Structural and vibrational studies of anilinium nitrate

The crystals of anilinium nitrate, , were obtained by slow evaporation of an aqueous solution. The crystals belong to the Pbca (no. 61) space group of orthorhombic system, Z=8, a=10.158(2), b=9.277(2), c=16.177(3) Å. Positively charged anilinium cations and anions are present in the structure. Powder FT IR and FT Raman spectra for normal and deuterated samples are discussed with respect to the crystal structure. DSC measurements do not indicate clearly on the occurrence of phase transition in the temperature region 113-293 K.     

Crystal structure and compressibility of a high-pressure Ti-rich oxide, (Ti0.50Zr0.26Mg0.14Cr0.10)O1.81, isomorphous with cubic zirconia

A Ti-rich oxide, (Ti_0.50Zr_0.26Mg_0.14Cr_0.10)_∑=1.0O_1.81, was synthesized at 8.8 GPa and 1600 °C using a multi-anvil apparatus. Its crystal structure at ambient conditions and compressibility up to 10.58 GPa were determined with single-crystal X-ray diffraction. This high-pressure phase is isomorphous with cubic zirconia (fluorite-type) with space group Fm3¯m and unit-cell parameters a=4.8830(5) Å and V=116.43(4) Å³. Like stabilized cubic zirconia, the structure of (Ti_0.50Zr_0.26Mg_0.14Cr_0.10)O_1.81 is also relaxed, with all O atoms displaced from the (, , ) position along 〈1 0 0〉 by 0.319 Å and all cations from the (0, 0, 0) position along 〈1 1 1〉 by 0.203 Å. No phase transformation was detected within the experimental pressure range. Fitting the high-pressure data (V vs. P) to a third-order Birch-Murnaghan EOS yields K₀=164(4) GPa, K′=4.3(7), and V₀=116.38(3) Å³. The bulk modulus of (Ti_0.50Zr_0.26Mg_0.14Cr_0.10)O_1.81 is significantly lower than that (202 GPa) determined experimentally for cubic TiO₂ or that (~210 GPa) estimated for cubic ZrO₂. This study demonstrates that cubic TiO₂ may also be obtained by introducing various dopants, similar to the way cubic zirconia is stabilized below 2370 °C. Furthermore, (Ti_0.50Zr_0.26Mg_0.14Cr_0.10)O_1.81 has the greatest ratio of Ti⁴⁺ content vs. vacant O²⁻ sites of all doped cubic zirconia samples reported thus far, making it a more promising candidate for the development of electrolytes in solid oxide fuel cells.     

Crystal structure and thermal behavior of two new organic monosulfates NH3(CH2)5NH3SO4 1.5H2O and NH3(CH2)9NH3SO4 H2O

The chemical preparation, the calorimetric studies and the crystal structure are given for two new organic sulfates NH₃(CH₂)₅NH₃SO₄ 1.5H₂O (DAP-S) and NH₃(CH₂)₉NH₃SO₄·H₂O (DAN-S). DAP-S is monoclinic P2₁/n with unit cell dimensions: a=11.9330(2) Å; b=10.9290(2) Å; c=17.5260(2) Å; β=101.873(1)°; V=2236.77(6) Å³; and Z=8. Its atomic arrangement is described as inorganic layers of units and water molecules separated by organic chains. DAN-S is monoclinic P2₁/c with unit cell parameters: a=5.768(2) Å; b=25.890(10) Å; c=11.177(5) Å; β=115.70(4)°; V=1504.0(11) Å³ and Z=4. Its structure exhibits infinite chains, parallel to the [100] direction where the organic cations are interconnected. In both structures a network of strong and weak hydrogen bonds connects the different components in the building of the crystal.     

Theoretical investigation of zero-field splitting and local structure distortion for a substitution of Fe ion in CdCl2 crystal

A theoretical method for studying the inter-relation between electron and molecule structure is proposed on the basis of the complete energy matrices of the electron-electron repulsion, the ligand-field and the spin-orbit coupling for d⁵ configuration ion in a trigonal ligand-field. As an application, the local distortion structure of (FeCl₆)^3- coordination complex for Fe³⁺ ions doped into CdCl₂ is investigated. Both the second-order zero-field splitting parameter and fourth-order zero-field splitting parameter are considered simultaneously in the structural investigation. By diagonalizing the complete energy matrices, the local structure distortion parameters ΔR=−0.24 Å, Δθ=2.137° at 26 K and ΔR=−0.203 Å, Δθ=2.515° at 225 K for Fe³⁺ ions in CdCl₂ are determined. These results elucidate a microscopic origin of various ligand-field parameters which are usually used empirically for the interpretation of electron paramagnetic resonance results. It is found that the theoretical results are in good agreement with the experimental values.     

Calorimetric and single crystal X-ray study of the phase transition of (PyH)2PdCl4

Polymorphic transition of pyridinium tetrachloropalladate(II) was investigated by heat capacity measurements and by single crystal X-ray structural analysis. A large λ-type anomaly was detected at 240 K in the temperature dependence of the heat capacity. The low-temperature phase (LTP) belongs to the triclinic space group with a=6.856(1), b=7.293(1), c=7.721(1) Å, α=75.180(2)°, β=71.081(2)°, γ=81.109(3)° at 100 K, and the high-temperature phase (HTP) to the same space group with a=7.217(2), b=7.470(2), c=7.880(2) Å, α=73.438(3)°, β=65.195(3)°, γ=82.727(4)° at 293 K. The pyridinium cations are ordered antiferroelectrically in LTP. In HTP, however, an orientational disorder of the cation was observed. The energy difference between potential wells for the reorientation of pyridinium ion in HTP is discussed referring to the results of the present single crystal X-ray and heat capacity as well as the previous ¹H NMR measurements. A five-site disorder model is shown to be consistent with both of the observations of ¹H NMR and X-ray study.     

Temperature and pressure effects on the spin state of ferric ions in the [Fe(sal2-trien)][Ni(dmit)2] spin crossover complex

Thermal and pressure effects have been investigated on the [Fe(sal₂-trien)][Ni(dmit)₂] spin crossover complex by means of Mössbauer spectroscopic, calorimetric, X-ray diffraction and magnetic susceptibility measurements. The complex displays a complete thermal spin transition between the and spin states of Fe^III near 245 K with a hysteresis loop of ca. 30 K. This transition is characterised by a change of the enthalpy, ΔH_HL=7 kJ/mol, entropy, ΔS_HL=29 J/Kmol, and the unit cell volume, ΔV_HL=15.4 Å³. Under hydrostatic pressures up to 5.7 kbar the thermal transition shifts to higher temperatures by ca. 16 K/kbar. Interestingly, at a low applied pressure of 500 bar the hysteresis loop becomes wider (ca. 61 K) and the transition is blocked at ∼50% upon cooling, indicating a possible (irreversible) structural phase transition under pressure.     

Growth, EPR and optical absorption spectra of l-threonine single crystals doped with Cu ions

We investigated the crystal growth, electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and optical absorption spectra of l-threonine doped with Cu²⁺. The quality, size and habit of the single crystals grown from aqueous solution by the slow solvent evaporation and by the cooling methods vary when the impurities are introduced during the growth process. The variations with the magnetic field orientation of the EPR spectra of single-crystal samples at room temperature and 9.77 GHz in three crystal planes (ab, bc and ac) show the presence of copper impurities in four symmetry-related sites of the unit cell. These spectra display well resolved hyperfine couplings of the of Cu²⁺ with the I_Cu= of the copper nuclei. Additional hyperfine splittings, well-resolved only for specific orientations of the magnetic field, indicate that the copper impurity ions in the interstitial sites have two N ligands with similar hyperfine couplings. The principal values of the g and A_Cu tensors calculated from the EPR data are g₁=2.051(1), g₂=2.062(2), g₃=2.260(2), A_Cu,1=16.9(5)×10⁻⁴ cm⁻¹, A_Cu,2=21.8(6)×10⁻⁴ cm⁻¹, A_Cu,3=180.0(5)×10⁻⁴ cm⁻¹. The principal directions corresponding to g₃ and to A_Cu,3 are coincident within the experimental errors, reflecting the orientation of the bonding planes of the copper ions in the crystal. The values of the crystal field energies are evaluated from the optical absorption spectrum, and the crystal field and bonding parameters of the Cu impurities in the crystal are calculated and analyzed. The EPR and optical absorption results are discussed in terms of the crystal structure of l-threonine and the electronic structure of the Cu²⁺ ions, and compared with data reported for other systems. The effects of the impurities in the growth and habit of the crystals are also discussed.     

Structural characterisation of [Cu2(bptd) (H2O) Cl4] and [Ni2(bptd)2(H2O)4] Cl4·3H2O; evidence of null intramolecular exchanges by EPR and magnetic measurements

Using the 2,5-bis(2-pyridyl)-1,3,4-thiadiazole (bptd), we recently prepared [Cu₂(bptd) (H₂O) Cl₄] and [Ni₂(bptd)₂ (H₂O)₄] Cl₄, 3H₂O in which the magnetic centres are connected through one diazine+one chloro and two diazine ligand bridges, respectively. These two compounds are the first examples that show null intramolecular magnetic interactions despite M-M distances close to 3.7 Å within perfectly planar edifices:Down to , [Cu₂(bptd)Cl₄(H₂O)] is paramagnetic while, below T_t, half of the Cu²⁺ions interact, leading to residual paramagnetism of one Cu²⁺/f.u. Magnetic susceptibility measurements, EPR and pulsed EPR study indicate the original intermolecular nature of AF exchanges.[Ni₂(bptd)₂(H₂O)₄]Cl₄·3H₂O susceptibility obeys a Curie-law involving pure paramagnetism. Moreover, its EPR spectrum can be interpreted on the basis of virtual S=1 monomers. Below 70 K, Zero Field Splitting (D∼275 G) due to dipolar interactions without magnetic exchanges could be responsible for the LT spectra splitting. For both compounds, the thia role is suggested as partially responsible for the null-in-plane magnetic exchanges.     

Room temperature stable structures and phase transition of Na2Al2B2O7

By Rietveld refinement of the X-ray diffraction (XRD) data of powdered Na₂Al₂B₂O₇ samples aged for over 3 months, we found that Na₂Al₂B₂O₇ at room temperature is a mixture of two phases with space group and P6₃/m, respectively. The structures of the two phases can be refined with identical cell parameters of a=4.80760(11) Å, c=15.2684(5) Å and are composed by [Al₂B₂O₇]²⁻_∝ double layers stacking alternatively with Na⁺ ions along the c-direction, but differ at in-plane bond orientations of the BO₃/AlO₄ groups within the double layers: in P6₃/m phase B-O₁/Al-O₁ bonds of the two layers are perfectly aligned, whereas in phase they are twisted by 46.4/41.6° around c-axis against each other. It is also found that a freshly prepared sample contains only the phase, but part of the phase will transfer to P6₃/m phase slowly at room temperature and the transition can be reversed by heating the aged sample above 220 °C.     

Low-temperature measurements of magnetic susceptibility and specific heat of Eu2Ti2O7—An XY pyrochlore

Magnetic susceptibility obtained from magnetization measurement (for fields H=0.1 and 1.0 T) of polycrystalline Eu₂Ti₂O₇ shows two distinct features. Firstly, increases on cooling below 300 K and attains a temperature-independent constant value at 68 K (T_max). Secondly, shows an antiferromagnetic increase below 4.9±0.1 K. The former behavior is explained by crystal field (CF) theory. CF levels and wave functions of ground and excited states are determined accurately from analyses of and earlier reported Mössbauer and optical spectra. Analysis of vs. 1/T curve at low temperatures gives the classical nearest-neighbor exchange interaction J^cl=−0.76 K and a weak dipolar interaction D_nn=0.0056 K. C_P of polycrystalline sample of Eu₂Ti₂O₇ and Y₂Ti₂O₇ are measured between 1.8-35 and 1.8-120 K respectively and θ_D vs. T (K) curves are calculated. At 4 K, θ_D of Eu₂Ti₂O₇ shows a kink and dC_P/dT curve show a maximum. Optical results show energy exchange between Eu³⁺ ions at intrinsic and extrinsic (defect) sites via super-exchange interaction at low temperature which may account for the observed anomalous behavior of and C_P.     

First-principles study on the electronic structures and absorption spectra for the PbWO4 crystal with lead vacancy

The electronic structures and absorption spectra for the perfect PbWO₄ (PWO) crystal and the crystal containing lead vacancy have been calculated using density functional theory code CASTEP with the lattice structure optimized. The calculated absorption spectra of the PWO crystal containing exhibit seven absorption bands peaking at 1.72 eV (720 nm), 2.16 eV (570 nm), 2.81 eV (440 nm), 3.01 eV (410 nm), 3.36 eV (365 nm), 3.70 eV (335 nm) and 4.0 eV (310 nm), which are very close to the experimental values. It predicts that the 330, 360, 420, 500-750 nm absorption bands are related to the existence of in the PWO crystal.     

Synthesis and crystal structure of [3,5-(CH3)2C6H3NH3]4P4O12·3H2O

Chemical preparation and crystal structure are given for a new cyclotetraphosphate: [3,5-(CH₃)₂C₆H₃NH₃]₄P₄O₁₂·3H₂O. This compound is triclinic P with the following unit-cell parameters: a=8.298(3), b=8.299(3), c=17.242(7)Å, α=97.13(3), β=102.72(3), γ=64.55(3)°, Z=1 and V=1045.2(8)ų. The crystal structure has been solved and refined to R=0.040 using 6086 independent reflections. The atomic arrangement can be described as layers organization. Layers built by P₄O₁₂ ring anions, ammonium groups and water molecules parallel to the plan (001), between which the organic groups are located. Characterization by X-ray diffraction, IR absorption, and thermal analysis are described.     

Structural study by X-ray diffraction and Mössbauer spectroscopy of a new synthetic iron phosphate: K4MgFe3(PO4)5

A new iron phosphate K₄MgFe₃(PO₄)₅ has been synthesized by the flux method and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction and Mössbauer spectroscopy. It crystallizes in the tetragonal system with the space group and the unit cell parameters a=9.714(3) Å and c=9.494(5) Å. The crystal structure is of a new type. It exhibits a three-dimensional framework built up from corner-sharing MO₅ (M=0.75Fe+0.25Mg) trigonal bipyramids and PO₄ tetrahedra. The K⁺ ions are occupying large eight-sided tunnels running along c. A room temperature Mössbauer study confirmed the +3 valence state of iron and its five-coordination.     

FTIR, XRD, SEM and solid state NMR investigations of carbonate-containing hydroxyapatite nano-particles synthesized by hydroxide-gel technique

Nano-crystalline hydroxyapatite (HA), Ca₁₀(PO₄)₆(OH)₂ has been synthesized by a precipitate conversion technique using hydroxide gel at lower temperatures, e.g. 80 °C. HA crystallizes in hexagonal structure (space group: P6₃/m) having lattice parameters: and and around 17 nm in crystallite-size for the 80 °C-heated sample. SEM micrographs show hexagonal crystallites of average particle dimensions approximately 50×20 nm for 80 °C heated sample. The structure analysis by XRD, FTIR, ¹H and ³¹P MAS NMR show the existence of structural disorder at the particle surface that either does not form hydrogen bonding due to lack of adequate bonding parameters or forms a very weak dipolar bonding. The structural disorder has been explained as a result of chemical interactions between the phosphate groups either with the surface adsorbed water or the hydroxyl groups at the surface of the nano-particles.     

STM spectroscopy on superconducting FeSe1−xTex single crystals at 300 mK

We report cryogenic scanning tunneling spectroscopy measurements on single crystals of superconducting FeSe_1−xTe_x, at doping levels of x=0.5 and 0.7, with critical temperatures . Atomically resolved topographic images were obtained, showing large-scale density-of-state clustering which appears to have no periodicity and to vary with the doping. Conductance spectra taken at 300 mK showed a generally asymmetric V-shaped background, along with a sharp dip structure within . These spectra appeared to vary over ∼nm length scale, and not correlated with the topography. The overall spectral evolution versus temperature is consistent with the dip structure arising from a superconducting energy gap which closes above T_c, and with the spectral background having a non-superconducting origin. The persistence of finite zero-bias conductance down to 300 mK, well below T_c, indicates the presence of low-energy quasiparticles on parts of the Fermi surface. We discuss our data in light of some other recent spectroscopic measurements of FeSe_1−xTe_x, and in terms of its characteristic band structure.     

Combined neutron and synchrotron X-ray diffraction study of Sr/Mg-doped lanthanum gallates up to high temperatures

Combined neutron diffraction and high-resolution synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction methods have been used to examine the crystal structures of two sample sets of Sr/Mg-doped Lanthanum gallate with the compositions La_0.9Sr_0.1Ga_1−yMg_yO_{3−0.5(0.1+y)} (y=0, 0.1, 0.2) and La_0.8Sr_0.2Ga_1−yMg_yO_{3−0.5(0.2+y)} (y=0.15, 0.2) up to 900 °C. At room temperature all samples of the first series exhibit orthorhombic structures with space group Imma: La_0.9Sr_0.1GaO_2.95: , , ; La_0.9Sr_0.1Ga_0.9Mg_0.1O_2.9: , , ; La_0.9Sr_0.1Ga_0.8Mg_0.2O_2.85: , , . The samples of the second series have the cubic perovskite structure with space group at room temperature: La_0.8Sr_0.2Ga_0.85Mg_0.15O_2.825: ; La_0.8Sr_0.2Ga_0.8Mg_0.20O_2.80: . Samples of the first series transform from the orthorhombic to a rhombohedral (Imma→) structure at ∼170 °C for La_0.9Sr_0.1GaO_2.95, at ∼430 °C for La_0.9Sr_0.1Ga_0.9Mg_0.1O_2.9, and between 600 and 700 °C for La_0.9Sr_0.1Ga_0.8Mg_0.2O_2.85. Both La_0.8Sr_0.2Ga_0.85Mg_0.15O_2.825 and La_0.8Sr_0.2Ga_0.8Mg_0.2 show no structural deviations from the cubic aristotype over the whole temperature range. The room temperature Imma structures of the first series are justified by a domain model and are rationalized in terms of static disorder increasing with Mg content, thus driving the phase transition temperatures to higher values in agreement with tolerance factor considerations. The distortion of the rhombohedral high-temperature phases (octahedra tilting and compression) and the effect of phase transitions on the ionic conductivity are discussed.     

Magnetic susceptibility of vanadium garnets NaPb2Co2V3O12 and NaPb2Ni2V3O12

Vanadium garnets NaPb₂Co₂V₃O₁₂ and NaPb₂Ni₂V₃O₁₂ have been successfully synthesized. The X-ray diffraction experiments indicate that these compounds have the garnet structure of cubic symmetry of space group with the lattice constant of 12.742 Å (NaPb₂Co₂V₃O₁₂) and 12.666 Å (NaPb₂Ni₂V₃O₁₂), respectively. The magnetic susceptibility of NaPb₂Ni₂V₃O₁₂ shows the Curie-Weiss paramagnetic behavior between 4.2 and 350 K. The effective magnetic moment μ_eff of NaPb₂Ni₂V₃O₁₂ is 3.14 μ_B due to Ni²⁺ ion at A-site and the Weiss constant is −3.67 K (antiferromagnetic sign). For NaPb₂Co₂V₃O₁₂, the simple Curie-Weiss law cannot be applicable. The ground state is the spin doublet and the first excited state is spin quartet , according to Tanabe-Sugano energy diagram on the basis of octahedral crystalline symmetry. This excited spin quartet state just a bit higher than ground state influences strongly the complex temperature dependence of magnetic susceptibility for NaPb₂Co₂V₃O₁₂.     

Interference of resonance luminescence of exciton polaritons in CuGaS2 crystals

The nonmodulated and wavelength-modulated reflection spectra of CuGaS₂ crystals for the polarization EIIc of 10 K are studied. The states n = 1, 2 and 3 of the excitons Γ₄ (A-excitons) and n = 1, n = 2 of B- and C-excitons are found. The nonmodulated absorption spectra for the polarization E⊥c at 10 K have been studied. The states n = 1, 2 and 3 of Γ₅ excitons are found. The main parameters of the A (Γ₄, Γ₅) and B, C exciton series at the energies of the longitudinal and transverse excitons Γ₄ for the states n = 1 and n = 2, the effective masses of electrons and holes are determined. The photoluminescence peaks were observed at n = 3 and n = 4 of the excitons Γ₅ in the luminescence spectra excited by the line 4880 Å of Ar⁺ laser. In the luminescence spectra the interference is found.     

Equilibrium structure in the presence of internal rotation: A case study of cis-methyl formate

The Born-Oppenheimer (BO) equilibrium molecular structure () of cis-methyl formate has been determined at the CCSD(T) level of electronic structure theory using Gaussian basis sets of at least quadruple-ζ quality and a core correlation correction. The quadratic, cubic and semi-diagonal quartic force field in normal coordinates has also been computed at the MP2 level employing a basis set of triple-ζ quality. A semi-experimental equilibrium structure () has been derived from experimental ground-state rotational constants and the lowest-order rovibrational interaction parameters calculated from the ab initio cubic force field. To determine structures, it is important to start from accurate ground-state rotational constants. Different spectroscopic methods, applicable in the presence of internal rotation and used in the literature to obtain “unperturbed” rotational constants from the analysis and fitting of the spectrum, are reviewed and compared. They are shown to be compatible though their precision may be different. The and structures are in good agreement showing that, in the particular case of cis-methyl formate, the methyl torsion can still be treated as a small-amplitude vibration. The best equilibrium structure obtained for cis-methyl formate is: r(C_m-O) = 1.434 Å, r(O-C_c) = 1.335 Å, r(C_m-H_s) = 1.083 Å, r(C_m-H_a) = 1.087 Å, r(C_c-H) = 1.093 Å, r(CO) = 1.201 Å, ∠(COC) = 114.4°, ∠(CCH_s) = 105.6°, ∠(CCH_a) = 110.2°, ∠(OCH) = 109.6°, ∠(OCO) = 125.5°, and τ(H_aCOC) = 60.3°. The accuracy is believed to be about 0.001 Å for the bond lengths and 0.1° for the angles.