Non-resonant microwave absorption studies of superconducting MgB2 and MgB2 + MgO

Non-resonant microwave absorption (NRMA) studies of superconducting MgB₂ and a sample containing ∼10% by weight of MgO in MgB₂ are reported. The NRMA results indicate near absence of intergranular weak links in the pure MgB₂ sample. A linear temperature dependence of the lower critical field H _c1 is observed indicating a non-s wave superconductivity. However, the phase reversal of the NRMA signal which could suggest d wave symmetry is also not observed. In the MgB₂ + MgO sample, much larger low field dependent absorption is observed indicating the presence of intergranular weak links. The hysteretic behavior of NRMA is compared and contrasted in the two samples. In the pure MgB₂ sample, a large hysteresis is observed between the forward and the reverse scans of the magnetic field indicating strong pinning of flux lines. This hysteresis saturates a few degrees below T _c while in the MgB₂ + MgO sample, a much slower increase of hysteresis with decreasing temperature is observed, a signature of weaker pinning.     

Highly Kinked Uranyl Chromate Nitrate Layers in the Crystal Structures of A[(UO2)(CrO4)(NO3)] (A = K,Rb)

Two first uranyl chromate nitrates, K[(UO₂)(CrO₄)(NO₃)] ( 1 ) and Rb[(UO₂)(CrO₄)(NO₃)] ( 2 ), were prepared by solid‐state reactions and characterized by electron microprobe analysis and single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. The compounds are isotypic [ 1 : monoclinic, P2₁/c, a = 9.881(5), b = 7.215(4), c = 14.226(6) Å, β = 124.85(3)°, V = 832.3(7) ų; 2 : monoclinic, P2₁/c, a = 9.804(1), b = 7.359(1), c = 14.269(1) Å, β = 122.048(4), V = 872.6(1) ų]. The structures of 1 and 2 are based upon the complex [(UO₂)(CrO₄)(NO₃)]^– layers with unprecedented structural topology, which consist of the UrO₃NO₃ units linked through CrO₄ tetrahedra. The resulted kinked layer can be divided into chains arranged in the ladder fashion. The layers are parallel to (100) and are linked by A⁺ (A = K, Rb) cations located between the layers.     

Crystal structure of urusovite Cu[AlAsO5: A new type of a tetrahedral aluminoarsenate polyanion

The crystal structure of the new mineral urusovite Cu[AlAsO₅] has been determined (monoclinic system, sp. gr. P2₁/c, a = 7.335(1) Å, b = 10.255(1) Å, c = 5.599(1) Å, β = 99.79(1)°, V = 415.0(1) ų, Z = 4). The structure is solved by direct methods and refined to R = 0.048 (wR = 0.103). The structure is built by open-branched {uB, _∞ ² } [AlAsO₅]^2? layers parallel to the (100) plane. The layers consist of two-link chains of _∞ ¹ [Al₂O₆] tetrahedra, which are parallel to the z-axis and are connected through the [AsO₄]-groups. The sharing-edges [CuO₅] tetragonal pyramids link the aluminoarsenate layers to form a three-dimensional framework. The established layer is the second example of an tetrahedral aluminoarsenate polyanion.     

Combinatorial topology of uranyl molybdate sheets: syntheses and crystal structures of (C6H14N2)3[(UO2)5(MoO4)8](H2O)4 and (C2H10N2)[(UO2)(MoO4)2]

Two new mixed organic-inorganic uranyl molybdates, (C₆H₁₄N₂)₃[(UO₂)₅(MoO₄)₈](H₂O)₄ (1) and (C₂H₁₀N₂)[(UO₂)(MoO₄)₂] (2), have been obtained by hydrothermal methods. The structure of 1 [triclinic, , Z=1, a=11.8557(9), b=11.8702(9), c=12.6746(9) Å, α=96.734(2)°, β=91.107(2)°, γ=110.193(2)°, V=1659.1(2) Å] has been solved by direct methods and refined on the basis of F² for all unique reflections to R1=0.058, which was calculated for the 5642 unique observed reflections (|F_o|?4σ_F). The structure contains topologically novel sheets of uranyl square bipyramids, uranyl pentagonal bipyramids, and MoO₄ tetrahedra, with composition [(UO₂)₅(MoO₄)₈]⁶⁻, that are parallel to (−101). H₂O groups and 1,4-diazabicyclo [2.2.2]-octane (DABCO) molecules are located in the interlayer, where they provide linkage of the sheets. The structure of 2 [triclinic, , Z=2, a=8.4004(4), b=11.2600(5), c=13.1239(6) Å, α=86.112(1)°, β=86.434(1)°, γ=76.544(1)°, V=1203.14(10) Å] has been solved by direct methods and refined on the basis of F² for all unique reflections to R1=0.043, which was calculated for 5491 unique observed reflections (|F_o|?4σ_F). The structure contains topologically novel sheets of uranyl pentagonal bipyramids and MoO₄ tetrahedra, with composition [(UO₂)(MoO₄)₂]²⁻, that are parallel to (110). Ethylenediamine molecules are located in the interlayer, where they provide linkage of the sheets. All known topologies of uranyl molybdate sheets of corner-sharing U and Mo polyhedra can be described by their nodal representations (representations as graphs in which U and Mo polyhedra are given as black and white vertices, respectively). Each topology can be derived from a simple black-and-white graph of six-connected black vertices and three-connected white vertices by deleting some of its segments and white vertices.     

Expanding the Averievite Family, (MX)Cu5O2(T5+O4)2 (T5+ = P,V; M = K,Rb, Cs,Cu; X = Cl,Br): Synthesis and Single-Crystal X-ray Diffraction Study

Averievite-type compounds with the general formula (MX)[Cu₅O₂(TO₄)], where M = alkali metal, X = halogen and T = P, V, have been synthesized by crystallization from gases and structurally characterized for six different compositions: 1 (M = Cs; X = Cl; T = P), 2 (M = Cs; X = Cl; T = V), 3 (M = Rb; X = Cl; T = P), 4 (M = K; X = Br; T = P), 5 (M = K; X = Cl; T = P) and 6 (M = Cu; X = Cl; T = V). The crystal structures of the compounds are based upon the same structural unit, the layer consisting of a kagome lattice of Cu²⁺ ions and are composed from corner-sharing (OCu₄) anion-centered tetrahedra. Each tetrahedron shares common corners with three neighboring tetrahedra, forming hexagonal rings, linked into the two-dimensional [O₂Cu₅]⁶⁺ sheets parallel to (001). The layers are interlinked by (T⁵⁺O₄) tetrahedra (T⁵⁺ = V, P) attached to the bases of the oxocentered tetrahedra in a “face-to-face” manner. The resulting electroneutral 3D framework {[O₂Cu₅](T⁵⁺O₄)₂}⁰ possesses channels occupied by monovalent metal cations M⁺ and halide ions X⁻. The halide ions are located at the centers of the hexagonal rings of the kagome nets, whereas the metal cations are in the interlayer space. There are at least four different structure types of the averievite-type compounds: the P-3m1 archetype, the 2 × 2 × 1 superstructure with the P-3 space group, the monoclinically distorted 1 × 1 × 2 superstructure with the C2/c symmetry and the low-temperature P2₁/c superstructure with a doubled unit cell relative to the high-temperature archetype. The formation of a particular structure type is controlled by the interplay of the chemical composition and temperature. Changing the chemical composition may lead to modification of the structure type, which opens up the possibility to tune the geometrical parameters of the kagome net of Cu²⁺ ions.     

Complex Topology of Uranyl Polyphosphate Frameworks: Crystal Structures of α‐, β‐K[(UO2)(P3O9)] and K[(UO2)2(P3O10)]

Three new uranyl polyphosphates, α‐K[(UO₂)(P₃O₉)] ( 1 ), β‐K[(UO₂)(P₃O₉)] ( 2 ), and K[(UO₂)₂(P₃O₁₀)] ( 3 ), were prepared by high‐temperature solid‐state reactions. The crystal structures of the compounds have been solved by direct methods: 1 – monoclinic, P2₁/m, a = 8.497(1), b = 15.1150(1), c = 14.7890(1) Å, β = 91.911(5)°, V = 1898.3(3) ų, Z = 4, R₁ = 0.0734 for 4181 unique reflections with |F₀| ≥ 4σ_F; 2 – monoclinic, P2₁/n, a = 8.607(1), b = 14.842(2), c = 14.951(1) Å, β = 95.829(5)°, V = 1900.0(4) ų, Z = 4, R₁ = 0.0787 for 3185 unique reflections with |F₀| ≥ 4σ_F; 3 – Pbcn, a = 10.632(1), b = 10.325(1), c = 11.209(1) Å, V = 1230.5(2) ų, Z = 4, R₁ = 0.0364 for 1338 unique reflections with |F₀| ≥ 4σ_F. In the structures of 1 and 2 , phosphate tetrahedra share corners to form infinite [PO₃]^? chains, whereas, in the structure of 3 , tetrahedra form linear [P₃O₁₀]^5? trimers. The structures are based upon 3‐D frameworks of U and P polyhedra linked by sharing common O corners. The infinite [PO₃]^? chains in the structures of 1 and 2 are parallel to [100] and [–101], respectively. The uranyl polyphosphate frameworks are occupied by host K⁺ cations.     

Synthesis and Crystal Structure of Rb1.5(NH4)0.5{Cu(P2O7)}: Comparative Crystal Chemistry and Topology‒Symmetry Analysis in Terms of Extended OD Theory

Crystallography Reports - A new compound of the Rb1.5(NH4)0.5{Cu(P2O7)} composition, obtained by the high-temperature reaction method from a mixture of RbNO3, Cu(NO3)2, and (NH4)4P2O7, has been...