The structure of CeAlO3 by Rietveld refinement of X-ray powder diffraction data

The room temperature structure of perovskite CeAlO₃ has been reinvestigated by X-ray powder diffraction. The Rietveld refinement has confirmed the tetragonal symmetry; but revealed a super cell, a=5.32489(6) Å and c=7.58976(10) Å, with the space group I4/mcm. In CeAlO₃, the distortion from the ideal cubic perovskite is caused by the cooperative tilting of the AlO₆ octahedra around the primitive cubic [001]_p-axis.     

Development of a multipopulation parallel genetic algorithm for structure solution from powder diffraction data

Previously, the genetic algorithm (GA) approach for direct-space crystal structure solution from powder diffraction data has been applied successfully in the structure determination of a range of organic molecular materials. In this article, we present a further development of our approach, namely a multipopulation parallel GA (PGA), which is shown to give rise to increased speed, efficiency, and reliability of structure solution calculations, as well as providing new opportunities for further optimizing our GA methodology. The multipopulation PGA is based on the independent evolution of different subpopulations, with occasional interaction (e.g., transfer of structures) allowed to occur between the different subpopulations. Different strategies for carrying out this interpopulation communication are considered in this article, and comparisons are made to the conventional single-population GA. The increased power offered by the PGA approach creates the opportunity for structure determination of molecular crystals of increasing complexity.     

Quantification of flupirtine maleate polymorphs using X-ray powder diffraction

Flupirtine maleate,a pharmaceutical compound for treating psychotic disease in clinics,has seven polymorphs.Form A,with better crystal stability and bioavailability,has been widely used as the pharmaceutical crystal form.Unfortunately,it is usually found in a polymorphic mixture with form B.In this study,pure crystal forms of A and B were prepared and characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD),Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and thermal analysis.An XRPD-based method for the quantitative determination of the amount of the flupirtine maleate polymorphs form A and form B was also established through a systematic optimization of instrumental parameters.The results of the analytical methodology validation showed that the XPRD method had a broad quantitative range of 0-100%(w/w),good linear relationship,with R²=0.999,excellent repeatability and precision and low limits of detection (LoD) of 0.15%(w/w) and quantification (LoQ) of 0.5%(w/w).The results also showed that the single-peak method was not as good as the whole pattern in reducing the influence of the preferred orientation,but this can be compensated for by a systematic optimization of instrumental parameters and validating the analytical methodology to reduce errors and obtain a good,repeatable,sensitive,and accurate method.This XRPD method can be used to analyze mixtures of flupirtine maleate polymorphs (forms A and B) quantitatively and control the quality of the bulk drug.     

The crystal structure of 3-methyluracil from X-ray powder diffraction data

The crystal structure of 3-methyluracil has been determined ab initio by conventional monochromatic X-ray powder diffraction data. The crystal data are: orthorombic, a=6.6294(1), b=13.1816(3), c=6.53938(9) (Å), V=571.45(3) (ų), space group Pbnm, Z=8. The structure was solved by direct methods and the final Rietveld refinement converged to R_p=0.0398, R_wp=0.0528, R_Bragg=0.0294. The crystal structure exhibits endless chains of planar molecules, connected via head-to-tail N-H?O hydrogen bonds.     

Low-temperature structural phase transition in SrMo6S8 studied by X-ray powder diffraction

Lattice parameters as a function of temperature for, and atomic coordinates of the low-temperature phase of, SrMo₆S₈ are reported from X-ray powder diffraction. The structure transforms atT ₁=135(3) K from the rhombohedral high-temperature modification (R ,a _rh=6.5630 (3) Å, _rh=88.9982(2)°,V _rh=282.55(5)ų at 298 K) into the triclinic low-temperature modification (P ,a _tr=6.481(1)Å,b _tr=6.572(1)Å,c _tr=6.611(1)Å, _tr=89.246(4)°, _tr=89.304(4)°, _tr=88.169(4)°,V _tr=281.4(2)ų at 20K). The triclinic distortion is larger than in the Ca analogue, and similar to the Ba and Eu analogues.

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Untersuchung des Tieftemperatur-Phasenübergangs von SrMo₆S₈ mittels Röntgenpulverdiffraktometrie (Kurze Mitt.)

Zusammenfassung Die Temperaturabhängigkeit der Gitterparameter und die Atomlagen der Tieftemperaturphase von SrMo₆S₈ wurden mittels Röntgenpulverdiffraktometrie bestimmt. Die rhomboedrische Hochtemperaturmodifikation (R ,a _rh=6.5630(3)Å, _rh=88.9982(2)°,V _rh=282.55(5)ų,T=298 K) wandelt beiT ₁=135(3) K in die trikline Tieftemperaturmodifikation (P ,a _tr=6.481(1)Å,b _tr=6.572(1)Å,c _tr=6.611(1)Å, _tr=89.246(4)°, _tr=89.304(4)°, _tr=88.169(4)°,V _tr=281.4(2)ų,T=20 K) um. Die trikline Deformation ist stärker ausgeprägt als in der Ca-Verbindung und ähnlich jener der Ba- and Eu-Verbindung.

     

Structure determination from powder diffraction

The review surveys modern methods for the determination of unknown crystal structures of organic and inorganic compounds from powder diffraction data. The main stages of this process, from the preparation of the specimen to a search for the structural motif followed by the Rietveld refinement, are considered. The results obtained on different diffractometers using X-ray, synchrotron, and neutron radiations are demonstrated to be well reproducible. Examples of successful structure solution are cited, which provide evidence that powder diffraction is a reliable tool in establishing structures of a wide range of compounds for which single crystals are unavailable.     

High-resolution neutron powder diffraction study on the structure of Sr2SnO4

From the high-resolution time-of-flight neutron powder diffraction data, the crystal structure of Sr₂SnO₄ at the temperature range between 4 and 300 K has been investigated. The Rietveld refinement has shown that Sr₂SnO₄ belongs to the space group Pccn, which can be derived from the tetragonal K₂NiF₄ structure by tilting the SnO₆ octahedra along the [100]_T- and [010]_T-axis, respectively, with non-equal tilts. The earlier reported first-order phase transition in Sr₂SnO₄, from Bmab to P4₂/ncm, has not been observed.     

The crystal structure of a new bismuth tellurium oxychloride Bi0.87Te2O4.9Cl0.87 from neutron powder diffraction data

A new bismuth tellurium oxychloride was obtained by reaction of BiOCl and TeO₂ in air. According to energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and neutron powder diffraction refinement the composition of the substance was determined as Bi_0.87Te₂O_4.9Cl_0.87. The new compound crystallizes in the trigonal system space group R 3¯ (#148), Z=6, a=4.10793(4), c=31.1273(4) Å, χ²=3.20, wR_p=0.0369. Bi_0.87Te₂O_4.9Cl_0.87 has a new type of layered structure constructed by Bi-Te-O layers separated by chloride ions. The Te atoms in Bi_0.87Te₂O_4.9Cl_0.87 show an unusual umbrella-like environment. A comparison with known related structures has been made.     

Sr4AlNbO8: A new crystal structure type determined from powder X-ray data

Sr₄AlNbO₈ was synthesized at 1500 °C in air. The crystal structure was initially determined from powder X-ray diffraction data, and later refined with combined X-ray and neutron diffraction data (P2₁/c; a=7.17592(2) Å, b=5.80261(2) Å, c=19.7408(1) Å; β=97.5470(1)°, V=814.869(3) Å³, Z=4, R_p/R_wp=10.04%/13.18% for X-ray data, 4.40%/5.67% for neutron data, and 7.71%/10.74% in total with χ² of 3.76, 23 °C). The crystal structure is a new structure type and may be described as a three-dimensional polyhedral network resulting from the corner-sharing of NbO₆ and Sr1O₆ octahedra and AlO₄ tetrahedra. Also, the other strontium atoms (Sr2, Sr3, and Sr4) occupy the larger cavities surrounded by oxygen atoms to form nine, eight, and 11 coordination, respectively. Considering that Sr, Al, and Nb atoms are crystallographically distinct in terms of interatomic distances and polyhedral coordination, Sr₄AlNbO₈ can be regarded as a stoichiometric compound.     

Neutron powder diffraction study of Ba3ZnRu2-xIrxO9 (x = 0, 1, 2) with 6H-type perovskite structure

The triple perovskites Ba₃ZnRu_2-xIr_xO₉ with x = 0, 1, and 2 are insulating compounds in which Ru(Ir) cations form a dimer state. Polycrystalline samples of these materials were studied using neutron powder diffraction (NPD) at 10 and 295 K. No structural transition nor evidence of long range magnetic order was observed within the investigated temperature range. The results from structural refinements of the NPD data and its polyhedral analysis are presented, and discussed as a function of Ru/Ir content.     

Solid-state structural properties of 2,4,6-trimethoxybenzene derivatives, determined directly from powder X-ray diffraction data in conjunction with other techniques

Structural properties of 2,4,6-trimethoxybenzaldehyde, 2,4,6-trimethoxybenzyl alcohol and 2,4,6-trimethoxyacetophenone have been determined directly from powder X-ray diffraction data, using the direct-space Genetic Algorithm (GA) technique for structure solution followed by Rietveld refinement. Structural similarities and contrasts within this family of materials are elucidated. The work illustrates the value of utilizing information from other sources, including spectroscopic data and computational techniques, as a means of augmenting the structural knowledge established from the powder X-ray diffraction data.     

Sodium dithiophosphate(V): Crystal structure, sodium ionic conductivity and dismutation

Na₃PO₂S₂ was synthesized from the corresponding undecahydrate by freeze–drying. It dismutates at temperatures above 350 °C into Na₃PO₃S and Na₃POS₃. The crystal structure of Na₃PO₂S₂ was determined from X-ray powder diffraction data, and refined using the Rietveld technique (Pbca, a=17.5359(2) Å, b=11.3044(1) Å, c=5.8656(1) Å, R_F²=8.45%, R_p=4.80%, R_wp=6.79%). The baricenters of the PO₂S₂-tetrahedra are arranged in the sense of a hexagonal close packing. One of the P---O bonds of these tetrahedra is oriented parallel to the crystallographic c-axis with the POS₂-groups in an eclipsed mutual orientation. The crystal structure of Na₃PO₂S₂ displays a close relationship to the ones of Ca₃CrN₃ and Na₃POS₃. Above 330 °C, Na₃PO₂S₂ can be regarded as a fast ionic conductor (with σ>10⁻⁵ S cm⁻¹).     

Hydrothermal synthesis and structure determination of the new vanadium molybdenum mixed oxide V1.1Mo0.9O5 from synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction data

A new vanadium molybdenum mixed oxide V_1.1Mo_0.9O₅ [V(V)_0.2V(IV)_0.9Mo(VI)_0.9O₅] has been synthesized, as a pure phase, via hydrothermal methods in the presence of molybdic acid and vanadyl sulfate. Its crystal structure has been solved ab initio from high-resolution powder diffraction data collected at the ESRF beamline ID31. This compound crystallizes in the monoclinic symmetry, space group C2/m, with cell dimensions , , , β=90.625(3)° and Z=2 per formula. The structure consists of double strings of VO₅ square pyramids sharing edges and corners along [100] and [010], and more weakly bound along [001]. In this latter direction, the bond (V,Mo)-O=2.377 Å, while remaining long, leads for the first time to the interpenetration of the apical oxygens of the [(V,Mo)₂O₅]_n layers, resulting in a three-dimensional (3D) structure closely related to R-Nb₂O₅. This structure will be compared to the pure layer structure of V₂O₅ where this bond reaches 2.793 Å.     

Temperature-dependent diffraction studies on the phase evolution of tetraindium heptabromide

The mixed-valent compound In₄Br₇ undergoes a higher-order phase transition below which leads to a decrease in symmetry from the trigonal to the monoclinic (C2/c) system via . The phase transition has been monitored by X-ray powder diffraction using a linear position-sensitive detector between 15 and , and the crystal structures at room temperature and at 90 K have been refined by means of time-of-flight neutron powder-diffraction data; at , the lattice parameters are , , , and β=98.20(1)°; the new unit cell contains 88 atoms (Z=8) of which 12 are symmetry-independent. Due to their electronic instability because of a second-order Jahn-Teller effect, two of the three crystallographically independent monovalent indium cations are severely affected by the phase transition with respect to their coordination spheres; bond-valence calculations reveal significant strengthening of In⁺-Br⁻ bonding upon symmetry reduction. Structural changes and group-subgroup relationships as well as possible intermediate phases are discussed.     

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.     

Low-spin state structure of [Fe(chloroethyltetrazole)6](BF4)2 obtained from synchrotron powder diffraction data

The complex [Fe(teec)6](BF4)2 (teec = chloroethyltetrazole) shows a two-step complete spin-crossover transition in the temperature range 300-90 K. Time-resolved synchrotron powder diffraction experiments have been carried out in this temperature range, and crystal structure models have been obtained from the powder patterns by using the parallel tempering technique. Of these models, the low-spin state structure at 90 K has been refined completely with Rietveld refinement. Its structural characteristics are discussed in relation to the high-spin state model and other spin-crossover compounds. The complex shows a remarkable anisotropic unit-cell parameter contraction that is dependent on the applied cooling rate. In addition, the possible important implications for the interpretation of spin-crossover behavior in terms of structural changes are discussed.     

Ab initio structure determination via powder X-ray diffraction

Structure determination by powder X-ray diffraction data has gone through a recent surge since it has become important to get to the structural information of materials which do not yield good quality single crystals. Although the method of structure completion when once the starting model is provided is facile through the Rietveld refinement technique, the structure solutionab initio is still not push-button technology. In this article a survey of the recent development in this area is provided with an illustration of the structure determination of α-NaBi₃V₂O₁₀.