High-resolution electron microscopy of defects in W4Nb26O77

Several different kinds of planar defects have been observed by means of high-resolution electron microscopy in W₄Nb₂₆O₇₇, such as disordered intergrowth of WNb₁₂O₃₃ and W₃Nb₁₄O₄₄ structural slabs, locally ordered intergrowth with a sequence of AABAAB, two separate microdomains of WNb₁₂O₃₃ and W₃Nb₁₄O₄₄ coexisting with W₄Nb₂₆O₇₇ and a complicated intergrowth of W₄Nb₂₆O₇₇, NNb₂O₅, W₃Nb₁₄O₄₄, and Nb₃₁O₇₇F types of structure.     

Electronic structure and chemical bonding in the intergrowth phase of MNb4O6 (M = Ba,K)

Electronic structure and chemical bonding in the intergrowth phases of MNb₄O₆ (M = Ba, K) have been investigated by the band method in Hückel parameterization; the electronic structure was compared to that of niobium monoxide. Major changes in the electronic structure of MNb₄0₆ relative to NbO are the result of cleavage of chemical bonds between oxygens of the Nb0₂ planes and niobiums of the Nb₂0 layers, and also of a strong covalent bonding between niobiums of the Nb₂O planes and oxygens of the MO layers. The changed Mulliken overlap populations of chemical bonds in going from NbO to BaNb₄0₆ and KNb₄0₆ correlate well with the changed interatomic distances. The computation of populations allows an explanation of the changed corrugation of the Nb0₂ planes from BaM₄0₆ to KNb₄0₆ and the difficulties of synthesis of compounds where M is a trivalent metal.Institute of Solid State Chemistry, Ural Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences. Translated fromZhurnal Strukturnoi Khimii, Vol. 34, No. 5, pp. 63–71, September–October, 1993.Translated by L. Smolina     

Structural Study of Li1+x−yNb1−x−3yTix+4yO3 Solid Solutions

The structures of Li_1+x−yNb_1−x−3yTi_x+4yO₃ solid solutions within the so-called M-phase field in the Li₂O-Nb₂O₅-TiO₂ system were investigated using high-resolution transmission electron, microscope (HRTEM) and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The results demonstrated that the phase field is not a solid solution but rather a homologous series of commensurate intergrowth structures with LiNbO₃-type (LN) slabs separated by single [Ti₂O₃]²⁺ corundum-type layers. The thickness of the LN slab decreases with increasing Ti-content from ∼55 to 3 atomic layers in the metastable H-Li₂Ti₃O₇ end-member. The LN slabs accommodate a wide range of Ti⁴⁺/Nb⁵⁺ substitution, and for a given homolog the distribution of Ti and Nb is not uniform across the slab. A single-crystal X-ray diffraction study of a structure composed of nine-layer LN slabs revealed preferential segregation of Ti to the slab surfaces which apparently provides partial compensation for the charge on the adjacent [Ti₂O₃]²⁺ corundum layers. The extra cations in phases with x>0 are accommodated through the formation of Li-rich Li₂MO₃-type layers in the middle of the LN slabs. The fraction of layers with extra cations increases with increasing Ti-content in the structure.     

Tunneled Intergrowth Structures in the Ga2O3–In2O3–SnO2 System

The structures of several Ga₂O₃–In₂O₃–SnO₂ phases were investigated using high-resolution electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and Rietveld analysis of time-of-flight neutron diffraction data. The phases, expressed as Ga_4−4xIn_4xSn_n−4O_2n−2 (n=6 and 7–17, odd), are intergrowths between the β-gallia structure of (Ga,In)₂O₃ and the rutile structure of SnO₂. Samples prepared with n≥9 crystallize in C2/m and are isostructural with intergrowths in the Ga₂O₃–TiO₂ system. Samples prepared with n=6 and n=7 are members of an alternative intergrowth series that crystallizes in P2/m. Both intergrowth series are similar in that their members possess 1-D tunnels along the b axis. The difference between the two series is described in terms of different crystallographic shear plane operations (CSP) on the parent rutile structure.     

系列新铌酸盐A6n+[Bxm+Nb12-x]Nb4O42的合成及粉晶X射线衍射分析

０IntroductionNiobateshavemanykindsofstructures．TheseareperovskitetypeABO３（KNbO３），tungstenbronzetypeANb２O６（Ba２NaNb５O１５），chainandlamellartypes犤１～１１犦．SincethenewcompoundK６CrNb１５O４２withakindoftunnelstructureinthepotassiumniobatesystemwasfoundinourlaboratoryforthefirsttime犤１２犦，wehavesynthesizedaseriesofcompoundswiththesamestructure，forexample，K６FeNb１５O４２，K６Ni０．６７Nb１５．３３O４２，Ba６Cr４Nb１２O４２andBa６Ni２．６７Nb１３．３３O４２etc．T…     

Intergrowth of hexagonal tungsten bronze and perovskite-like structures: The oxides ACu3M7O21 (A = K,Rb, Cs,TI; M = Nb,Ta)

Seven oxides ACu₃M₇O₂₁ have been isolated with A = K, Rb, Tl, Cs for M = Ta and A = K, Rb, Cs for M = Nb. These phases are orthorhombic: $\text{a ? 28}$ Å, $\text{b ? 7.50}$ Å, and $\text{c ? 7.55}$ Å, probable space group Cmmm. Their structure has been established from an X-ray diffraction study and from high-resolution microscopy observations. The structure consists of an intergrowth of single hexagonal tungsten bronze AM₃O₉ slices and double distorted perovskite Cu₃M₄O₁₂ slabs (M = Nb, Ta) in which copper has a square coordination. The host lattice of these compounds can be considered as the member “n = 1; n′ = 2” of a series of intergrowths corresponding to the formulation |M₃O₉|^H_n|M₂O₆|^P_n′.     

The crystal and magnetic structures of Ca2NdRuO6, Ca2HoRuO6, and Sr2ErRuO6

The crystal structure of Sr₂ErRuO₆ has been refined from neutron powder diffraction data collected at room temperature; space group P2₁/n, A = 5.7626(2), B = 5.7681(2), C = 8.1489(2) Å, β = 90.19(1)°. The structure is that of a distorted perovskite with a 1:1 ordered arrangement of Ru⁵⁺ and Er³⁺ over the 6-coordinate sites. Data collected at 4.2 K show the presence of long range antiferromagnetic order involving both Ru⁵⁺ and Er³⁺. The temperature dependence of the sublattice magnetizations is described. The crystal structure of Ca₂NdRuO₆ is also that of a distored perovskite (P2₁/n, A = 5.5564(1), B = 5.8296(1), C = 8.0085(1) β = 90.19(1)°. The β = 90.07(1)°) with a random distribution of Ca²⁺ and Nd³⁺ on the A site and a 1:1 ordered arrangement of Ca²⁺ and Ru⁵⁺ on the 6-coordinate B sites. The Ru⁵⁺ sublattice is antiferromagnetic at 4.2 K but there is no evidence for magnetic ordering of the Nd³⁺ ions. Ca₂HoRuO₆ is also a distorted perovskite (P2₁/n, A = 5.4991(1), B = 5.7725(1), C = 7.9381(2), β = 90.18(1)° at 4.2 K) with a cation distribution best represented as Ca_1.46Ho_0.54[Ca_0.54Ho_0.46Ru]O₆. There is no ordering among the Ca³⁺ or Ho³⁺ ions on either the A or the B sites, but the Ca/Ho ions form a 1:1 ordered arrangement with Ru⁵⁺ on the B sites. At 4.2 K the Ru⁵⁺ ions adopt a Type I antiferromagnetic arrangement but there is no evidence of long range magnetic ordering among the Ho³⁺ ions.     

Bronzes with a tunnel structure KxP4O8(WO3)2m: The tenth member of the series—KP8W40O136

The crystal structure of KP₈W₄₀O₁₃₆, the tenth member of the series K_xP₄O₈(WO₃)_2m, has been resolved by three-dimensional single-crystal X-ray analysis. The space group is $\text{P2}{}_1\text{c}$ and the cell parameters are a = 19.589(3) Å, b = 7.5362(4) Å, c = 16.970(3) Å and β = 91.864(14)°. The framework is built up from ReO₃-type slabs connected through pyrophosphate groups. The structure is compared to those of the other members of the series: although the ReO₃-type slabs show a different type of tilting of the WO₆ octahedra, the dispersion of WO distances is always higher for the octahedra linked to one or two P₂O₇ groups and decreases in proportion as W is farther from these groups. The perovskite cages of the slabs are described and compared to those encountered in the structures of WO₃ and of the bronzes A_xWO₃.     

HRTEM study of cation-deficient perovskite-related AnBn−δO3n (n?4δ) microphases in the Ba5Nb4O15-BaTiO3 system

The occurrence of coherent intergrowths of cation-deficient perovskites in the Ba₅Nb₄O₁₅-BaTiO₃ system has been examined by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy and selected area electron diffraction. Because of their structural similarity, the simple members Ba₅Nb₄O₁₅ (n=5) and Ba₆TiNb₄O₁₈ (n=6) form coherent intergrowths—noted 5^P6¹—by the juxtaposition along the c-axis of P perovskite-like blocks n=5 and one perovskite-like block n=6, with P=1, 2 and 3. More generally, the ability to form intergrowths in the hexagonal perovskite systems is discussed considering the structural characteristics of the simple members. Examples taken from various systems show that the formation of such intergrowths is highly dependent on the size of the A cation present in simple members.     

Synthesis and crystal structure of the A6B5O18 perovskite-like compounds

New members of the A_nB_n−1O_3n perovskite-like family (Ba₅KNb₅O₁₈ and Sr₆Nb₄SnO₁₈ compounds) with n = 6 have been synthesized and studied by the X-ray powder diffraction. Their crystal structures were found to belong to the Ba₆Nb₄TiO₁₈-type with a = 0.57840(7) nm, c = 4.2532(5) nm and a = 0.5661(1) nm, c = 4.186(1) nm for Ba₅KNb₅O₁₈ and Sr₆Nb₄SnO₁₈, respectively. It was shown that Ba and K (A-atoms) are completely disordered in the crystal structure of Ba₅KNb₅O₁₈ compound. But Nb and Sn atoms (B-atoms) in the crystal structure of the Sr₆Nb₄SnO₁₈ compound are quite ordered with the preferred Sn⁺⁴ and Nb⁵⁺ cations localization in the center of perovskite-like block and on the boundaries of these blocks, respectively. Temperature and frequency dependencies of the real components of electric conductivity σ^I and dielectric permeability ɛ^I; specific electric conductivity at the direct current σ_dc have been obtained by the impedance spectroscopy method for Sr₆Nb₄SnO₁₈.     

High resolution electron microscopy studies of Ba4Nb14O23

The new compound, Ba₄Nb₁₄O₂₃, has been prepared by heating mixtures of Ba₅Nb₄O₁₅, Nb₂O₅ and Nb at 1 450°C under Ar. Ba₄Nb₁₄O₂₃ has been studied by means of high resolution electron microscopy and X-ray powder diffraction techniques. It has a C-centered orthorhombic unit cell with a=20.782(4), b=12.448(3), c=4.148(1) Å and Z=2. The structure of Ba₄Nb₁₄O₂₃ can be considered as being an intergrowth between BaNbO₃ and NbO. Characteristic building units are triple chains of corner sharing Nb₆ octahedra which are connected via columns of the perovskite type structure to a three dimensional network.     

Structural and magnetic characterisation of Aurivillius material Bi2Sr2Nb2.5Fe0.5O12

The n=3 Aurivillius material Bi₂Sr₂Nb_2.5Fe_0.5O₁₂ is investigated and combined structural refinements using neutron powder diffraction (NPD) and X-ray powder diffraction data (XRPD) data reveal that the material adopts a disordered, tetragonal (I4/mmm) structure at temperatures down to 2 K. Significant ordering of Fe³⁺ and Nb⁵⁺ over the two B sites is observed and possible driving forces for this ordering are discussed. Some disorder of Sr²⁺ and Bi³⁺ over the M and A sites is found and is consistent with relieving strain due to size mismatch. Highly anisotropic thermal parameters for some oxygen sites suggest that the local structure may be slightly distorted with some rotation of the octahedra. Magnetic measurements show that the material behaves as a Curie-Weiss paramagnet in the temperature range studied with no evidence of any long-range magnetic interactions. Solid solutions including Bi_3−xSr_xNb₂FeO₁₂, Bi₂Sr_2−xLa_xNb₂FeO₁₂ and Bi₂Sr₂Nb_3−xFe_xO₁₂ were investigated but single-phase materials were only successfully synthesised for a narrow composition range in the Bi₂Sr₂Nb_3−xFe_xO₁₂ system.     

Synthesis, structure and electrical properties of Cu3.21Ti1.16Nb2.63O12 and the CuOx-TiO2-Nb2O5 pseudoternary phase diagram

Subsolidus phase relations in the CuO_x-TiO₂-Nb₂O₅ system were determined at 935 °C. The phase diagram contains one new phase, Cu_3.21Ti_1.16Nb_2.63O₁₂ (CTNO) and one rutile-structured solid solution series, Ti_1−3xCu_xNb_2xO₂: 0<x<0.2335 (35). The crystal structure of CTNO is similar to that of CaCu₃Ti₄O₁₂ (CCTO) with square planar Cu²⁺ but with A site vacancies and a disordered mixture of Cu⁺, Ti⁴⁺ and Nb⁵⁺ on the octahedral sites. It is a modest semiconductor with relative permittivity ∼63 and displays non-Arrhenius conductivity behavior that is essentially temperature-independent at the lowest temperatures.     

Tl1−xNaxNb2PO8 and Related Compounds, Isostructural with Ca0.5+xCs2Nb6P3O24

Compounds A_2/3A′_1/3M₂XO₈ (A=Tl, Rb, Cs; A′=Na, Ag; M=Nb, Ta; X=P, As) have been synthesized using the ceramic method. The sodium and potassium compounds (A= Na and K) have been prepared by an ion exchange reaction starting from their thallium analogues. These materials are isotypic with Tl_1−xNa_xNb₂PO₈ (x=0.21) the structure of which has been determined by using X-ray single-crystal data. The space group is R32, the cell constants are a_H=13.369(2), c_H=10.324(3) Å and z=9. This compound is isostructural with Ca_0.5+xCs₂ Nb₆P₃O₂₄. Its three-dimensional framework [Nb₂PO₈]_n, built up from NbO₆ octahedra and corner-sharing PO₄ tetrahedra, delimits tunnels running along c_H and cavities accommodating Tl⁺ and Na⁺ cations, respectively. The K_2/3Na_1/3Nb₂PO₈ structure, refined using X-ray powder data, showed that K⁺ cations are spread like the Tl+ ones over many sites, but more excentred from the tunnel axis. The isotypy of these compounds is also revealed by the similarity of the infrared and Raman spectra. The nonlinear optical study showed a behavior similar to that of the KDP for all the compounds. The ionic conductivity measurements gave high activation energies and low conductivity values for these materials.     

Temperature and composition dependent structural investigation of the defect perovskite series Sr1−xTi1−2xNb2xO3, 0≤x≤0.2

The crystal structure of the defect perovskite series Sr_1−xTi_1−2xNb_2xO₃ has been investigated over a range of temperatures using high-resolution synchrotron X-ray diffraction, neutron diffraction and electron diffraction. Three distinct regions were observed: 0<x≤0.125 was a solid solution of Sr_1−xTi_1−2xNb_2xO₃ with minor SrTiO₃ intergrowth, 0.125<x≤0.2 was a pure Sr_1−xTi_1−2xNb_2xO₃ solid solution adopting the cubic perovskite type structure (Pm3¯m) and for x>0.2 Sr_0.8Ti_0.6Nb_0.4O₃ and Sr₃TiNb₄O₁₅ formed a two phase region. The cubic structure for Sr_0.8Ti_0.6Nb_0.4O₃ was stable over the temperature range 90-1248 K and the thermal expansion co-efficient was determined to be 8.72(9)×10⁻⁶ K⁻¹. Electron diffraction studies revealed diffuse scattering due to local scale Ti/Nb displacements and slightly enhanced octahedral rotations that did not lead to long range order. The octahedral rotations were observed to ‘lock-in’ at temperatures below ∼75 K resulting in a tetragonal structure (I4/mcm) with anti-phase octahedral tilting about the c-axis.     

Crystal structure and magnetic properties of Sr4Mn2NiO9

The crystal structure of Sr₄Mn₂NiO₉ has been refined on single crystal. This phase belongs to the series A_1+x(A^′_xB_1–x)O₃ (x=1/3) related to the 2H-hexagonal perovskite. The structure contains transition metals in chains of oxide polyhedra (trigonal prisms and octahedra); neighboring chains are separated from each other by the Sr atoms. The sequence of the face sharing polyhedra along the chains is two octahedra + one trigonal prism. Mn occupies the octahedra and Ni is disordered in the trigonal prism with ≈80% in the pseudo square faces of the prism and ≈20% at the centre. This result has been confirmed by XANES experiments at Mn K and Ni K edges, respectively. Sr₄Mn₂NiO₉ is antiferromagnetic with a Néel temperature at T=3 K. The Curie constant measured at high temperature is in good agreement with ≈80% of the Ni²⁺ ions in the spin state configuration S=0.     

Mixed valence tungsten oxides with a tunnel structure,P4W4nO12n+8: A nonintegral member P4W10O38 (n = 2.5)

The mixed-valence oxide P₄W₁₀O₃₈, which can be considered as the nonintegral member n = 2.5 of the series P₄W_4nO_12n+8, crystallizes in the monoclinic system with unit-cell dimensions a = 6.5656(25), b = 5.2850(15), c = 20.573(15) Å, β = 96.18(4)°, and space group P2₁. The crystal structure was solved by conventional Patterson and Fourier techniques using 2339 counter-measured reflections that obeyed the condition I > 3σ(I) and refined to an R factor of 0.074 (R_w = 0.077). Basically, the framework of the structure built up from ReO₃-type slabs connected through PO₄ tetrahedra looks like that of P₄W₈O₃₂ previously described. Unlike P₄W₈O₃₂, two successive ReO₃-type slabs have a different width corresponding to two and three WO₆ octahedra so that the structure can be considered as an intergrowth of the integral members n = 2 and n = 3 of the series P₄W_4nO_12n+8.     

Intergrowth in tunnel structures: The titanates A2Ti6O13)n·A′Ti4Og

A new structural family, (A₂M₆O₁₃)_n·A′M₄O₉, was isolated and studied by means of X-ray diffraction, electron diffraction, and electron microscopy. The structure consists of an ordered intergrowth of two types of structural units: A₂Ti₆O₁₃ and hypothetical A′M₄O₉, both characterized by zigzag ribbons of, respectively, 2 × 3 and 2 × 2 edge-sharing octahedra, joined by corner sharing to form a series of open tunnels containing A and A′ cations. The monoclinic unit-cell parameters can be deduced, for an “n” term, from those of A₂Ti₆O₁₃.     

Superspace description of the hexagonal perovskites in the system Ba5Nb4O15-BaTiO3 as modulated layered structures

A general structural model of B-site deficient hexagonal layer perovskites AB_1−xX₃ having no tilting of anion octahedra in consecutive layers is presented. They are described as modulated layered structures using a (3+1)-dimensional superspace approach. The presence or not of a given atom along the stacking direction is described in superspace through step-like (crenel) occupational modulation functions. Being essentially composition independent, the model is applicable to any compounds related to this structural type. The component γ of the primary modulation vector is connected to the chemical composition by the relation γ=(1+x)/3. The model is confirmed and the efficiency of the superspace approach is demonstrated by the structural analysis of some of the hexagonal perovskite found in the system Ba₅Nb₄O₁₅-BaTiO₃, where long-period intergrowth compounds have been recently identified.     

Structure Study of Bi2.5Na0.5Ta2O9 and Bi2.5Nam−1.5NbmO3m+3 (m=2-4) by Neutron Powder Diffraction and Electron Microscopy

The crystal structures of Bi_2.5Na_0.5Ta₂O₉ and Bi_2.5Na_m-1.5Nb_mO_3m+3 (m=3,4) have been investigated by the Rietveld analysis of their neutron powder diffraction patterns (λ=1.470 Å). These compounds belong to the Aurivillius phase family and are built up by (Bi₂O₂)²⁺ fluorite layers and (A_m-1B_mO_3m+1)^2- (m=2-4) pseudo-perovskite slabs. Bi_2.5Na_0.5Ta₂O₉ (m=2) and Bi_2.5Na_2.5Nb₄O₁₅ (m=4) crystallize in the orthorhombic space group A2₁am, Z=4, with lattice constants of a=5.4763(4), b=5.4478(4), c=24.9710 (15) and a=5.5095(5), b=5.4783(5), c=40.553(3) Å, respectively. Bi_2.5Na_1.5Nb₃O₁₂ (m=3) has been refined in the orthorhombic space group B2cb, Z=4, with the unit-cell parameters a=5.5024(7), b=5.4622(7), and c=32.735(4) Å. In comparison with its isostructural Nb analogue, the structure of Bi_2.5Na_0.5Ta₂O₉ is less distorted and bond valence sum calculations indicate that the Ta-O bonds are somewhat stronger than the Nb-O bonds. The cell parameters a and b increase with increasing m for the compounds Bi_2.5Na_m-1.5Nb_mO_3m+3 (m=2-4), causing a greater strain in the structure. Electron microscopy studies verify that the intergrowth of mixed perovskite layers, caused by stacking faults, also increases with increasing m.