Dielectric properties of some MM′O4 and MTiM′O6 (M=Cr, Fe, Ga; M′=Nb, Ta, Sb) rutile-type oxides

We describe an investigation of the structure and dielectric properties of MM′O₄ and MTiM′O₆ rutile-type oxides for M=Cr, Fe, Ga and M′=Nb, Ta and Sb. All the oxides adopt a disordered rutile structure (P4₂/mnm) at ambient temperature. A partial ordered trirutile-type structure is confirmed for FeTaO₄ from the low temperature (17 K) neutron diffraction studies. While both the MM′O₄ oxides (CrTaO₄ and FeTaO₄) investigated show a normal dielectric property MTiM′O₆ oxides for M=Fe, Cr and M′=Nb/Ta/Sb display a distinct relaxor/relaxor-like response. Significantly the corresponding gallium analogs, GaTiNbO₆ and GaTiTaO₆, do not show a relaxor response at T<500 K.     

Metallic Re-Re bond formation in different MRe2O6 (MFe, Co, Ni) rutile-like polymorphs: The role of temperature in high-pressure synthesis

Different polymorphs of MRe₂O₆ (MFe, Co, Ni) with rutile-like structures were prepared using high-pressure high-temperature synthesis. For syntheses temperatures higher than ∼1573 K, tetragonal rutile-type structures (P4₂/mnm) with a statistical distribution of M- and Re-atoms on the metal position in the structure were observed for all three compounds, whereas rutile-like structures with orthorhombic or monoclinic symmetry, partially ordered M- and Re-ions on different sites and metallic Re-Re-bonds within Re₂O₁₀-pairs were found for CoRe₂O₆ and NiRe₂O₆ at a synthesis temperature of 1473 K. According to the XPS measurements, a mixture of Re⁺⁴/Re⁺⁶ and M²⁺/M³⁺ is present in both structural modifications of CoRe₂O₆ and NiRe₂O₆. The low-temperature forms contain more Re⁺⁴ and M³⁺ than the high-temperature forms. Tetragonal and monoclinic modifications of NiRe₂O₆ order with a ferromagnetic component at ∼24 K, whereas tetragonal and orthorhombic CoRe₂O₆ show two magnetic transitions: below ∼17.5 and 27 K for the tetragonal and below 18 and 67 K for the orthorhombic phase. Tetragonal FeRe₂O₆ is antiferromagnetic below 123 K.     

Crystal chemistry of M[PO2(OH)2]2·2H2O compounds (M=Mg, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Zn, Cd): Structural investigation of the Ni, Zn and Cd salts

The compounds M[PO₂(OH)₂]₂·2H₂O (M=Mg, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Zn, Cd) were prepared from super-saturated aqueous solutions at room temperature. Single-crystal X-ray structure investigations of members with M=Ni, Zn, Cd were performed at 295 and 120 K. The space-group symmetry is P2₁/n, Z=2. The unit-cell parameters are at 295/120 K for M=Ni: a=7.240(2)/7.202(2), b=9.794(2)/9.799(2), c=5.313(1)/5.285(1) Å, β=94.81(1)/94.38(1)°, V=375.4/371.9 Å³; M=Zn: a=7.263(2)/7.221(2), b=9.893(2)/9.899(3), c=5.328(1)/5.296(2) Å, β=94.79(1)/94.31(2)°, V=381.5/377.5 Å³; M=Cd: a=7.356(2)/7.319(2), b=10.416(2)/10.423(3), c=5.407(1)/5.371(2) Å, β=93.85(1)/93.30(2)°, V=413.4/409.1 Å³. Layers of corner-shared MO₆ octahedra and phosphate tetrahedra are linked by three of the four crystallographically different hydrogen bonds. The fourth hydrogen bond (located within the layer) is worth mentioning because of the short O_h?O bond distance of 2.57-2.61 Å at room temperature (2.56-2.57 Å at 120 K); only for M=Mg it is increased to 2.65 Å. Any marked temperature-dependent variation of the unit-cell dimension is observed only vertical to the layers. The analysis of the infrared (IR) spectroscopy data evidences that the internal PO₄ vibrations are insensitive to the size and the electronic configuration of the M²⁺ ions. The slight strengthening of the intra-molecular P-O bonds in the Mg salt is caused by the more ionic character of the Mg-O bonds. All IR spectra exhibit the characteristic “ABC trio” for acidic salts: 2900-3180 cm⁻¹ (A band), 2000-2450 cm⁻¹ (B band) and 1550-1750 cm⁻¹ (C band). Both the frequency and the intensity of the A band provide an evidence that the PO₂(OH)₂ groups in M[PO₂(OH)₂]₂·2H₂O compounds form weaker hydrogen bonds as compared with other acidic salts with comparable O?O bond distances of about 2.60 Å. The observed shift of the O-H stretching vibrations of the water molecule in the order M=Mg>Mn≈Fe≈Co>Ni>Zn≈Cd has been discussed with respect to the influence of both the character and the strength of M↔H₂O interactions.     

Structural arrangements of the ternary metal boride carbide compounds MB2C4 (M=Mg, Ca, La and Ce) from first-principles theory

The structural arrangements of the ternary metal borocarbides MB₂C₄ (M=Mg, Ca; La and Ce) are investigated using density-functional theory (DFT) calculations within the generalized gradient approximation (GGA). Results indicate that these compounds adopt a layered structure consisting of graphite-like B₂C₄ layers alternating with metal sheets. Within the hexagonal layers, the coloring with the -C-C-C-B-C-B- sequence is energetically more stable than that with the -C-C-C-C-B-B- one. The electronic structures of these compounds, mainly determined by the B₂C₄ sheets, can be rationalized with the simple valence electron distribution M²⁺[B₂C₄]²⁻xe⁻, with the metals essentially acting as two-electron donors with respect to the boron-carbon network, the other x electrons remaining in the relatively narrow d and/or f bands of the metals. Accordingly, MB₂C₄ are narrow band-gap semiconductors (ΔE≈0.2-0.4 eV) with M=Mg and Ca. On the other hand, with M=La and Ce, the compounds are conducting with a relatively high density of states at the Fermi level predominantly metal in character with substantial B/Cπ* antibonding state admixture.     

Synthesis, structure and physical properties of Ru ferrites: BaMRu5O11 (M=Li and Cu) and BaM′2Ru4O11 (M′=Mn, Fe and Co)

The synthesis, structure, and physical properties of five R-type Ru ferrites with chemical formula BaMRu₅O₁₁ (M=Li and Cu) and BaM′₂Ru₄O₁₁ (M′=Mn, Fe and Co) are reported. All the ferrites crystallize in space group P6₃/mmc and consist of layers of edge sharing octahedra interconnected by pairs of face sharing octahedra and isolated trigonal bipyramids. For M=Li and Cu, the ferrites are paramagnetic metals with the M atoms found on the trigonal bipyramid sites exclusively. For M′=Mn, Fe and Co, the ferrites are soft ferromagnetic metals. For M′=Mn, the Mn atoms are mixed randomly with Ru atoms on different sites. The magnetic structure for BaMn₂Ru₄O₁₁ is reported.     

Reduction of Eu to Eu in MAl2Si2O8 (M=Ca, Sr, Ba) in air condition

In general, the reduction of Eu³⁺ to Eu²⁺ in solids needs an annealing process in a reducing atmosphere. In this paper, it is of great interest and importance to find that the reduction of Eu³⁺ to Eu²⁺ can be realized in a series of alkaline-earth metal aluminum silicates MAl₂Si₂O₈ (M=Ca, Sr, Ba) just in air condition. The Eu²⁺-doped MAl₂Si₂O₈ (M=Ca, Sr, Ba) powder samples were prepared in air atmosphere by Pechini-type sol-gel process. It was found that the strong band emissions of 4f⁶5d¹-4f⁷ from Eu²⁺ were observed at 417, 404 and 373 nm in air-annealed CaAl₂Si₂O₈, SrAl₂Si₂O₈ and BaAl₂Si₂O₈, respectively, under ultraviolet excitation although the Eu³⁺ precursors were employed. In addition, under low-voltage electron beam excitation, Eu²⁺-doped MAl₂Si₂O₈ also shows strong blue or ultraviolet emission corresponding to 4f⁶5d¹-4f⁷ transition. The reduction mechanism from Eu³⁺ to Eu²⁺ in these compounds has been discussed in detail.     

Mixed oxides of sodium, antimony (5+) and divalent metals (Ni, Co, Zn or Mg)

A family of α-NaFeO₂-type oxides Na_xM_(1+x)/3Sb_(2−x)/3O₂ (M=Ni, Co, Zn, Mg; x≈0.8 or 0.9) has been prepared by solid state reactions and characterized by powder XRD. At x=1, ordering occurs with tripling the unit cells and formula units. The powder patterns for Na₃M₂SbO₆ (M=Ni, Co) comply with both trigonal P3₁12 cell and monoclinic C2/m cell. The Ni compound exhibits also a series of extremely weak reflections (I<0.3%) that need doubling of the c axis, and the final cell is C2/c, a=5.3048(3), b=9.1879(4), c=10.8356(7), β=99.390(5). These ambiguities are explained by stacking faults. The compounds absorb atmospheric moisture with c-axis expansion up to 29%. A delafossite-related superlattice Ag₃Co₂SbO₆ has been prepared by ion exchange and refined: P3₁12, a=5.3842(2), c=18.6613(10). Ionic conductivity of the Na_0.8Ni_0.6Sb_0.4O₂ ceramics, 0.4 S/m at 300 °C, is greater than reported previously, presumably owing to the grain orientation produced by hot pressing.     

A Series of Cesium Triphosphates with a Layer Structure: Cs2MP3O10 (M=Ga, Al, Cr)

A series of non-hydrated triphosphates containing cesium, Cs₂MP₃O₁₀ (M=Ga, Al, Cr), has been synthesized for the first time. Their original structure crystallizes in the space group P2₁/c, with a≈12.3 Å, b≈9.0 Å, c≈9.5 Å and β≈95°. The [MP₃O₁₀]_∞ layers built up of corner-sharing MO₆ octahedra and tritetrahedral P₃O₁₀ groups can be described from MP₃O₁₃ units in which one MO₆ octahedra shares the three corners of one face with one P₃O₁₀ group. The open character of the layers makes that Cs⁺ cations are not only interleaved between the layers, but also located in the pseudo-tunnels they present.     

Revised phase diagram of Li2MoO4-ZnMoO4 system, crystal structure and crystal growth of lithium zinc molybdate

Orthorhombic lithium zinc molybdate was first chosen and explored as a candidate for double beta decay experiments with ¹⁰⁰Mo. The phase equilibria in the system Li₂MoO₄-ZnMoO₄ were reinvestigated, the intermediate compound Li₂Zn₂(MoO₄)₃ of the α-Cu₃Fe₄(VO₄)₆ (lyonsite) type was found to be nonstoichiometric: Li_2−2xZn_2+x(MoO₄)₃ (0≤x≤0.28) at 600 °C. The eutectic point corresponds to 650 °C and 23 mol% ZnMoO₄, the peritectic point is at 885 °C and 67 mol% ZnMoO₄. Single crystals of the compound were prepared by spontaneous crystallization from the melts and fluxes. In the structures of four Li_2−2xZn_2+x(MoO₄)₃ crystals (x=0; 0.03; 0.21; 0.23), the cationic sites in the face-shared octahedral columns were found to be partially filled and responsible for the compound nonstoichiometry. It was first showed that with increasing the x value and the number of vacancies in M3 site, the average M3-O distance grows and the lithium content in this site decreases almost linearly. Using the low-thermal-gradient Czochralski technique, optically homogeneous large crystals of lithium zinc molybdate were grown and their optical, luminescent and scintillating properties were explored.     

Approach to thermal properties and electronic polarizability from average single bond strength in ZnOBi2O3B2O3 glasses

The glass transition temperature (T_g), density, refractive index, Raman scattering spectra, and X-ray photoelectron spectra (XPS) for xZnO-yBi₂O₃-zB₂O₃ glasses (x=10-65, y=10-50, z=25-60 mol%) are measured to clarify the bonding and structure features of the glasses with large amounts of ZnO. The average electronic polarizability of oxide ions (α_O2−) and optical basicity (Λ) of the glasses estimated using Lorentz-Lorenz equation increase with increasing ZnO or Bi₂O₃ content, giving the values of α_O2−=1.963 Å³ and Λ=0.819 for 60ZnO-10Bi₂O₃-30B₂O₃ glass. The formation of BOBi and BOZn bridging bonds in the glass structure is suggested from Raman and XPS spectra. The average single bond strength (B_MO) proposed by Dimitrov and Komatsu is applied to the glasses and is calculated using single bond strengths of 150.6 kJ/mol for ZnO bonds in ZnO₄ groups, 102.5 kJ/mol for BiO bonds in BiO₆ groups, 498 kJ/mol for BO bonds in BO₃ groups, and 373 kJ/mol for BO bonds in BO₄ groups. Good correlations are observed between T_g and B_MO, Λ and B_MO, and T_g and Λ, proposing that the average single bond strength is a good parameter for understanding thermal and optical properties of ZnOBi₂O₃B₂O₃ glasses.     

Series of compositions Bi2(M′xM1−x)4O9 (M′, M=Al, Ga, Fe; 0≤x≤1) with mullite-type crystal structure: Synthesis, characterization and O/O exchange experiment

Series of compositions Bi₂(M′_xM_1−x)₄O₉ with x=0.0, 0.1,…, 1.0 and M′/M=Ga/Al, Fe/Al and Fe/Ga were synthesized by dissolving appropriate amounts of corresponding metal nitrate hydrates in glycerine, followed by gelation, calcination and final heating at 800 °C for 24 h. The new compositions with M′/M=Ga/Al form solid-solution series, which are isotypes to the two other series M′/M=Fe/Al and Fe/Ga. The XRD data analysis yielded in all cases a linear dependence of the lattice parameters related on x. Rietveld structure refinements of the XRD patterns of the new compounds, Bi₂(Ga_xAl_1−x)₄O₉ reveal a preferential occupation of Ga in tetrahedral site (4 h). The IR absorption spectra measured between 50 and 4000 cm⁻¹ of all systems show systematic shifts in peak positions related to the degree of substitution. Samples treated in ¹⁸O₂ atmosphere (16 h at 800 °C, 200 mbar, 95% ¹⁸O₂) for ¹⁸O/¹⁶O isotope exchange experiments show a well-separated IR absorption peak related to the M-¹⁸O_c-M vibration, where O_c denotes the common oxygen of two tetrahedral type MO₄ units. The intensity ratio of M-¹⁸O_c/M-¹⁶O_c IR absorption peaks and the average crystal sizes were used to estimate the tracer diffusion coefficients of polycrystalline Bi₂Al₄O₉ (D=2×10⁻²² m²s⁻¹), Bi₂Fe₄O₉ (D=5×10⁻²¹ m²s⁻¹), Bi₂(Ga/Al)₄O₉ (D=2×10⁻²¹ m²s⁻¹) and Bi₂Ga₄O₉ (D=2×10⁻²⁰ m²s⁻¹).     

High-pressure synthesis, crystal structure and magnetic properties of a new cuprate (Nd,Ce)2+xCaCu2O6+y

New phase (Nd,Ce)_2+xCaCu₂O_6+y was prepared at a high-pressure/high-temperature condition of 6 GPa and 1300°C. It had a nonstoichiometric composition close to Nd_2.16Ce_0.225CaCu₂O_6+y. According to X-ray diffraction pattern, the Nd_2.16Ce_0.225CaCu₂O_6+y phase has a tetragonal lattice with a = 3.845(1) Å, c = 19.349(5) Å. However, electron microscopic observations revealed a complicated shear structure for this phase. Magnetic susceptibility and magnetic hysteresis measurements were performed for the Nd_2.16Ce_0.225CaCu₂O_6+y sample and it was found that the phase undergoes a weak ferromagnetic transition at 150 K. Below ≈40 K, complicated magnetic behavior was observed suggesting the presence of second weak ferromagnetic transition near 40 K.     

Metamagnetism in DyBaCo2O5+x, x≈0.5

The temperature dependence of the paramagnetic susceptibility χ_m(T) taken in 2500 Oe, the resistivity ρ(T), and the thermoelectric power α(T) of DyBaCo₂O_5+x, which has Ba and Dy ordered into alternate (001) planes of an oxygen-deficient perovskite, have revealed a phase segregation in the compositional range 0.3?x<0.5. Orthorhombic DyBaCo₂O_5.51 has, in addition, oxygen vacancies ordered into alternate rows of the DyO_0.51 (001) planes; a cold-pressed polycrystalline sample exhibits a first-order insulator-metal transition at T_IM=320 K, a Curie temperature T_C=300 K, and a broadened metamagnetic transition temperature T_M≈265 K in 2500 Oe. A ferromagnetic M-H hysteresis curve fails to saturate at 5 T, and a minority ferromagnetic phase below T_M has a volume fraction that decreases with decreasing temperature, vanishing below 50 K. Oxygen vacancies in the DyBaCo₂O_5.5 phase suppress the metallic state; interstitial oxygen does not. A thermoelectric power α(T)>0 of DyBaCo₂O_5.51 changing continuously across T_IM is interpreted to manifest a metallic minority phase crossing a percolation threshold; α(T) also provides evidence for a progressive excitation of higher-spin Co(III) with increasing temperature from below 50 K to above T_IM. A previous model of the RBaCo₂O_5.5 phase is extended to account for the Ising spin configuration below T_C, the magnetic order in the presence of higher-spin octahedral-site Co(III), and the α(T) data.     

The non-centrosymmetric borate oxides, MBi2B2O7 (M=Ca, Sr)

Two novel noncentrosymmetric borates oxides, MBi₂B₂O₇ or MBi₂O(BO₃)₂ (MCa, Sr), have been synthesized by solid-state reactions in air at temperatures in the 600-700 °C range. Their crystal structures have been determined ab initio and refined using powder neutron diffraction data. CaBi₂B₂O₇ crystallizes in the orthorhombic Pna2₁ space group with a=8.9371(5) Å, b=5.4771(3) Å, c=12.5912(7) Å, Z=4, R_wp=0.118, χ²=2.30. SrBi₂B₂O₇ crystallizes in the hexagonal P6₃ space group with a=9.1404(4) Å, c=13.0808(6) Å, Z=6, R_wp=0.115, χ²=4.15. Large displacement parameters suggest the presence of disorder in SrBi₂B₂O₇ as also revealed by diffuse 2×a superstructure reflections in electron diffraction patterns. Both structures are built of identical (001) neutral layers of corner-sharing BO₃ triangles and MO₆ trigonal prisms forming six-membered rings in which Bi₂O groups are located. Adjacent layers are stacked in a staggered configuration and connected through weak Bi-O bonds. A moderate efficiency for second harmonic generation (SHG) has been measured for a powder sample of CaBi₂B₂O₇ (d_eff=2d_eff(KDP)).     

High-pressure transitions in MgAl2O4 and a new high-pressure phase of Mg2Al2O5

Phase transitions in MgAl₂O₄ were examined at 21-27 GPa and 1400-2500 °C using a multianvil apparatus. A mixture of MgO and Al₂O₃ corundum that are high-pressure dissociation products of MgAl₂O₄ spinel combines into calcium-ferrite type MgAl₂O₄ at 26-27 GPa and 1400-2000 °C. At temperature above 2000 °C at pressure below 25.5 GPa, a mixture of Al₂O₃ corundum and a new phase with Mg₂Al₂O₅ composition is stable. The transition boundary between the two fields has a strongly negative pressure-temperature slope. Structure analysis and Rietveld refinement on the basis of the powder X-ray diffraction profile of the Mg₂Al₂O₅ phase indicated that the phase represented a new structure type with orthorhombic symmetry (Pbam), and the lattice parameters were determined as a=9.3710(6) Å, b=12.1952(6) Å, c=2.7916(2) Å, V=319.03(3) Å³, Z=4. The structure consists of edge-sharing and corner-sharing (Mg, Al)O₆ octahedra, and contains chains of edge-sharing octahedra running along the c-axis. A part of Mg atoms are accommodated in six-coordinated trigonal prism sites in tunnels surrounded by the chains of edge-sharing (Mg, Al)O₆ octahedra. The structure is related with that of ludwigite (Mg, Fe²⁺)₂(Fe³⁺, Al)(BO₃)O₂. The molar volume of the Mg₂Al₂O₅ phase is smaller by 0.18% than sum of molar volumes of 2MgO and Al₂O₃ corundum. High-pressure dissociation to the mixture of corundum-type phase and the phase with ludwigite-related structure has been found only in MgAl₂O₄ among various A²⁺B³⁺₂O₄ compounds.     

Single-Crystal Growth and Classification of EuAlF5 and Solid Solutions M(II)1−xEuxAlF5 (M=Ca, Sr, Ba) within the Structural Family of Tetragonal M(II)M(III)F5 Compounds

The compound EuAlF₅, as well as the solid solutions Ca_0.19(1)Eu_0.81(1)AlF₅, Sr_0.15(1)Eu_0.85(1)AlF₅, Sr_0.55(1)Eu_0.45(1)AlF₅, Sr_0.77(1)Eu_0.23(1)AlF₅, and Ba_0.62(1)Eu_0.38(1)AlF₅, crystallize in colorless tetragonal columns. These have been prepared by solid state reactions at 900°C, starting from mixtures of the binary fluorides. According to Vegard's rule the solid solution Sr_1−xEu_xAlF₅ shows a linear dependence of the crystal volume on the molar ratio Eu/Sr. All crystal structures have been refined from single-crystal diffractometer data. EuAlF₅ and the M_1−xEu_xAlF₅ (M=Ca, Sr) compounds obtained are isotypic with β-SrAlF₅. They crystallize in a superstructure in space group I4₁/a (no. 88) with 64 formula units and lattice parameters a≈19.9 Å, c≈14.3 Å. The structure is characterized by chains of trans-corner-sharing [AlF_4/2F_2/1] and branched [AlF_5/1F_1/2] octahedra forming a channel structure. Inside the channels isolated ordered dimeric units [AlF_4/1F_2/2]₂ are located. The divalent metal atoms show coordination numbers 8 and 9; they connect the [AlF₆] octahedra into a three-dimensional structure. Ba_0.62(1)Eu_0.38(1)AlF₅ is isotypic with the corresponding Sr compound Ba_0.43(1)Sr_0.57(1)AlF₅, and it crystallizes with 16 formula units and lattice parameters a=14.3860(7) Å, c=7.2778(3) Å in space group I4/m (no. 87). The network structure is identical with that of EuAlF₅. Instead of the dimeric units, infinite chains [AlF_4/1F_2/2]_∞ of trans-corner-sharing [AlF₆] octahedra extending along the c- axis are located inside the channels. The bridging fluorine atoms of this chain show large anisotropic displacement parameters, but no superstructure reflections have been observed for this compound.     

Effect of capping and particle size on Raman laser-induced degradation of γ-Fe2O3 nanoparticles

Diol capped γ-Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles are prepared from ferric nitrate by refluxing in 1,4-butanediol (9.5 nm) and 1,5-pentanediol (15 nm) and uncapped particles are prepared by refluxing in 1,2-propanediol followed by sintering the alkoxide formed. X-ray diffraction (XRD) shows that all the samples have the spinel phase. Raman spectroscopy shows that the samples prepared in 1,4-butanediol and 1,5-pentanediol and 1,2-propanediol (sintered at 573 and 673 K) are γ-Fe₂O₃ and the 773 K-sintered sample is Fe₃O₄. Raman laser studies carried out at various laser powers show that all the samples undergo laser-induced degradation to α-Fe₂O₃ at higher laser power. The capped samples are however, found more stable to degradation than the uncapped samples. The stability of γ-Fe₂O₃ sample with large particle size (15.4 nm) is more than the sample with small particle size (10.2 nm). Fe₃O₄ having a particle size of 48 nm is however less stable than the smaller γ-Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles.     

Synthesis, structure and magnetic properties of the S=1/2, one-dimensional antiferromagnet, Y5Re2O12

Single crystals of Y₅Re₂O₁₂ have been grown, and the crystal structure has been determined by X-ray diffraction. This compound crystallizes in space group C2/m with cell dimensions of a=12.4081(10) Å b=5.6604(5)Å, c=7.4951(6) Å, β=107.837(3)°, Z=2. The final refinement led to R1=0.0238, WR2=0.0459 for 1053 observed reflections with F>4σ(F₀). Edge-sharing ReO₆ octahedra form infinite linear [ReO₂O_4/2]_n chains along the b direction with alternating short and long Re-Re distances. Three crystallographically independent yttrium atoms surround O2 to form OY₄ tetrahedra, which share edges and corners in the ab plane to form a two-dimensional Y₅O₄ network which separates the [ReO₂O_4/2]_n magnetic chains. This compound is therefore isostructural with the series Ln₅Re₂O₁₂Ln=Gd-Lu, which have been known since 1969. The average Re oxidation state is +4.5 in the chains and a reasonable, if qualitative MO scheme results in one unpaired electron per Re dimer. Consistent with this, magnetic susceptibility data can be fitted to the one-dimensional antiferromagnetic Heisenberg model with S=1/2 and parameters J^intra/k=−89(1)K, g=2.15(4) and χ(TIP)=5(1)×10⁻⁴ emu/mol. There is no sign of long-range magnetic order down to 2 K. These results are contrasted with those for the isostructural Y₅Mo₂O₁₂.     

Synthesis, structure and magnetic properties of new phosphates K2Mn0.5Ti1.5(PO4)3 and K2Co0.5Ti1.5(PO4)3 with the langbeinite structure

New complex phosphates of the general formula K₂M_0.5Ti_1.5(PO₄)₃ (M=Mn, Co) have been obtained from the melting mixture of KPO₃, K₄P₂O₇, TiO₂ and CoCO₃·mCo(OH)₂ or Mn(H₂PO₄)₂ by means of a flux technique. The synthesized phosphates have been characterized by the single-crystal X-ray diffraction and the FTIR-spectroscopy. The compounds crystallize in the cubic system with the space group P2₁3 and cell parameters a=9.9030(14) Å for K₂Mn_0.5Ti_1.5(PO₄)₃ and a=9.8445(12) Å for K₂Co_0.5Ti_1.5(PO₄)₃. Both phosphates are isostructural with the langbeinite mineral and contain four formula unit K₂M_0.5Ti_1.5(PO₄)₃ per unit cell. The structure can be described using [M₂(PO₄)₃] framework composed of two [MO₆] octahedra interlinked via three [PO₄] tetrahedra. The Curie-Weiss-type behavior is observed in the magnetic susceptibility.     

Synthesis and magnetic properties of rare earth ruthenates, Ln5Ru2O12 (Ln=Pr, Nd, Sm-Tb)

Single crystals of Ln₅Ru₂O₁₂ (Ln=Pr, Nd, Sm-Tb) were grown out of either NaOH or KOH fluxes in sealed silver tubes. The crystals of all the phases were observed to be twinned as confirmed by TEM studies. The series crystallize in the C2/m monoclinic system with lattice parameters, a=12.4049(4)-12.7621(6) Å, b=5.8414(2)-5.9488(3) Å, c=7.3489(2)-7.6424(4) Å, β=107.425(3)-107.432(2)° and Z=2. The crystal structure is isotypic with the defect/disorder model of Ln₅Re₂O₁₂ (Ln = Y, Gd) and consists of one dimensional edge shared RuO₆ octahedral chains separated by a two dimensional LnO_x polyhedral framework. Magnetic measurements indicate paramagnetic and antiferromagnetic behavior for Ln=Nd, Sm-Gd and Ln=Tb, respectively.