Structure,vibrational study and conductivity of the trihydrated uranyl bis(dihydrogenophosphate): UO2(H2PO4)2·3H2O

The X-ray structure (293 K) of UO₂(H₂PO₄)₂·3H₂O has been refined (R = 0.062): M_r = 518g, space group: P2₁/c (Z = 4); $\text{a = 10.816(1)}\text{A}\text{?}$, $\text{b = 13.896(2)}\text{A}\text{?}$, $\text{c = 7.481(1)}\text{A}\text{?}$, β = 105.65(1)^°, $\text{V = 1082.7(2)}\text{A}\text{?}{}^3$; D_c = 3.17 Mg m^?3. The structure consists of infinite chains along the (101) axis with U atoms bridged by two H₂PO₄ groups. The U atom is surrounded by a pentagonal bipyramid of oxygen atoms, one of them being an equatorial water molecule. The cohesion between the chains is ensured by hydrogen bonds involving the two last water molecules. An assignment of IR and Raman bands with isotopic substitution spectra is proposed. A phase transition at 128 K was made evident by DSC and spectroscopy. The room-temperature phase is characterized by a high disorder of the OH bond orientation while in the low-temperature phase H₂O and POH species appear well oriented. The conductivity seems to occur by proton transfer and protonic-species rotation at the POH-water molecular interface between the chains. ac conductivity has been determined by means of the complex-impedance method ($\text{σ}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>RT</mtext>}}\text{～ (3?12) × 10}{}^{\mathrm{?5}}\text{Ω}{}^{\mathrm{?1}}\text{cm}{}^{\mathrm{?1}}$; E ～ 0.20 eV).     

Structural studies of the monoclinic dihydrogen phosphates: II. A neutron-diffraction study of TlH2PO4

A neutron-diffraction study of TlH₂PO₄ at room temperature (RT) is presented as part of an investigation of the group of monoclinic dihydrogen phosphates: NaDP, deuterated-KDP, CsDP, and TlDP (DP denotes H₂PO₄). The structure of TlDP, and the nature of its phase transition at 230 K, are discussed and compared with paraelectric CsDP — with which TlDP is nearly isomorphous at RT.     

Dielectric properties of CsH2PO4 and CsD2PO4

Orthorhombic CsH₂PO₄ undergoes a ferroelectric transition at T_c = ?119.5°C, whereas the ferroelectric transition temperature in isomorphous CsD₂PO₄ is T_c = ?5.55°C. The transitions are of first order in both cases. The rather large isotope effect demonstrates the importance of the OHO bonds in the transition mechanism.     

The crystal structures of the ion conductors (NH+4)Zr2(PO4)3and (H3O+)Zr2(PO4)3

The crystal structures of (NH⁺₄)Zr₂(PO₄)₃ and (H₃O⁺)Zr₂(PO₄)₃ have been determined from neutron time-of-flight powder diffraction data obtained at 15 K. Both compounds are rhombohedral, $\text{R}\text{3}\text{c}$, with cell parameters a=8.7088(1) and c=24.2197(4) Å for the ammonium compound and a=8.7528(2), c=23.6833(11) Å for the hydronium compound. In both cases the ions are completely localized in the type I cavities and hydrogen bonded to lattice oxygens. The measured unit cell parameters are relatively large for this class of compounds but the entrance ways into the cavities are still too small to allow for unrestricted movement of the ions. Thus the low conductivity of the hydronium ion is related to this and other structural features.     

EPR study of the T2+ center in the paraelectric and antiferroelectric phases of NH4H2PO4

The EPR T

²⁺ center in NH₄H₂PO₄ was studied in the range of temperature 85K – 175K which includes the antiferroelectric transition. The center has the symmetry of NH⁺₄ site, where it goes substitutionally, in both the paraelectric and antiferroelectric phases. In the antiferr$\text{o}$electric phase there is a charge compensations mechanism involving the repulsion of one of the neighbor protons in the hydrogen bond. A measurement of the splitting of the resonance lines for the field along the cristallographic direction $\text{a}$ is presented as a function of temperature. This splitting is proportional to the order parameter.     

Characterization of LiFeCl4 and AgFeCl4 ionic conductors

LiFeCl₄ and AgFeCl₄ are obtained by direct reaction between LiCl or AgCl and FeCl₃ at 300°C and 400°C respectively. Both compounds are monoclinic with $\text{a = 7.02 (1)}\text{A}\text{?}$, $\text{b = 6.33 (1)}\text{A}\text{?}$, $\text{c = 12.72 (4)}\text{A}\text{?}$, β = 92° (30') for LiFeCl₄ and $\text{a = 10.60 (5)}\text{A}\text{?}$, $\text{b = 6.30 (5)}\text{A}\text{?}$, $\text{c = 12.34 (10)}\text{A}\text{?}$, β = 106° (1) for AgFeCl₄.LiFeCl₄ is clearly isotypic of LiAlCl₄. Magnetic measurements characterize in both cases Fe³⁺ ions in a high spin tetrahedral situation. LiFeCl₄ becomes antiferromagnetic at low temperature (T_N?10 K). AgFeCl₄ reveals a more complex situation. On contrary to the silver derivative, LiFeCl₄ is a good ionic conductor with activation energy of 0.78 eV in the solid state below 105°C, and a sharp increase in the lithium mobility at this temperature.     

Electron spin resonance investigation of the structural phase transitions in Alurea6(ClO4)3 and Ga urea6(ClO4)3

Second order structural phase transitions in Alur₆(ClO₄)₃ and Gaur₆(ClO₄)₃ with T_c ～ 300 K are studied by means of ESR on single crystals doped with the analogous Cr(III) compound. The transitions are antiferrodistortive and of the displacive type, the displacements resulting from the condensation of a X₂ mode $\text{(k = (0}\text{1}\text{2}\text{1}\text{2}\text{))}$ of the ClO₄ ions. The ESR parameters have the same temperature dependence as the order parameters and can be described by D and E～φ～. The space group describing the structure changes from S₆² to S₂¹, and the number of domains is multiplied by three. Above 300 K the crystals already consist of two domains, resulting from a ferrodistortive phase transition D_3d⁶ → S₆². The actual transition temperature of the latter phase transition lies at some temperature above the decomposition temperature of the crystals.     

Thermoelectric power of superionic conductor Ag7I4PO4

The thermoelectric power (θ) of Ag₇I₄PO₄ superionic conductor has been studied for the first time from 4 to 75°C; 80°C being its decomposition temperature. Relation between θ and temperature can be expressed by the equation

$\text{?θ = 0.20}\text{10}{}^3\text{T}\text{?0.255}$

for this solid. Analysis of the data yields 0.20 eV as heat of transport of Ag⁺ ion which is very close to its activation energy 0.21 eV. This supports the prediction of the theory of Rice and Roth based on “free-ion” model. This is also in consonance with earlier theories on heats of transport of ions in ionic solids. Indications have been found to justify the assumption that Ag₇I₄PO₄ has average structure.     

Etude Cristallographique Et Magnetique De Fe2GeS4 Structures Magnetiques A 85 Et 4,2°K

Fe₂GeS₄ crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group Pnma; the cell parameters are: $\text{a = 12,467}\text{A}\text{?}$, $\text{b = 7,213}\text{A}\text{?}$, $\text{c = 5,902}\text{A}\text{?}$; the crystal structure is isotype with olivine.A magnetic study by the extraction method shows that Fe₂GeS₄ is paramagnetic until 108°K, then antiferromagnetic until 69°K and finally antiferro- and ferrimagnetic at lower temperatures.Neutron diffraction reveals the magnetic structures at 85 and 4,2°K and explains the anisotropy transition at 69°K.     

Absorption spectra of Ni2+ in (NH4)2Mg(SO4)2·6H2O and Co2+ in Na2Zn(SO4)2·4H2O

Optical absorption spectra of Ni²⁺ in (NH₄)₂Mg(SO₄)₂·6H₂O and Co²⁺ in Na₂Zn(SO₄)₂·4H₂O single crystals have been studied at room and liquid nitrogen temperatures. From the nature and position of the observed bands, a successful interpretation could be made assuming octahedral symmetry for both the ions in the crystals. The splitting observed for ${}^3\text{T}{}_{\mathrm{1g}}\text{(F)}$ band in Ni²⁺ and ${}^4\text{T}{}_{\mathrm{2g}}\text{(F)}$ band in Co²⁺ at liquid nitrogen temperature have been explained as due to spin-orbit interaction. The extra band observed at 16,325 cm^-1 in the case of Ni²⁺ at low temperature has been interpreted to be the superposition of vibrational mode of SO^2-₄ radical on ${}^3\text{T}{}_{\mathrm{1g}}\text{(F)}$ band. The observed band positions in both the crystals have been fitted with four parameters B, C, Dq and ζ.     

Positron annihilation in KH2PO4

A positron annihilation study of KH₂PO₄ provides new evidence of a high temperature phase transition at 447 K. The results suggest the formation of a long lived positron or positronium state which could be associated with bond defects.     

Electronic-excitation transfer collisions in flames—V. Cross sections for quenching and doublet-mixing of K(42P)-doublet by N2, O2, H2 and H2O

Weighted average cross sections for quenching of the K(4²P)-doublet by N₂, H₂, O₂ and H₂O, measured in flames, show no significant temperature dependence in the range from 1500 to 2500K. Doublet mixing cross sections for K(4²P$\text{3}\text{2}$?4²P$\text{1}\text{2}$) transitions were measured at 1720K for N₂, O₂, H₂O. The ratios of both mixing cross sections were measured independently and were found to agree with the detailed balance condition within 2 per cent. It is shown that an ionic intermediate-state model cannot explain the large magnitude of N_2? mixing cross sections.     

A theoretical model for the interacting upper states of the ν1, ν3, 2ν2, ν2 + ν4, and 2ν4 bands in methane

The effective vibration-rotation Hamiltonians complete to fourth order in the Amat-Nielsen scheme for the upper states of the ν₁, ν₃, 2ν₂, ν₂ + ν₄, and 2ν₄ bands in methane are reviewed, and the major vibration-rotation interactions (H₃₀, $\text{H}\text{?}{}_{40}$, $\text{H}\text{?}{}_{21}$, $\text{H}{}_{31}$, $\text{H}\text{?}{}_{22}$) connecting the different vibrational states are discussed. Explicit matrix elements in a basis of harmonic oscillator-symmetric rotor basis functions are given for the purely vibrational terms and for the vibration-rotation interactions. Expressions for spectral intensities of infrared and Raman spectra are presented, and the selection rules and transition moment matrix elements are stated. A computer program is described which, incorporating all these features, can be used for prediction of infrared and Raman spectra and for determination of molecular constants from observed spectra by a least-squares routine. As an example the program is applied to the 2ν₄ isotropic Raman spectrum of ¹²CH₄, leading to a very good agreement between the experimental and calculated spectra.     

Chlorine K X-ray absorption-edge structures of CIS-[Pt(NH3)2Cl2], trans-[Pt(NH3)2Cl2], trans-[Pd(NH3)2Cl2] and (NH4)2PdCl4

The K absorption-edge spectra of the ligand chlorine ion in square-planar complex compounds cis- and trans-[Pt(NH₃)₂Cl₂], trans-[Pd(NH₃)₂Cl₂], and (NH₄)₂PdCl₄ are reported and discussed in connection with the chlorine K absorption spectra of K₂PtCl₄ and K₂PdCl₄, reported previously. The observed chemical shift of a white line at the absorption threshold is interpreted in terms of the difference of the ligand-field splitting of electronic states for metal ions. The white line is attributed to the electronic transition from the Cl^? ls level to the lowest unoccupied antibonding molecular orbital (MO), which is specified by a $\text{MO}\text{b}{}_{\mathrm{1g}}\text{(σ}{}^1\text{)}$ in the square-planar complex with D_4h symmetry. The other absorption structures are regarded as continuum “shape resonances” of the outgoing electron trapped by the cage of the surrounding atoms. The effect of geometrical isomerism is found in the chlorine K absorption spectra of cis- and trans-[Pt(NH₃)₂Cl₂].     

Magnetic structures of PrCO2Si2 and TbCo2Si2 compounds

Neutron diffraction studies of polycrystalline PrCo₂Si₂ and TbCo₂Si₂ compounds were carried out at 4.2 and 293 K. Both samples have collinear antiferromagnetic order below T_N(31(1) and 46(1) K for Pr and Tb compound respectively), with their magnetic moments parallel to the c axis. The ordered magnetic moment values of Pr and Tb at 4.2 K (3.19 and 9.12 μ_B respectively), are close to the saturation value of the free ions. The corresponding magnetic space group P_l4/mnc (Sh⁴¹⁰₁₂₈) is body-anticentered ($\text{k =}\text{111}\text{222}$ refering to P_l cell).     

Laser time-resolved selective excitation of Nd3+ ions in KNdP4O12 crystals

The emission spectra of Nd³⁺ ions in KNd_xRE_1?xP₄O₁₂ (RE = Y, La and Pr) and KNd_xCr_1?xP₄O₁₂ crystals were investigated. Under selective excitation into ²G$\text{7}\text{2}$ + ⁴G$\text{5}\text{2}$ multiples at 1.6 K the fluorescence of Nd³⁺ ions in non-equivalent crystal sites was observed. The excitation spectrum of the ${}^4\text{F}\text{3}\text{2}$ fluorescence had a complex satellite structure. Time resolved measurements showed the dependence of the fluorescence decay on the excitation wavelength. Selective excitation into the satellite lines at the wings of the main transition led to strongly non-exponential decay. The low temperature results indicated that there is no spectral energy transfer between ions in different types of sites.     

Electrical transport and magnetic properties of Nd2(WO4)3

Measurements of the molar magnetic susceptibility (X_m) of a powdered sample of Nd₂(WO₄)₃ in the temperature range 300–900 K, and the electrical conductivity (σ) and dielectric constant (?$\text{)}\text{?}$ of pressed pellets of the compound in the temperature range 4.2–1180 K are reported. X_m obeys the Curie-Weiss law with a Curie constant C= 3.13 K/mole, a paramagnetic Curie temperature θ= ?60 K and a moment of Bohr magnetons, p= 3.49 for the Nd³⁺ ion. The electrical conductivity data can be explained in terms of the usual band model and impurity levels. Both the σ and ?$\text{\$}\text{?}$data indicate some sort of phase transition round 1025 K. The conductivity follows Mott's law $\text{σ = A exp (?B/T}{}^{\mathrm{<mtext>1</mtext><mtext>4</mtext>}}\text{)}$ in the temperature range $\text{200 < T < 3000}\text{K with}\text{B = 45.00 (}\text{K}\text{)}{}^{\mathrm{<mtext>1</mtext><mtext>4</mtext>}}\text{and}\text{A = 1.38 × 10}{}^{\mathrm{?5}}\text{Ω}{}^{\mathrm{?1}}\text{cm}{}^{\mathrm{?1}}$. The dielectric constant increases slowly up to 600 K, as is usual for ionic solids. The increase becomes much faster above 600 K, which is attributed to space-charge polarization of thermally generated charge carriers.     

Two-dimensional spin ordering in YFe2O4

A neutron diffraction study was performed on a single crystal of a new compound YFe₂O₄ below its Néel point. In a slightly oxygen deficient crystal, the elastic magnetic scattering takes the form of Bragg line along the c axis at $\text{(}\text{n}\text{3}\text{,}\text{n}\text{3}\text{, l) (n ≠ 3m)}$ in the hexagonal lattice. This fact indicates the two-dimensional long range order of a commensurate sinusoidal spin structure.     

Birefringence,X-ray and neutron diffraction measurements on the structural phase transitions of (CH3NH3)2 MnCl4 and (CH3NH3)2FeCl4

We used optical birefringence, X-ray and neutron diffraction methods with single crystals to study the structural phase transitions of the perowskite-type layer structures of (CH₃NH₃)₂MeCl₄ with Me=Mn, Fe. The Mn-compound shows the following structural transitions at 394 K — a continuous order-disorder phase transition from tetragonal symmetry $\text{I4}\text{mmm}$ to orthorhombic space group Abma (Cmca in reference 10); at 257 K — a discontinuous transition to a second tetragonal modification; at 95 K — a discontinuous transition to a monoclinic phase. For the Fe-compound the corresponding transition temperatures are 328 K and 231 K, respectively. A low temperature monoclinic phase could not be observed. The lattice parameters of the different modifications were determined as a function of temperature. The temperature dependent course of the order parameter has been investigated for the order—disorder transition. For both compounds, all the methods used gave the same value for the critical exponent of β = 0.315.     

Proprietes magnetiques et etude par effet Mössbauer du thiosilicate Fe2SiS4

Fe₂SiS₄$\text{(a = 12,407}\text{A}\text{?}\text{, b = 7,198}\text{A}\text{?}\text{, c = 5,812}\text{A}\text{?}$, space group Pnma) has the olivine structure; the ferrous ions are located in two kinds of sites: one half in planes of mirror symmetry m, the other half in centers of symmetry. 1?.The magnetic study of this compound by means of magnetization measurements and Mössbauer effect, indicates from 127 K an antiferromagnetic arrangement along oy for the m sites, and an induced partial order of the same kind for the 1? sites. At 33 K, the Fe²⁺ spins in 1? sites are completely ordered and at the same time takes place a rearrangement of the magnetic structure. The observed complex model is analogous to that of Fe₂GeS₄, i.e. antiferromagnetic along 0x and ferrimagnetic along Oz.