Ultrasonic-assisted synthesis of PMMA/Ni0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4 nanocomposite in mixed surfactant system

PMMA/Ni_0.5Zn_0.5Fe₂O₄ nanocomposite with superparamagnetic behavior was synthesized by in situ emulsion polymerization of methylmethacrylate (MMA) monomer in the presence of Ni_0.5Zn_0.5Fe₂O₄ colloidal suspension assisted by ultrasonic irradiation. The obtained samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectra (FT-IR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). XRD and FT-IR spectra confirmed the formation of PMMA/Ni_0.5Zn_0.5Fe₂O₄ nanocomposite. TEM images showed that Ni_0.5Zn_0.5Fe₂O₄ nanoparticles with the particle sizes of about 12 nm were well dispersed in the polymer matrix. The nanocomposite at room temperature exhibited superparamagnetic behavior under applied magnetic field. The formation mechanism of PMMA/Ni_0.5Zn_0.5Fe₂O₄ nanocomposite was proposed as well.     

Effects of Mg doping on the properties of highly transparent conductive and near infrared reflective Zn1−xMgxO:Ga films

Highly transparent conductive and near infrared (IR) reflective Gallium-doped ZnMgO (Zn_1−xMg_xO:Ga) films with Mg content from 0 to 10 at% were deposited on glass substrate by DC reactive magnetron sputtering. X-ray diffraction shows all the ZnMgO:Ga films are polycrystalline and have wurtzite structure with a preferential c-axis orientation. Hall measurements indicate that the resistivity of these films obviously increases with the Mg concentration increasing. The average transmittance of Zn_1−xMg_xO:Ga films is over 90% in the visible range. All the Zn_1−xMg_xO:Ga films have low transmittance and high reflectance in the IR region.     

纳米微孔NixZn(1-x)Fe2O4的水热合成研究

０引言尖晶石型铁酸盐是一类重要的磁性材料，它可用于防止电磁波辐射设备以及隐身材料中的吸波剂犤１，２犦，具有价格低廉、吸波性能优良的特点。同时尖晶石型铁酸盐也是一类重要的催化剂，９０年代初又发现了氧缺位的该类化合物具有将CO２还原为C的优良催化性能犤３犦。因此，有关铁酸盐的制备及性能研究一直是化学工作者和材料科学工作者感兴趣的领域。随着新的合成方法的不断涌现，对传统铁氧体材料进行结构改造以提高其性能是一个重要的研究发展方向，本文采用模板剂造孔技术，首次在NixZn（１－x）Fe２O４水热合成中选用模板剂，…     

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).     

Effects of gold catalysts and thermal evaporation method modifications on the growth process of Zn1−xMgxO nanowires

In this paper, we investigate the roles of gold catalysts and thermal evaporation method modifications in the growth process of Zn_1−xMg_xO nanowires. Zn_1−xMg_xO nanowires are fabricated on silicon substrates with and without using a gold catalyst. Characterizations reveal that Mg acts in a self-catalyst role during the growth process of Zn_1−xMg_xO nanowires grown on catalyst-free substrate. The optical properties and crystalline quality of the Zn_1−xMg_xO nanowires are characterized by room temperature photoluminescence (PL) measurements and Raman spectroscopy, respectively. The Raman and PL studies demonstrate that the Zn_1−xMg_xO nanowires grown using the catalyst-free method have good crystallinity with excellent optical properties and have a larger band-gap in comparison to those grown with the assistance of gold.     

A new structure type of phosphate: Crystal structure of Na2Zn5(PO4)4

A new compound, Na₂Zn₅(PO₄)₄, was identified in the system ZnONa₂OP₂O₅ and high-quality crystal was obtained by the melt method. The crystal structure of this compound was solved by direct method from single crystal X-ray diffraction data. The structure was then refined anisotropically using a full-matrix least square refinement on F² and the refinement converged to R₁=0.0233 and wR₂=0.0544. This compound crystallizes in the orthorhombic system with space group Pbcn, lattice parameters a=10.381(2) Å, b=8.507(1) Å, c=16.568(3) Å and Z=4. The structure is made up of 3D [Zn₅P₄O₁₆]_n²ⁿ⁻ covalent framework consisting of [Zn₄P₄O₁₆]_n⁴ⁿ⁻ layers. The powder diffraction pattern of Na₉Zn₂₁(PO₄)₁₇ is explained by simulating a theoretical pattern with NaZnPO₄ and Na₂Zn₅(PO₄)₄ in the molar ratio of 1:4 and then by Rietveld refinement of experimental pattern. Na₂Zn₅(PO₄)₄ melts congruently at 855 °C and its conductivity is 5.63×10⁻⁹ S/cm.     

Effect of annealing temperature on the structural and optical properties of Zn1−xMgxO particles prepared by oxalate precursor

Zn_1−xMg_xO particles were prepared using zinc and magnesium oxalate precursor by co-precipitated method. The lattice constants of Zn_1−xMg_xO proved that the interstitial Mg formed at 500 °C and Mg replaced Zn in ZnO tetrahedral coordination at 800 °C. Compared with the ZnO, the absorbing band edge of the Zn_1−xMg_xO displayed blue shifts. The room temperature photoluminescence was similar to ZnO and variation of Mg content did not change the shape or peak position of the emission spectra markedly when it was annealed at 500 °C. However, its blue emission band disappeared, and a relatively strong green light emission at 498 nm appeared after annealed at 800 °C. The photoluminescence intensity ratios I_(green)/I_(UV) of Zn_1−xMg_xO varied with Mg content and the green light emission peak shifted from 498 nm to 472 nm when Mg content increased from 0 to 2.0 at.%.     

Fabrication and Optical Properties of Aligned Zn1-xMgxO Nanowire Arrays

Aligned Zn_1-xMg_xO nanowire arrays were successfully prepared on Si(111) substrates via the chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method with a mixture of ZnO, Mg, and activated carbon powders as reactants. The microstructures and optical properties of the synthesized Zn_1-xMg_xO nanowire arrays were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive analysis X-ray (EDAX), and photoluminescence (PL) spectrum analytic apparatus, respectively. While Mg content was achieved or less approximately 0.29 (x, atomic ratio) in ZnO lattice, the crystal lattice of the synthesized samples exhibited wurtzite structure. The Mg atoms were distributed into the ZnO crystal as the interstitial and displaced atoms, and there was no phase separation in preparing Zn_1-xMg_xO nanowire arrays. However, as the Mg content was up to 0.53 (x) in the fabricated Zn_1-xMg_xO samples, a clear phase separation phenomena appeared in the Zn_1-xMg_xO crystal. Compared with the PL spectrum of the pure ZnO nanowire arrays, the analytic results showed that a blue-shift of the near-band edge emission with increasing Mg content was observed in the Zn_1-xMg_xO arrays. And the relative intensities of green peak at ca 535 nm and UV emission peak at ca 376 nm were all restrained.     

Synthesis, structure and physical properties of the new Zintl phases Eu11Zn6Sb12 and Eu11Cd6Sb12

Reported are the syntheses, crystal structure determinations from single-crystal X-ray diffraction, and magnetic properties of two new ternary compounds, Eu₁₁Cd₆Sb₁₂ and Eu₁₁Zn₆Sb₁₂. Both crystallize with the complex Sr₁₁Cd₆Sb₁₂ structure type—monoclinic, space group C2/m (no. 12), Z=2, with unit cell parameters a=31.979(4) Å, b=4.5981(5) Å, c=12.3499(14) Å, β=109.675(1)° for Eu₁₁Zn₆Sb₁₂, and a=32.507(2) Å, b=4.7294(3) Å, c=12.4158(8) Å, β=109.972(1)° for Eu₁₁Cd₆Sb₁₂. Their crystal structures are best described as made up of polyanionic and ribbons of corner-shared ZnSb₄ and CdSb₄ tetrahedra and Eu²⁺ cations. A notable characteristic of these structures is the presence of Sb-Sb interactions, which exist between two tetrahedra from adjacent layers, giving rise to unique channels. Detailed structure analyses shows that similar bonding arrangements are seen in much simpler structure types, such as Ca₃AlAs₃ and Ca₅Ga₂As₆ and the structure can be rationalized as their intergrowth. Temperature-dependent magnetization measurements indicate that Eu₁₁Cd₆Sb₁₂ orders anti-ferromagnetically below 7.5 K, while Eu₁₁Zn₆Sb₁₂ does not order down to 5 K. Resistivity measurements confirm that Eu₁₁Cd₆Sb₁₂ is poorly metallic, as expected for a Zintl phase.     

A novel microwave dielectric ceramic Ca2Zn4Ti16O38: Preparation and dielectric properties

A novel microwave dielectric powder with composition of Ca₂Zn₄Ti₁₆O₃₈ was synthesized through a citrate sol-gel process. The development of crystalline phases with heat-treating temperature for the gel derived powders was evaluated by using thermo-gravimetric analysis and X-ray powder diffraction analysis techniques. The pure phase of Ca₂Zn₄Ti₁₆O₃₈ with crichtonite crystal structure was obtained at relatively low temperature of 1000 °C. The synthesized powder has high reactivity and the dense ceramics with single crystalline phase were obtained at low sintering temperature of 1100 °C. Impedance spectroscopy and microwave dielectric measurements on sintered samples showed the present compound to be a modest dielectric insulator with excellent dielectric properties of ε_r∼47-49, Qf value ∼27,800-31,600 GHz and τ_f∼+45 to +50 ppm/°C. It shows comparable microwave dielectric properties to other moderate-permittivity microwave dielectrics, but much lower sintering temperature of 1100 °C.     

Nanocrystalline Ni0.6Zn0.4Fe2O4: A novel semiconducting material for ethanol detection

The structure and crystal phase of the nanocrystalline powders of Ni_1−xZn_xFe₂O₄ (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.5) mixed ferrite, synthesized by ethylene glycol mediated citrate sol-gel method, were characterized by X-ray diffraction and microstructure by transmission electron microscopy. Further studies by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy were also conducted. Moreover, DC electrical properties of the prepared nanoparticles were studied by DC conductivity measurements. The response of prepared Ni_1−xZn_xFe₂O₄ mixed ferrites to different reducing gases (ethanol, hydrogen sulfide, ammonia, hydrogen and liquefied petroleum gas) was investigated. In particular, Ni_0.6Zn_0.4Fe₂O₄ composition exhibited high response to 100 ppm ethanol gas at 300 °C. Incorporation of palladium further improved the response, selectivity and response time of Ni_0.6Zn_0.4Fe₂O₄ to ethanol gas with the blue shift in the operating temperature by 25 °C.     

Preparation of MnxNi0.5-xZn0.5Fe2O4 Nanorods by the Co-precipitation Method

Mn_xNi_0:5-xZn_0:5Fe₂O₄ nanorods were successfully synthesized by the thermal treatment of rod-like precursors that were fabricated by the co-precipitation of Mn²⁺, Ni²⁺, and Fe²⁺ in the lye. The phase, morphology, and particle diameter were examined by the X-ray diffrac-tion and transmission electron microscopy. The magnetic properties of the samples were stud-ied using a vibrating sample magnetometer. The results indicated that pure Ni_0:5Zn_0:5Fe₂O₄ nanorods with a diameter of 35 nm and an aspect ratio of 15 were prepared. It was found that the diameter of the Mn_xNi_0:5-xZn_0:5Fe₂O₄ (0≤x≤0.5) samples increased, the length and the aspect ratio decreased, with an increase in x value. When x=0.5, the diameter and the aspect ratio of the sample reached up to 50 nm and 7～8, respectively. The coercivity of the samples first increased and then decreased with the increase in the x value. The coer-civity of the samples again increased when the x value was higher than 0.4. When x=0.5,the coercivity of the Mn_xNi_0:5-xZn_0:5Fe₂O₄ sample reached the maximal value (134.3 Oe)at the calcination temperature of 600 oC. The saturation magnetization of the samples first increased and then decreased with the increase in the x value. When x=0.2, the satura-tion magnetization of the sample reached the maximal value (68.5 emu/g) at the calcination temperature of 800 oC.     

High performance protonic ceramic membrane fuel cells (PCMFCs) with Ba0.5Sr0.5Zn0.2Fe0.8O3−δ perovskite cathode

Protonic ceramic membrane fuel cells (PCMFCs) based on proton-conducting electrolytes have attracted much attention because of many advantages, such as low activation energy and high energy efficiency. BaZr_0.1Ce_0.7Y_0.2O_3−δ (BZCY7) electrolyte based PCMFCs with stable Ba_0.5Sr_0.5Zn_0.2Fe_0.8O_3−δ (BSZF) perovskite cathode were investigated. Using thin membrane BZCY7 electrolyte (about 15 μm in thickness) synthesized by a modified Pechini method on NiO-BZCY7 anode support, PCMFCs were assembled and tested by selecting stable BSZF perovskite cathode. An open-circuit potential of 1.015 V, a maximum power density of 486 mW cm⁻², and a low polarization resistance of the electrodes of 0.08 Ω cm² was achieved at 700 °C. The results have indicated that BZCY7 proton-conducting electrolyte with BSZF cathode is a promising material system for the next generation solid oxide fuel cells.     

A highly coercive carbon nanotube coated with Ni0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4 nanocrystals synthesized by chemical precipitation-hydrothermal process

Novel magnetic composites (Ni_0.5Zn_0.5Fe₂O₄-MWCNTs) of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) coated with Ni_0.5Zn_0.5Fe₂O₄ nanocrystals were synthesized by chemical precipitation-hydrothermal process. The composites were characterized by X-ray powder diffractometer (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectrometer (XPS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Mössbauer spectroscopy (MS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and selected area electron diffraction (SAED), etc. A temperature of about 200 °C was identified to be an appropriate hydrothermal condition to obtain Ni_0.5Zn_0.5Fe₂O₄-MWCNTs, being lower than the synthesis temperature of a single-phase Ni_0.5Zn_0.5Fe₂O₄ nanocrystals. The sizes of Ni_0.5Zn_0.5Fe₂O₄ in the composites were smaller than those of Ni_0.5Zn_0.5Fe₂O₄ nanocrystals in single phase. The composites exhibited more superparamagnetic than Ni_0.5Zn_0.5Fe₂O₄ nanocrystals in their relaxation behaviors. The magnetic properties measured by a vibrating sample magnetometer showed that the composites had a high coercive field of 386.0 Oe at room temperature, higher than those of MWCNT and Ni_0.5Zn_0.5Fe₂O₄ nanocrystals.     

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.     

Thermal decomposition mechanisms of MgCl2·6H2O and MgCl2·H2O

The thermal decomposition mechanisms and the intermediate morphology of MgCl₂·6H₂O and MgCl₂·H₂O were studied using integrated thermal analysis, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope and chemical analysis. The results showed that there were six steps in the thermal decomposition of MgCl₂·6H₂O: producing MgCl₂·4H₂O at 69 °C, MgCl₂·2H₂O at 129 °C, MgCl₂·nH₂O (1 ≤ n ≤ 2) and MgOHCl at 167 °C, the conversion of MgCl₂·nH₂O (1 ≤ n ≤ 2) to Mg(OH)Cl·0.3H₂O by simultaneous dehydration and hydrolysis at 203 °C, the dehydration of Mg(OH)Cl·0.3H₂O to MgOHCl at 235 °C, and finally the direct conversion of MgOHCl to the cylindrical particles of MgO at 415 °C. To restrain the sample hydrolysis and to obtain MgCl₂·H₂O, MgCl₂·6H₂O was first calcined in HCl atmosphere until 203 °C when MgCl₂·H₂O was obtained; HCl gas was then turned off and the calcination process continued, producing Mg₃Cl₂(OH)₄·2H₂O calcined at 203 °C, Mg₃(OH)₄Cl₂ at 220 °C and MgO at 360 °C. The temperature of producing MgO from calcination of MgCl₂·H₂O was lower (360 °C) than that from MgCl₂·6H₂O (415 °C) because of its more reactive intermediate products: the irregular shape and tiny needle-like Mg₃Cl₂(OH)₄·2H₂O particles and the uneven surface porous Mg₃(OH)₄Cl₂ particles. The MgO particles obtained at 360 °C had a flake structure.     

The Al2O3-Fe2O3 Mixed Oxidic System, II. Catalytic Decomposition of N2O

N₂O decomposition was examined over a series of Al₂O₃-Fe₂O₃ mixed oxidic solids with composition ranging from 0 to 100% of Fe₂O₃. The catalytic activity of the solids runs parallel to the number of atoms of iron in the Al_2−x Fe_xO₃ solid solution phase. Two compensation effects are present. The first corresponds to catalysts rich in alumina, and the second one to catalysts rich in hematite. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Preparation and photocatalytic activity of ZnO/TiO2/SnO2 mixture

ZnO/TiO₂/SnO₂ mixture was prepared by mixing its component solid oxides ZnO, TiO₂ and SnO₂ in the molar ratio of 4?1?1, followed by calcining the solid mixture at 200-1300 °C. The products and solid-state reaction process during the calcinations were characterized with powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric and differential thermal analysis (TG-DTA), UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV-Vis DRS) and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller measurement of specific surface area. Neither solid-state reaction nor change of crystal phase composition took place among the ZnO, TiO₂ and SnO₂ powders on the calcinations up to 600 °C. However, formation of the inverse spinel Zn₂TiO₄ and Zn₂SnO₄ was detected at 700-900 and 1100-1200 °C, respectively. Further increase of the calcination temperature enabled the mixture to form a single-phase solid solution Zn₂Ti_0.5Sn_0.5O₄ with an inverse spinel structure in the space group of . The ZnO/TiO₂/SnO₂ mixture was photocatalytically active for the degradation of methyl orange in water; its photocatalytic mass activity was 16.4 times that of SnO₂, 2.0 times that of TiO₂, and 0.92 times that of ZnO after calcination at 500 °C for 2 h. But, the mass activity of the mixture decreased with increasing the calcination temperature at above 700 °C because of the formation of the photoinactive Zn₂TiO₄, Zn₂SnO₄ and Zn₂Ti_0.5Sn_0.5O₄. The sample became completely inert for the photocatalysis after prolonged calcination at 1300 °C (42 h), since all of the active component oxides were reacted to form the solid solution Zn₂Ti_0.5Sn_0.5O₄ with no photocatalytic activity.     

Phase formation, crystal chemistry, and properties in the system Bi2O3-Fe2O3-Nb2O5

Subsolidus phase relations have been determined for the Bi₂O₃-Fe₂O₃-Nb₂O₅ system in air (900-1075 °C). Three new ternary phases were observed—Bi₃Fe_0.5Nb_1.5O₉ with an Aurivillius-type structure, and two phases with approximate stoichiometries Bi₁₇Fe₂Nb₃₁O₁₀₆ and Bi₁₇Fe₃Nb₃₀O₁₀₅ that appear to be structurally related to Bi₈Nb₁₈O₅₇. The fourth ternary phase found in this system is pyrochlore (A₂B₂O₆O′), which forms an extensive solid solution region at Bi-deficient stoichiometries (relative to Bi₂FeNbO₇) suggesting that ≈4-15% of the A-sites are occupied by Fe³⁺. X-ray powder diffraction data confirmed that all Bi-Fe-Nb-O pyrochlores form with positional displacements, as found for analogous pyrochlores with Zn, Mn, or Co instead of Fe. A structural refinement of the pyrochlore 0.4400:0.2700:0.2900 Bi₂O₃:Fe₂O₃:Nb₂O₅ using neutron powder diffraction data is reported with the A cations displaced (0.43 Å) to 96g sites and O′ displaced (0.29 Å) to 32e sites (Bi_1.721Fe_0.190(Fe_0.866Nb_1.134)O₇, Fd3¯m (#227), ). This displacive model is somewhat different from that reported for Bi_1.5Zn_0.92Nb_1.5O_6.92, which exhibits twice the concentration of small B-type cations on the A-sites as the Fe system. Bi-Fe-Nb-O pyrochlores exhibited overall paramagnetic behavior with large negative Curie-Weiss temperature intercepts, slight superparamagnetic effects, and depressed observed moments compared to high-spin, spin-only values. The single-phase pyrochlore with composition Bi_1.657Fe_1.092Nb_1.150O₇ exhibited low-temperature dielectric relaxation similar to that observed for Bi_1.5Zn_0.92Nb_1.5O_6.92; at 1 MHz and 200 K the relative permittivity was 125, and above 350 K conductive effects were observed.     

Syntheses and characterization of two oxoborates, (Pb3O)2(BO3)2MO4 (M=Cr, Mo)

Two oxoborates, (Pb₃O)₂(BO₃)₂MO₄ (M=Cr, Mo), have been prepared by solid-state reactions below 700 °C. Single-crystal XRD analyses showed that the Cr compound crystallizes in the orthorhombic group Pnma with a=6.4160(13) Å, b=11.635(2) Å, c=18.164(4) Å, Z=4 and the Mo analog in the group Cmcm with a=18.446(4) Å, b=6.3557(13) Å, c=11.657(2) Å, Z=4. Both compounds are characterized by one-dimensional chains formed by corner-sharing OPb₄ tetrahedra. BO₃ and CrO₄ (MoO₄) groups are located around the chains to hold them together via Pb–O bonds. The IR spectra further confirmed the presence of BO₃ groups in both structures and UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectra showed band gaps of about 1.8 and 2.9 eV for the Cr and Mo compounds, respectively. Band structure calculations indicated that (Pb₃O)₂(BO₃)₂MoO₄ is a direct semiconductor with the calculated energy gap of about 2.4 eV.