)₂ are obtained by the reaction of Na₂CO₃ with an excess of orthophosphoric acid. The crystal structures of α-and β-NaH₅(PO₄)₂ are determined by X-ray diffraction analysis. The crystal data are a = 8.484(4) Å, b = 7.842(3) Å, c = 10.353(4) Å, β = 90.50(3)°, V = 689.3(3) ų, space group P2₁/c, Z = 4, and R ₁ = 0.0250 for the α modification and a = 7.127(2) Å, b = 13.346(4) Å, c = 7.177(2) Å, β = 95.5(2)°, V = 679.5(3) ų, space group P2₁/c, Z = 4, and R ₁ = 0.0232 for the β modification. Based of the hydrogen-bond system, the formulas of the α and β modifications can be represented as Na(H₂PO₄)(H₃PO₄) and Na[H(H₂PO₄)₂], respectively. They correspond to the stable and metastable forms of the compound.     

Synthesis and crystal structure of Na1.28Ni0.86Fe2(PO4)3

A new monophosphate Na_1.28Ni_0.86Fe₂(PO₄)₃ has been synthesized by a flux method and structurally characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The compound crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group Ibmm with the parameters: a = 6.438(2) Å, b = 10.515(3) Å, c = 13.166(3) Å, Z = 4. The structure is built up from Fe₂O₁₀ units of edge-sharing FeO₆ octahedra, which are connected through the corners of MO₆ (M = Ni²⁺ or a vacancy) octahedra and PO₄ tetrahedra to form a three-dimensional framework analogous to that of -CrPO₄. Of the two crystallographically distinct Na⁺ sites contained in this structure, one is totally filled whereas the other is 28% occupied.     

Synthesis and crystal chemical characteristics of the structure of <Emphasis Type="Italic">M</Emphasis><Subscript>0.5</Subscript>Zr<Subscript>2</Subscript>(PO<Subscript>4</Subscript>)<Subscript>3</Subscript> phosphates

Double phosphates of zirconium and metals with an oxidation degree of +2 of the composition M_0.5Zr₂(PO₄)₃ (M = Mg, Ca, Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Sr, Cd, and Ba) are synthesized and characterized by X-ray diffraction methods and IR spectroscopy. The crystal structures of all the compounds are based on three-dimensional frameworks of corner-sharing PO₄-tetrahedra and ZrO₆-octahedra. Phosphates with large Cd²⁺, Ca²⁺, Sr²⁺, and Ba²⁺ cations octahedrally coordinated with oxygen atoms form rhombohedral structures (space group R3), whereas phosphates with small tetrahedrally coordinated Mg²⁺, Ni²⁺, Cu²⁺, Co²⁺, Zn ²⁺, and Mn²⁺-cations are monoclinic (space group P2₁/n). The effect of various structure-forming factors on the M_0.5Zr₂(PO₄)₃ compounds with a common structural motif but different symmetries are discussed.     

Alkali-metal hydrogen selenate-phosphates M 2 H 3(SeO4)(PO4) (M = Rb or K) and M 4H5(SeO4)3(PO4)(M = K or Na)

Crystalline hydrogen selenate-phosphates M ₂H₃(SeO₄)(PO₄) [M = Rb (I) or K (II)] and M ₄H₅(SeO₄)₃(PO₄) [M = K (III) or Na (IV)] were obtained by reactions of Rb, K, and Na carbonates with mixtures of selenic and phosphoric acid solutions. The X-ray structure study of single crystals revealed that I and II are isostructural (sp. gr. Pn). In these structures, SeO₄ and H₃PO₄ tetrahedra are linked by hydrogen bonds to form corrugated layers. Structures III and IV (sp. gr. $P\bar 1$ ) have similar arrangements of non-hydrogen atoms but different hydrogen-bond systems. In III = K₄(HSeO₄)₂{H[H(Se,P)O₄]₂}, the HSeO₄ groups branch from the infinite anionic {H[H(Se,P)O₄]₂} chains. In IV = Na₄[H(SeO₄)₂]{H[H_1.5(Se, P)O₄]₂}, the anionic {H[H_1.5(Se,P)O₄]₂} chains are crosslinked by hydrogen bonds formed by the [H(SeO₄)₂] dimers.     

Studies on a new Rb3H9(PO4)4 crystal

A new type of trirubidium nonahydrogen tetraphosphate, Rb₃H₉(PO₄)₄, crystal has been crystallized. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and X‐ray diffraction measurements have been performed on the title compound. The crystal does not undergo any structural phase transition in the temperature range from 120 to 440 K except a melting transition at 399 K. The compound belongs to a monoclinic system with space group C2/c at room temperature. The structure is built on a framework of PO₄ tetrahedra linked by five types of OH‐O hydrogen bonds in the length range from 2.472(4) to 2.679(4) Å. (© 2004 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Crystallization of PbxSr1‐x(NO3)2 Solid Solutions from Aqueous Solutions

A series of Pb_xSr_1‐x(NO₃)₂ crystals have been grown from aqueous solutions and characterized by X‐ray powder diffraction. All diffraction data were well indexed according to the simple cubic structure. The variation of lattice constants with the concentrations of Pb²⁺ in the crystals accorded quite well to the Vegard's Law. The composition of the Sr(NO₃)₂ crystal doped with Pb²⁺ was studied by electron microprobe and it was found that Pb²⁺ was enriched in the 111 sectors. Equilibrium behavior in the Pb(NO₃)₂‐Sr(NO₃)₂‐H₂O system was analyzed by Lippmann's phase diagram and the equilibrium distribution coefficient D_Pb=133.6. This large value of D indicates that Pb²⁺ ion is preferentially distributed to the solid phase.     

Study of calcium-containing orthophosphates of NaZr2(PO4)3 structural type by high-temperature X-ray diffraction

Orthophosphates Ca_0.5Ti₂(PO₄)₃, Ca_0.5Zr₂(PO₄)₃, Ca_0.75Zr₂(SiO₄)_0.5(PO₄)_2.5, and CaMg_0.5Zr_1.5(PO₄)₃ (structural type NaZr₂(PO₄)₃), having different occupancies of interframework positions by calcium, have been prepared by the sol-gel method with the subsequent thermal treatment of dried gels and investigated by IR spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction. The analytical indexing of X-ray diffraction patterns is performed within the sp. gr. $R\bar 3$ . High-temperature X-ray diffraction was used to investigate the behavior of the orthophosphates upon heating: thermal expansion in the temperature range of 20–610°C (up to 500°C for Ca_0.5Zr₂(PO₄)₃). The coefficients of thermal expansion are calculated from the shift of diffraction peaks. The unit-cell parameters of crystals at different temperatures are determined. The dependences of thermal expansion and its anisotropy on the occupancy of cation M positions by calcium are revealed.     

Mixed tetrahedral anionic framework in the K3Ga2(PO4)3 crystal structure

The crystal structure of a new synthetic potassium gallophosphate K₃Ga₂(PO₄)₃ grown from a solution in the melt of a mixture of GaPO₄ and K₂MoO₄ is determined using X-ray diffraction (Bruker Smart diffractometer, 2θ_max= 56.6°, R = 0.044 for 2931 reflections, T = 100 K). The main crystal data are as follows: a = 8.661(2) Å, b = 17.002(4) Å, c = 8.386(2) Å, space group Pna2₁, Z= 4, and ρ_calcd = 2.91 g/cm³. The synthesized crystals represent the third phase in the structure type previously established for the K₃Al₂[(As,P)O₄]₃ compound. It is shown that the structure consists of a three-dimensional anionic microporous tetrahedral framework of the mixed type, which is formed by PO₄ and GaO₄ tetrahedra shared by vertices. Large-sized cations K⁺ occupy channels of the zeolite-like framework. The crystal chemical features of the formation of structure types of compounds with mixed frameworks described by the general formula A ₃ ⁺ M ₂ ³⁺ (TO₄)₃ (where A = K, Rb, (NH₄), Tl; M = Al, Ga, Fe, Sc, Yb; T = P, As) are analyzed.