New Ln[B6O9(OH)3] borates (Ln = Sm-Lu): Structure, properties, and structural relation to cationic Li4[B7O12]Cl conductors (Li-Boracites)

Crystals of new rare earth borates of the composition Ln[B₆O₉ (OH)₃] (Ln = Sm-Lu), sp. gr. R3c are synthesized under hydrothermal conditions. Their crystal structures are determined on single crystals with Ln = Ho, Gd without preliminary determination of their chemical formulas. The polar anionic framework of the crystals consists of BO₃ triangles and BO₄ tetrahedra and has wide channels along the threefold axis of the structure, which are similar to the channels along the a, b, and c axes in cubic Li₄[B₇O₁₂]Cl boracite with Li conductivity. Rare earth atoms are arranged in the structure over the cubic F pseudolattice, whereas the analogous positions in Li boracites are filled with Cl anions. The squared optical nonlinearity of the new crystals is comparable with the nonlinearity of quartz, whereas the electrical conductivity in borates at 300°C exceeds 10⁻⁶ S/cm. __________ Translated from Kristallografiya, Vol. 49, No. 4, 2004, pp. 681–691. Original Russian Text Copyright ? 2004 by Belokoneva, Ivanova, Stefanovich, Dimitrova, Kurazhkovskaya.     

Infrared Spectroscopy and Structure of Trigonal Zirconium Orthophosphates with Lanthanides and Actinides

Binary zirconium orthophosphates R_1/3Zr₂(PO₄)₃ and M_1/4Zr₂(PO₄)₃, where R = Y, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu; M = Th, U, have been synthesized and studied by IR spectroscopy [structural family of NaZr₂(PO₄)₃ (NZP)]. Vibrational analysis for the PO₄ tetrahedron and investigation of symmetry relations among trigonal NZP phases showed that ordering of lanthanide atoms in structures of NaZr₂(PO₄)₃ type with space group R c leads to symmetry reduced to P c. The lanthanide atoms occupy the 2b sites. The phosphorus atoms occupy two independent sites: 6f with C ₂ symmetry and 12g with C ₁ symmetry. Factor group analysis admits that the IR spectrum can contain eight v₃ bands and two v₁ bands of the stretching vibrations of the PO₄ ions. The M atoms of actinides occupy statistical positions in the structure, and space group R c is retained.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2004 by V. S. Kurazhkovskaya, D. M. Bykov, and A. I. Orlova__________Translated from Zhurnal Strukturnoi Khimii, Vol. 45, No. 6, pp. 1013–1019, November–December, 2004.     

Structure and mutual transformations of anhydrous and hydrous CsMgPO4

A complex study of the synthetic CsMgPO₄ phosphate with a ??-tridymite structure type is performed. It is found that CsMgPO₄ is an unstable phase. At room temperature in air, it absorbs water and turns into the CsMgPO₄ · 6H₂O crystal hydrate. The transformation of cubic CsMgPO₄ · 6H₂O into orthorhombic CsMgPO₄ proceeds upon heating to 150°C by the pattern of the first-order phase transition with the dehydration of the specimen.     

Synthesis and crystal chemical characteristics of the structure of <Emphasis Type="Italic">M</Emphasis><Subscript>0.5</Subscript>Zr<Subscript>2</Subscript>(PO<Subscript>4</Subscript>)<Subscript>3</Subscript> phosphates

Double phosphates of zirconium and metals with an oxidation degree of +2 of the composition M_0.5Zr₂(PO₄)₃ (M = Mg, Ca, Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Sr, Cd, and Ba) are synthesized and characterized by X-ray diffraction methods and IR spectroscopy. The crystal structures of all the compounds are based on three-dimensional frameworks of corner-sharing PO₄-tetrahedra and ZrO₆-octahedra. Phosphates with large Cd²⁺, Ca²⁺, Sr²⁺, and Ba²⁺ cations octahedrally coordinated with oxygen atoms form rhombohedral structures (space group R3), whereas phosphates with small tetrahedrally coordinated Mg²⁺, Ni²⁺, Cu²⁺, Co²⁺, Zn ²⁺, and Mn²⁺-cations are monoclinic (space group P2₁/n). The effect of various structure-forming factors on the M_0.5Zr₂(PO₄)₃ compounds with a common structural motif but different symmetries are discussed.     

The study of the crystalline phosphates of kosnarite type structure containing different alkali metals

The incorporation possibilities of different alkali elements into crystalline phosphates A_1−xA′_xHf₂(PO₄)₃ (A=Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs) were studied, the formation regions of kosnarite solid solutions were determined. Na_0.5K_0.5Hf₂(PO₄)₃ crystal structure was studied by powder X-ray diffraction, and the distribution of alkali metals in kosnarite structure was found out. The phosphate crystallizes in the space group R3?c, with a=8.7295(1) Å, c=23.2023(4) Å, V=1531.24(4) Å³, Z=6; R_wp=6.15, R_p=4.43. The concentration region knowledge of the kosnarite phase existence and peculiarities of their phase formation in the A_1−xA′_xM₂(PO₄)₃ (M=Ti, Zr, Hf) systems allow us to choose phosphate matrice compositions suitable for solidification of reprocessing wastes of spent U-Pu nuclear fuels.     

Phosphates M 0.5(1 + x) 2+ Cr x Ti2 − x (PO4)3: Synthesis, structure, and catalytic properties

Complex phosphates of titanium, chromium, and metals(2+) of the general formula M_{0.5(1 + x} )Cr _x Ti_{2 ? x} (PO₄)₃ (M = Mg, Ca, Mn, Ni, Sr, Ba, and Pb) were synthesized. Their phase formation was studied by means of X-ray powder diffraction, electron probe microanalysis, differential thermal analysis, and IR spectroscopy. Individual phases and solid solutions crystallizing in kosnarite and langbeinite structure types were identified; their crystallographic parameters were calculated. The catalytic properties of phosphates Ca_{0.5(1 + x} )Cr _x Ti_{2 ? x} (PO₄)₃ in methanol conversion were studied.     

Synthesis, characterization, and structural study of K2FeZrP3O12 with the langbeinite structure

A potassium iron zirconium phosphate, K₂FeZrP₃O₁₂, was synthesized by thermal treatment of a material obtained by the sol-gel method, mixing two aqueous solutions, the first containing KCl, FeCl₃ and ZrOCl₂, and the second, H₃PO₄. The crystal structure was refined using powder X-ray diffraction data. The unit cell is cubic, a=10.0554(3) Å, space group P2₁3. This compound is the first iron zirconium phosphate described with a langbeinite-type structure.     

Thermal Expansion of Mixed Zirconium Phosphates

A series of framework phosphates with varied ratio of cations Na_5-2x B _x ^IIZr(PO₄)₃, B^II = Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba (0 x 2) and Na_5-3x Fe _x Zr(PO₄)₃ (0 x 1.33) were synthesized and studied under heating. The coefficients of thermal expansion along crystal axes _a and _c were calculated, and their dependences on the cationic composition (nature and concentration) and on the occupancy of out-of-framework structural positions were established.     

Synthesis and phase formation in M 0.5(1+x) 2+ FexTi2−x (PO4)3 phosphate series

New complex phosphates of titanium, iron, and alkaline-earth metals have been synthesized. X-ray powder diffraction, differential thermal analysis (DTA), and IR spectroscopy are used to study phase formation in the series of M_0.5(1+x)Fe_xTi_2?x (PO₄)₃ (M = Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba) phosphates. Individual compounds and solid solutions are found to crystallize in the NaZr₂(PO₄)₃ and K₂Mg₂(SO₄)₃ structure types. Their crystal parameters are calculated. CaFeTi(PO₄)₃ is studied using Mössbauer spectroscopy. Its structure is refined by the Rietveld method: space group $R\bar 3$ c, Z = 6, a = 8.5172(1), Å, c = 21.7739(4) Å, V = 1367.91(4) ų.