Features of the behavior of longitudinal static and dynamic dielectric, piezoelectric, and elastic characteristics of KH2PO4 and NH4H2PO4 crystals

Along with their electromechanical coupling coefficients, the longitudinal dielectric, piezoelectric and elastic characteristics in ferroelectric KH₂PO₄ and antiferroelectric NH₄H₂PO₄ crystals are calculated using a modified proton ordering model that considers piezoelectric coupling and the four-particle cluster approximation. The possibility of detecting piezoactivity in solid solutions of K_{1 − x} (NH₄)xH₂PO₄ is substantiated.     

Low-frequency models in KH2PO4-type crystals

The phonon responses along the three crystallographic orientations of KH₂PO₄, 90% deuterated K(H_1–xD_x)₂ PO₄ and NH₄H₂PO₄, deduced from the best fit of the factorised form of the dielectric function to the infrared reflectivity spectra, are compared. Results evidence the activity of a low-frequency heavily damped extra-mode in both directions parallel and perpendicular to the c axis, due to the coupling of an internal mode with the inter-site protonic motion and external models.     

Vibrational study of phase transitions and conductivity mechanism in H3OUO2PO4.3 H2O (HUP)

Infrared and Raman spectra of polycrystalline H₃OUO₂PO₄.3 H₂O (HUP) have been envestigated at various temperatures between 50 K and 300 K. The most temperature sensitive bands corresponding to PO₄ and H₂O librations, U-OPO₃ stretching and OH stretching vibrations indicate four different phases of HUP and allow to propose a phase transition mechanism from a quasiliquid state of protonated species in R.T. phase to a fully ordered crystal below 100 K. Protonic conductivity mechanism of room and low temperature phases is discussed.     

Vibrational study of H3OUO2PO4 · 3 H2O (HUP) and related compounds. phase transitions and conductivity mechanisms: part I,KUO2PO4 · 3 H2O (KUP)

Infrared and Raman spectra of polycrystalline KUO₂PO₄ · 3 H₂O (KUP) and its isotopic derivatives KUO₂P¹⁸O₄ · 3 H₂O and KUO₂PO₄ · 3 D₂O have been investigated in the 4000-10-cm^?1 range at different temperatures. An assignment of the bands in terms of UO₂, PO₄ and H₂O vibrations has been proposed. Combined differential scanning calorimetry and spectroscopic data show two diffuse phase transitions near 130 and 230 K. Comparison of the vibrational spectra of phase I at 300 K and phase IV at 100 K indicates that ordering of the water molecules with subsequent ordering of PO₄ tetrahedra on a site with lower symmetry appears to be the main mechanism responsible for the phase transformation. All the six O-H distances of water molecules in phase IV are found to be crystallographically nonequivalent. Conducting ion frequencies and the corresponding force constants have been determined for the analogous compounds MUP with M = K⁺, Na⁺, Ag⁺, NH⁺₄, Tl⁺ and H₃O⁺ and compared with other properties of these ionic conductors. Conductivity mechanisms in these materials are discussed.     

The antiferroelectric phase transition in TlH2PO4 and TlD2PO4

It is shown by X-ray diffraction measurements that the transitions at 230 K in TlH₂PO₄ and at ≈ 350 K in TlD₂PO₄ are structurally equivalent. In both cases, on cooling through the transition, new reflections appear at points ($\text{h +}\text{1}\text{2}$, $\text{k +}\text{1}\text{2}$, l) referred to the primitive monoclinic unit cell of the high-temperature phase. In TlH₂PO₄ some distinct but broadened scattering remains at the ($\text{h +}\text{1}\text{2}$, $\text{k +}\text{1}\text{2}$, l) points up to 10 K, or more, above the transition temperature.     

Raman spectral of low-lying longitudinal mode of KH2PO4 and KD2PO4 in ferroelectric phase

The origin of the low-lying modes of KH₂PO₄ and KD₂PO₄ in the ferroelectric phase has been clarified by the z(xy)z? Raman scattering experiments. The “S-mode”, which has been usually assigned to the proton tunneling mode in KH₂PO₄ at T<T_c, has been found in the z(xy)z? spectrum of KD₂PO₄ in contrast to the x(xy)y spectrum. It has been found that the frequency of the “S-mode” of KD₂PO₄ is higher than that of KH₂PO₄. These results have shown that the “S-mode” is far from the proton tunneling mode nor the proton/deuteron mode at all. From the present Raman spectroscopy, it is concluded that the “S-mode” is assigned to the libration mode of the PO₄ tertahedrons.     

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.     

A stable NH4PO3-glass proton conductor for intermediate temperature fuel cells

A stable and conductive composite material based on NH₄PO₃ and amorphous oxides (SiO₂-P₂O₅) has been prepared by a wet-chemical route following with firing in ammonia. The composite showed high proton conductivity in both ambient air and humidified 5% H₂/Ar. A total conductivity of 6.0-19 mS/cm in the temperature range of 150-250 °C has been achieved. The conductivity (about 19 mS/cm) is stable in humidified 5% H₂/Ar during ageing at 175 °C for over 100 h. This material is a potential electrolyte for intermediate temperature fuel cells and other electrochemical devices.     

Vibrational study of H3OUO2PO4·3 H2O (HUP) and related compounds. Phase transitions and conductivity mechanism: Part II,H3OUO2PO4·3 H2O

Infrared and Raman spectra of polycrystalline H₃OUO₂PO₄·3 H₂O (HUP) and its D and P¹⁸O₄ derivatives, in the form of dense transparent disks and wet powder, have been investigated at various temperatures in the 100–300 K region. The bands due to framework vibrations are similar to those of KUP, whereas those for the protonic species are different. OH stretching and bending bands of the oxonium ion have been identified at 2920, 1740 and 1160 cm^?1 in the low-temperature spectrum of HUP. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and infrared (IR) intensity investigations show a phase transition between 274 and 260 K. The mechanism of the phase transition consists, as in the case of KUP, of ordering of the protonic species, which induces ordering of PO₄ tetrahedra. The ordering can be influenced by excess water content, stacking faults and stress (ferroelastic behaviour is evidenced). The conductivity mechanism in HUP is discussed.     

Complex formation and phosphate-H2O interactions in a concentrated aqueous Mg(H2PO4)2 solution.

X-ray diffraction data from a solution of Mg(H₂PO₄)₂ were examined. The experimental distribution curve shows peaks at about 2.10, 2.7–2.9, 3.6, 3.9 and 4.25 Å. The 3.6 Å peak reveals the formation of inner sphere magnesium-phosphate complexes Mg(H₂O)_6-z(H₂PO₄)^+2-z_z, in which oxygens from phosphate groups substitute z water molecules of the hydrated Mg(H₂O)²⁺₆ ions. Least squares refinements of the i(s) curve are consistent with a structural unit in which the phosphate tetrahedron shares a corner with one magnesium octahedron with MgOP angle of 147 deg. Each phosphate ion interacts with about eight water molecules.     

Antiferroelectricity in TID2PO4

Polarization versus electric field double hysteresis loops along the b-axis of TID₂PO₄ were observed. From this fact and the permittivity versus temperature characteristic, the low temperature phase of TID₂PO₄ was confirmed to be antiferroelectric.     

Determination of the protonic transference number for KH2PO4 by electromotive force measurements

The protonic transference number (t_H⁺) of KH₂PO₄ has been determined at 293 K as a function of hydrogen partial pressure (1>p_H2(atm)>10^-3) using EMF measurements. The results are consistent with earlier work which indicated that t_H⁺ is essentially unity (>0.97) for this material under the relevant experimental conditions.     

Internal modes and the local symmetry of PO4 tetrahedra in K(H1−xDx)2PO4 by Raman scattering

The v₃ and v₄ internal modes of PO^3?₄ tetrahedra are observable in KH₂PO₄ even above the transition temperature in the scattering geometry x(zz)y contrary to the selection rule of the site symmetry S₄ in the D_2d space group. Tominaga et al. discussed that the origin of this broken selection rule is due to the momentary site symmetry C₂ of these tetrahedra, and that the mechanism of the phase transition is of the order-disorder type of these distorted tetrahedra. Parallel studies compatible with their results have been carried out on mixed crystals K(H_1?xD_x)₂PO₄ and the same conclusion has been obtained as to the momentary site symmetry. These internal modes increase in intensity with deuteration, and the origin of this increase is discussed.     

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.     

Electrochemical properties of LiFe0.9Mg0.1PO4 / carbon cathode materials prepared by ultrasonic spray pyrolysis

The LiFe_0.9Mg_0.1PO₄/C powder of pure olivine phase can be prepared with the duplex process of spray pyrolysis synthesis (at 450 ^°C) and subsequent heat treatment (at 700 ^°C for 2, 4 and 8 h). From scanning electron microscopy observation with corresponding elemental mapping images of iron, phosphorous and magnesium, it could be found that the LiFe_0.9Mg_0.1PO₄ powders are covered with fine pyrolyzed carbon. Raman spectra indicate that the phase of carbon with higher electronic conductive phase is predominant when prolonged subsequent heat treatment is carried out. The carbon coatings on the LiFe_0.9Mg_0.1PO₄ surface can improve the conductivity of the LiFe_0.9Mg_0.1PO₄ powder (3.8×10⁻⁵ S cm⁻¹) to about a factor of ∼10⁴ higher than the conductivity of LiFePO₄. The stability and cycle life of a charge/discharge cycle test of lithium ion secondary batteries are also enhanced. The results indicate that the LiFe_0.9Mg_0.1PO₄ powder, prepared at a pyrolysis temperature of 450 ^°C and with post-heat-treatment at 700 ^°C for 8 h, exhibits a specific initial discharge capacity of about 132 mA h g⁻¹ at C/10 rate, 105 mA h g⁻¹ at 1C, and 87 mA h g⁻¹ at 5C.     

Crystal field parameters and energy level structure of the MnO4 tetroxo anion in Li3PO4, Ca2PO4Cl and Sr5(PO4)3Cl crystals

A comparative study concerning the electronic structure of the Mn⁵⁺ ion in the Li₃PO₄, Ca₂PO₄Cl, Sr₅(PO₄)₃Cl host lattices has been carried out in the framework of the exchange charge model. The crystal field parameters have been evaluated using the structural data as the only input information. The 10 K absorption spectra of the investigated compounds have been measured in order to verify the correspondence between experimental and calculated energy levels. A systematic trend of the crystal field splitting of the most intense transitions has been evidenced and discussed by considering the symmetry properties of the coordination polyhedra around Mn⁵⁺.     

Ultrasonic propagation near the ferroelectric phase transition temperature in RbH2PO4

Ferroelectric phase transition in RbH₂PO₄ is studied by the propagation of longitudinal ultrasonic waves along the polar axis. The velocity data are analyzed to obtain the temperature dependence of the soft mode frequency in the ferroelectric phase. Unlike KH₂PO₄ and KD₂PO₄, the attenuation in RbH₂PO₄ does not exhibit a relaxation type behaviour.     

Structural studies of the monoclinic dihydrogen phosphates: A neutron-diffraction study of paraelectric CsH2PO4

The crystal structure of paraelectric CsH₂PO₄ at room temperature is presented. As suggested by the strong deuteration-dependence of the transition temperature and the distribution of quasielastic scattering, one of the hydrogen bonds is found to be very probably (97.5%) disordered, with H-H=0.48(4)Å. This work is set in the context of the interest now being shown in the group of monoclinic dihydrogen phosphates-deuterated KDP, NaDP, the ferroelectric CsDP and the presumed ferroelectric T1DP (DP denotes H₂PO₄). Recent work on these other compounds is surveyed briefly.     

Superprotonic solid solutions between CsHSO4 and CsH2PO4

Solid solutions of (CsHSO₄)_1 − x(CsH₂PO₄)_x (x = 0.25-0.75) were synthesized by mechanical milling method over a wide range of compositions. Superprotonic cubic phase was confirmed for all these samples between 293 and 420 K depending on its composition. These superprotonic phases have primitive cubic structure similar to that of CsH₂PO₄. The kinetic stability of the supercooled cubic phase depends both on the composition x and the humidity of surrounding atmosphere. The most stable composition of the cubic phase was found around x = 0.67 and could be maintained for several days even under ambient atmosphere. The ionic conductivities of these superprotonic phases reached 10^− 2–10^− 3 S∙cm^− 1 at 450 K. With increasing x the ionic conductivity at the superprotonic phase decreased continuously associated with the increase of the activation energy. These findings suggest that the average number of the hydrogen bonds between XO₄ (X = S, P) units plays an important role on the stability of the cubic phase and also on the conductivity.     

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.