Stability and oxide ion conductivity in rare-earth aluminium cuspidines

RE₄(Al_2−xGe_xO_7+x/2□_1−x/2)O₂ (RE=Gd³⁺ and Nd³⁺) oxy-cuspidine series have been prepared by ceramic method (RE=Gd³⁺) and freeze-dried precursor method (RE=Nd³⁺). The compositional ranges and the high temperature stability have been determined for both series. Gadolinium aluminium cuspidines are stable at very high temperatures but the analogous neodymium compounds are only stable below 1273 K. Joint Rietveld analyses of neutron powder diffraction (NPD) and laboratory X-ray powder diffraction (LXRPD) have been carried out for Nd₄(Al₂O₇□₁)O₂ and Nd₄(Al_1.5Ge_0.5O_7.25□_0.75)O₂ compositions. Furthermore, Rietveld refinement of synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction (SXRPD) data were carried out for Gd₄(Al_1.0Ge_1.0O_7.5□_0.5)O₂ composition. The refinements have confirmed the known structural features of the cuspidine framework. These cuspidines series are oxide ion conductors with negligible electronic contribution as determined from impedance spectroscopy at variable oxygen partial pressures. The enhancement in the overall oxide conductivity along the two oxy-cuspidine series is two orders of magnitude. Typical ionic conductivity values for doped samples are around 4×10⁻⁵ S cm⁻¹ at 973 K.     

Boron and gadolinium neutron capture therapy

The principles of neutron capture therapy of tumor diseases, the types of drugs, and the results of their clinical applications are discussed.Based on the report presented at the International Conference Modern Trends in Organoelement and Polymer Chemistry dedicated to the 50th anniversary of the A. N. Nesmeyanov Institute of Organoelement Compounds of the Russian Academy of Sciences (Moscow, May 30–June 4, 2004).Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 9, pp. 1795–1812, September, 2004.     

The Synthesis and Crystal Structure of Doped Uranium Brannerite Phases U1−xMxTi2O6 (M=Ca, La, and Gd)

Doped uranium brannerite phases (U_1−xM_xTi₂O₆; M=Ca²⁺, La³⁺ and Gd³⁺; x<0.5) were synthesized at 1400°C; the range of solid solution was found to vary depending on whether sintering took place in argon or air. Powder X-ray diffraction revealed that these phases crystallized to form monoclinic (C2/m) structures. In particular, the crystal structures of U_0.74Ca_0.26 Ti₂O₆ (1) (a=9.8008(2); b=3.7276(1); c=6.8745(1); β=118.38(1); V=220.97(1); Z=2; R_P=7.3%; R_B=4.6%) and U_0.55La_0.45Ti₂O₆ (2) (a=9.8002(7); b=3.7510(3); c=6.9990(5); β=118.37(4); V=226.40(3); Z=2; R_P=4.5%; R_B=2.9%) were refined from powder neutron diffraction data, revealing planes of corner and edge-sharing TiO₆ octahedra separated by 8-fold coordinate U/M atoms. The oxygen sites within these structures were found to be fully occupied, confirming that the doping of lower valence M atoms occurs in conjunction with the oxidation of U(IV) to U(V).     

Bi2−xLnxWO6: a novel layered structure type related to the Aurivillius phases

The crystal structure of Bi_0.7Yb_1.3WO₆ (a representative of the isomorphous series Bi_2−xLn_xWO₆; 0.3<x<1.3, for most lanthanides) has been determined. Contrary to previous suggestions, this structure type (space group A2; a=8.1070(3) Å, b=3.7048(2) Å, c=15.8379(8) Å, β=103.548(4)°) contains layers of stoichiometry WO₄, containing WO₆ octahedra sharing both edges and corners. These layers alternate with fluorite-like (Bi/Yb)₂O₂ sheets; this is a novel and unexpected arrangement and contrasts dramatically with the purely corner-sharing octahedral WO₄-layer in the parent Aurivillius phase Bi₂WO₆.     

In situ X-ray powder diffraction, synthesis, and magnetic properties of InVO3

We report the first synthesis and high-temperature in situ X-ray diffraction study of InVO₃. Polycrystalline InVO₃ has been prepared via reduction of InVO₄ using a carbon monoxide/carbon dioxide buffer gas. InVO₃ crystallizes in the bixbyite structure in space group Ia−3 (206) with a=9.80636(31) Å with In³⁺/V³⁺ disorder on the (8b) and (24d) cation sites. In situ powder X-ray diffraction experiments and thermal gravimetric analysis in a CO/CO₂ buffer gas revealed the existence of the metastable phase InVO₃. Bulk samples with 98.5(2)% purity were prepared using low-temperature reduction methods. The preparative methods limited the crystallinity of this new phase to approximately 225(50) Å. Magnetic susceptibility and neutron diffraction experiments suggest a spin-glass ground state for InVO₃.     

The synthesis, crystal chemistry and structures of Y-doped brannerite (U1−xYxTi2O6) and thorutite (Th1−xYxTi2O6−δ) phases

Yttrium-doped uranium brannerite (U_1−xY_xTi₂O₆) and thorutite (Th_1−xY_xTi₂O_6−δ) phases were synthesized in air at 1400°C. Powder X-ray diffraction revealed that these phases crystallized to form monoclinic (C2/m) structures. Crystal structures of U_0.54Y_0.46Ti₂O₆ (1) (a=9.8008(2); b=3.7276(1); c=6.8745(1); β=118.38(1); V=220.97(1); Z=2; R_P=7.3%; R_B=4.6%) and Th_0.91Y_0.09Ti₂O_6−δ (2) (a=9.8002(7); b=3.7510(3); c=6.9990(5); β=118.37(4); V=226.40(3); Z=2; R_P=4.5%; R_B=2.9%) were refined from powder neutron diffraction data. These two phases were isostructural, revealing planes of corner and edge-sharing TiO₆ octahedra separated by irregular eight-fold coordinate U/Y or Th/Y atoms. The oxygen sites within the structure of 1 were found to be fully occupied, confirming that the doping of lower valence Y atoms occurs in conjunction with the oxidation of U(IV) to U(V). Y doping of the thorutite phase 2 does not lead to oxidation but rather the formation of oxygen vacancies within the structure.     

Measurement of the diffusivity of benzene in microporous silica by quasi-elastic neutron scattering and NMR pulsed-field gradient technique

The diffusivity of benzene in a microporous silica powder has been measured by neutron scattering and NMR techniques. The measurements have been performed on un-supported silica but the powder has the same characteristics as the active layer of a real membrane. Self-diffusion coefficients of the order of 10^–10 m²s^–1 are found at 300 K by both techniques so that the model of Knudsen diffusion is not valid for benzene in this microporous material. Due to the presence of small pores, the diffusion of benzene in the membrane-material approaches the diffusion regime usually observed in zeolites. Furthermore, the diffusivity of benzene follows an Arrhenius law with an activation energy of 11 kJ mol^–1.     

Neue Halogenozinkate(II) MZnX4 (MI = Li,Na; X = Cl,Br) mit Olivinstruktur

New Halogenozincates M ZnX₄ (M^I = Li, Na; X = Cl, Br) of Olivine Type The hitherto unknown tetrabromozincates Li₂ZnBr₄ and Na₂ZnBr₄ have been prepared. Quaternary halides Li₂Zn(Cl, Br)₄ and Li₂Zn(Br, I)₄ have been not obtained due to decomposition to mixtures of LiCl and ZnBr₂, and LiBr and ZnI₂. The crystal structures of the olivine-type bromides and of the high-temperature polymorph of Li₂ZnCl₄ have been determined by neutron powder diffraction using the Rietveld method (space group Pnma, Z = 4, a = 1 360.41(4), b = 788.47(2), c = 647.07(2) pm, R_I = 9.07% (Li₂ZnBr₄), a = 1 446.32(5), b = 853.02(3), c = 676.61(2) pm, R_I = 9.29% (Na₂ZnBr₄), a = 1 277.60(3), b = 741.76(2), c = 611.10(1) pm, R_I = 7.63% (Li₂ZnCl₄)). The Raman spectra as well as the results of thermal analyses (DSC) and conductivity measurements (impedance spectroscopy) are presented and discussed. Contrary to Li₂ZnCl₄, Li₂ZnBr₄ and Na₂ZnBr₄ do not undergo any phase transition between 20°C and their melting points.     

Some Aspects on Preconcentration for Neutron Activation Analysis

A preconcentration method incorporated with neutron activation analysis was developed for the accurate determination of trace metals in biological and environmental samples. Bismuth diethyldithiocarbamate, thallium diethyldithiocarbarnate, and ammonium pyrrolidinedithiocarbamate were used as the preconcentration agents for three groups of metals. Trace metals were enriched and interfering elements such as Na, Br, P. K. etc. were removed simultaneously during the preconcentration process so that the sensitivity for each metal was greatly improved. Optimal conditions for sample digestion, group preconcentration of trace metals and neutron activation analysis of biological and environmental samples were discussed.