Helical chains of [MO5Cl] octahedra – Three compounds in the new family AEM2Te3O8Cl2 (AE = Ca,Sr and M = Co,Ni)

The compounds CaCo₂Te₃O₈Cl₂, SrCo₂Te₃O₈Cl₂ and SrNi₂Te₃O₈Cl₂ were synthesized via solid–gas reactions and investigated using single-crystal X-ray diffraction. While the compound CaCo₂Te₃O₈Cl₂ formed large enough single crystals to allow for a detailed structural analysis, crystals of the Sr-containing compounds yielded evidence that they are isostructural. CaCo₂Te₃O₈Cl₂ crystallizes in the monoclinic system, space group P2₁/c, a = 6.537(2) Å, b = 9.088(2) Å, c = 19.500(9) Å, β = 113.36(4)°, Z = 4. It exhibits [CoO₅Cl] helical chains along the [010] direction, connected by [CaO₈] polyhedra, [TeO₃E] tetrahedra and [TeO₄E] trigonal bipyramids (the lone pair of electrons on Te^IV is designated as E) to form a layer. The layers are held together only by weak van der Waals forces; the shortest interlayer distance is a Te?Cl contact of 3.432(4) Å.     

Eu2+-doped M2SiO4 (M = Ca,Ba) phosphors prepared by a rapid microwave-assisted sol–gel method: Phase formation and optical properties

We present a rapid microwave-assisted approach for the preparation of Eu²⁺-doped orthosilicate phosphors. The preparation method relies on a citrate based sol–gel reaction with subsequent combustion in a domestic microwave oven, in contrast to more conventional solid-state methods. This sol–gel pathway yields phase pure, high quality orthosilicates, in less than 25 min of final heating time. In addition, superior morphology control is achieved employing the sol–gel method compared to solid-state preparations. In order to understand the formation process of the final products, thermogravimetric analyses and temperature-dependent X-ray diffraction data were acquired and compared to the conventional solid-state preparation. The morphology and elemental composition of the obtained luminescent materials were investigated using scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The optical properties were elucidated by measuring room-temperature emission and excitation spectra, and the application and efficiency of the obtained phosphors in LED devices was studied.     

Synthesis,characterization and reactions of the transition metal halogenoalkyl carbocation complexes [Cp(CO)2M{η2-CH2CH(CH2)nX}]PF6 (n = 1–8, 10, M = Fe; n = 3, 4 M = Ru; X = Br,I)

The halogenoalkyl complexes [Cp(CO)₂M{(CH₂)_nX}] (n = 3–10, 12, M = Fe; n = 5, 6, M = Ru, X = Br, I) react with Ph₃CPF₆ in dry CH₂Cl₂ to give the corresponding carbocation complexes [Cp(CO)₂M{η²-(CH₂CH(CH₂)_n?2X}]PF₆ in high yields. NMR evidence indicates that the metals form metallacyclopropane type structures with the carbocation ligand. The reactions of some of the cationic complexes with NaI, PPh₃, Na[Cp(CO)₂Fe] and Et₃N are discussed. NaI and Na[Cp(CO)₂Fe] displace the halogeno-olefin, while PPh₃ adds at the β-CH^δ+ giving the unstable phosphonium adducts [Cp(CO)₂Fe{CH₂CH(PPh₃)(CH₂)_n?2X}]PF₆ which decompose to the halogeno-olefins and the cationic PPh₃ complex [Cp(CO)₂Fe(PPh₃)]⁺. Et₃N causes allylic deprotonation forming internal olefin complexes of the type [Cp(CO)₂Fe{CH₂CHCH(CH₂)_n?3X}]PF₆.     

Substituted transition metal phospho olivines LiMM′PO4 (M = Mn,M′ = Fe,Co, Mg): Optimisation routes for LiMnPO4

Since transition metal phospho olivines gain increasing interest as cathode materials for lithium ion batteries in the last decades lots of publications appeared. Various synthesis methods were in the focus of interest as well as structural investigations of the pure LiMPO₄ and mixed Li (MM′)PO₄ phases (M, M′ = Fe, Mn, Co, Ni, Mg, Zn, Al) and their structural changes during electrochemical conversion. Lithium insertion and exsertion mechanisms have been studied with the help of e.g. structural, optical and electronic, and electrochemical characterisation methods. Likewise many efforts have been done for material optimisation concerning synthesis procedure or substitution.We tend to give an overview about Li (MM′Mn)PO₄ (M, M′ = Mg, Fe, Co) on the basis of our results. For the greater topic of enhancement of performance and energy density of LiMnPO₄ we discuss different solution approaches concerning the raise of specific capacity, redox potential and optimisation of material characteristics. Thus we consider effects due to the intrinsic conductivity, structural stability of the charged phase as well as its chemical stability against the electrolyte and the dynamic stability of the interface between charged phase and discharged phase during electrochemical conversion.For this purpose in our experimental part we focus on three different approaches: substitution with an electrochemically active transition metal, substitution with an electrochemically inactive metal in case for the manipulation of unit cell volume alternation and the substitution with electrochemically inactive metals for the purpose of providing a “lithium reservoir”. This generated “lithium reservoir” is expected to be accessible for the utilisation of a new redox step. Phase transition in mixed transition metal phospho olivines Li(MnCo)PO₄ has been investigated as example for the effect of substitution with an electrochemically active transition metal. Substitution with an electrochemically inactive metal leading to binary Li(MgMn)PO₄ has been structurally and electrochemically investigated. Promising new electrochemical characteristics of binary Li(MgMn)PO₄ phospho olivines are introduced for the first time. When charged to high potentials (>4.9 V) the activation of the Mn³⁺/Mn⁴⁺ step is reported.     

Magnetic,Mössbauer and optical spectroscopic properties of the AFe3O(PO4)3 (A = Ca,Sr, Pb) series of powder compounds

AFe₃O(PO₄)₃ (A = Ca, Sr and Pb) powder compounds were studied by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD), electron-probe microanalysis (EPMA) coupled with wavelength dispersion spectroscopy (WDS), Raman and diffuse reflectance spectroscopies, specific heat and magnetic properties measurements. Magnetization, magnetic susceptibility and specific heat measurements carried out on AFe₃O(PO₄)₃ (A = Sr, Ca and Pb) powders firmly establish a series of three ferromagnetic (FM)-like second order phase transitions spanned over the 32–8 K temperature range. Room temperature Mössbauer spectroscopy and associated DFT calculations confirm the existence of three crystallographically non equivalent Fe³⁺ sites in the three compounds. Mössbauer spectra recorded as a function of temperature in the PbFe₃O(PO₄)₃ compound also establishes the occurrence of two purely magnetic and reversible phase transitions at 32 and 10 K. Diffuse reflectance measurements reveal two broad absorption bands at 1047 and 837 nm, in both PbFe₃O(PO₄)₃ and SrFe₃O(PO₄)₃ powders, with peak cross sections ∼10⁻²⁰ cm² typical of spin-forbidden and forced electric dipole intraconfigurational transitions.     

The structural and thermal stability,electrochemical hydrogenation and corrosion behavior of LaT5−xMx(T = Co,Ni and M = Al,Ge, Li) phases

The structural and thermal stability, electrochemical hydrogenation and corrosion behavior of LaT_5−x(M/Li)_x (T = Co, Ni and M = Al, Ge) alloys have been investigated using x-ray diffraction, SEM with WDS/EDX, DSC and electrochemical techniques. The prepared ternary and quaternary samples are solid solutions on the base of binary LaCo₅ and LaNi₅ compounds with hexagonal CaCu₅ structure type. By partial substitution of transition metals (Ni and Co) by Al, Ge and Li in the LaT_5−x(M/Li)_x alloys the discharge capacity increased by 25%. Doping of LaCo₅ and LaNi₅ binary phases by Al, Ge and Li improves corrosion resistance, thermal stability and absorption capacity during the electrochemical hydrogenation. These alloys passivate effectively in strong alkaline solution.     

Approaching compositional limits of perovskite – type oxides and oxynitrides by synthesis of Mg0.25Ca0.65Y0.1Ti(O,N)3, Ca1–xYxZr(O,N)3 (0.1 ≤ x ≤ 0.4), and Sr1–xLaxZr(O,N)3 (0.1 ≤ x ≤ 0.4)

Partial substitution of cations and anions in perovskite-type materials is a powerful way to tune the desired properties. The systematic variation of the cations size, the partial exchange of O²⁻ for N³⁻ and their effect on the size of the optical band gap and the thermal stability was investigated here. The anionic substitution resulted in the formation of the orthorhombic perovskite-type oxynitrides Mg_0.25Ca_0.65Y_0.1Ti(O,N)₃, Ca_1-xY_xZr(O,N)₃, and Sr_1–xLa_xZr(O,N)₃. A two-step synthesis protocol was applied: i) (nano-crystalline) oxide precursors were synthesized by a Pechini method followed by ii) ammonolysis in flowing NH₃ at T = 773 K (Ti) and T = 1273 K (Zr), respectively. High-temperature synthesis of such oxide precursors by solid–state reaction generally resulted in phase separation of the different A-site cations. Changes of the crystal structures were investigated by Rietveld refinements of the powder XRD data, thermal stability by DSC/TG measurements in oxygen atmosphere, oxygen and nitrogen contents by O/N analysis using hot gas extraction technique, and optical band gaps by photoluminescence spectroscopy. By moving from Mg_0.25Ca_0.65Y_0.1Ti(O,N)₃ via Ca_1–xY_xZr(O,N)₃ to Sr_1–xLa_xZr(O,N)₃, the degree of tilting of the octahedral network is reduced, as observed by an increase in the B–X–B angles caused by the simultaneously increasing effective ionic radius of the A-site cation(s). In general, increasing substitution levels on the A-site (Y³⁺ and La³⁺) are accompanied by an enhanced replacement of O²⁻ by N³⁻. In all three systems, this anionic substitution resulted in a reduction of the optical band gap by approximately 1 eV (Ti) and up to 2.1 eV (Zr) compared to the respective oxides. For Mg_0.25Ca_0.65Y_0.1Ti(O,N)₃ an optical band gap of 2.2 eV was observed, appropriate for a solar water splitting photocatalyst. The Zr-based oxynitrides required a by a factor of 2 higher nitrogen contents to significantly reduce the optical band gap and the measured values of 2.9 eV–3.2 eV are larger compared to the Ti-based oxynitride. Bulk thermal stability was revealed up to T = 881 K. In general, the thermal stability decreased with increasing substitution levels due to an increasing deviation from the ideal anionic composition as demonstrated by O/N analysis.     

On the physical properties of Sr1−xNaxRuO3 (x = 0–0.19)

The metallic ferromagnetic perovskite-type SrRuO₃ (T_C ～ 160 K) belongs to the “class” of materials with strongly correlated electrons. Nonetheless a simple ferromagnetism associated with isotropic interactions of low spin Ru⁴⁺ ions local moments is far too simple to explain the complex interplay between charge carriers and magnetic interactions. In that sense the suppression of ferromagnetism in isoelectronic Sr_1?xCa_xRuO₃ was tentatively associated to the increased lattice distortion influencing primarily the 4d Ru bandwidths and, hence, the itinerancy and respective populations of the spin-up and spin-down electrons.In order to probe the robustness of the metallic ferromagnetism against electron occupation of 4d Ru orbital we prepared and characterized polycrystalline Sr_1?xNa_xRuO₃ (x = 0.0–0.19) ceramics. The substitution of Sr²⁺ by Na¹⁺, leading to formally mixed valence Ru⁴⁺/Ru⁵⁺, induces the decrease of the Curie temperature and spin-wave stiffness, which was determined independently from magnetic and specific heat data. On the other hand the effective paramagnetic moment remains essentially unchanged. All compounds are metallic in a sense of electrical resistivity and thermopower temperature dependence; the low temperature upturn of the electrical resistivity was explained on a base of the weak localization. The metallic nature of the samples is corroborated by Pauli paramagnetism and high Sommerfeld coefficient γ, extracted from the low temperature specific heat, which increases from 30.9 mJ mol^?1 K^?2 (x = 0.0) to 43.0 mJ mol^?1 K^?2 (x = 0.19).     

Jahn–Teller coupling and the influence of strain in Tg and Eg ground and excited states – A ligand field and DFT study on halide MIIIX6 model complexes [M = TiIII–CuIII; X = F−, Cl−]

In contrast to well established experimental results of vibronic coupling effects in octahedral dⁿ complexes with E_g ground states (Cu²⁺, Ag²⁺; Cr²⁺, Mn³⁺ etc.), not much useful material is available for the Jahn–Teller (JT) effect in orbital triplet ground states. The present study is concerned with this deficiency, providing data for octahedral halide model complexes with 3dⁿ cations – in particular for Ti^III, V^III and high-spin Co^III, Ni^III with T_2g and T_1g ground states, which involve, to first-order, solely splitting of the π-antibonding t_2g MOs. Besides experimental results – structural and spectroscopic, mainly from d–d spectra – data from computations are needed for a quantitative treatment of the T_g ? (?_g + τ_2g) vibronic interaction as well as in the E_g ? ?_g coupling case (Mn^III, low-spin Ni^III); DFT was the method of choice, if only critically selected outcomes are utilised. The theoretical bases of the treatment are the dⁿ ligand field matrices in O_h, extended by the inclusion of lower-symmetry distortion parameters, and the conventional theory of vibronic coupling. Caution is needed when classifying the effects of interelectronic repulsion; DFT does not reproduce the magnitudes of the Racah parameters B, C, as deduced from the d–d spectra, properly – the presumed reasons are analysed. DFT even allows one to deduce reliable vibronic coupling constants via the analysis of orbitally degenerate excited states (Cr^III, ⁴A_2g ground state). The group-theoretical analysis of the interaction with the JT-active ?_g and τ_2g modes yields D_4h, D_3d and D_2h as the possible distortion symmetries in the case of a T_g ground state. The DFT-calculations give clear evidence, that the D_4h stationary points represent the absolute minima in the T_g ? (?_g + τ_2g) potential surface – in agreement with experiment, where available. For the first time, vibronic coupling constants, characterising JT splitting of ground and excited T_g states, can be presented for trivalent 3dⁿ cations in octahedral halide ligand fields. They turn out to be smaller by a factor of almost 3 in comparison to those, which determine the coupling in σ-antibonding e_g MOs.The tetragonal splitting of T_g states is typically only small, around 0.1 eV, and suggests that strain influences from a specific ligand arrangement and/or the presence of different ligands may modify the potential surface considerably. We have studied such effects via compounds A^IM^IIIF₄, where an elastic strain induced by the host structure, and a binding strain, due to the simultaneous existence of (largely) terminal and of bridging ligands, are active. A novel strain model, in its interplay with JT coupling, is proposed and applied – using energies from the d–d spectra, structural results and data from DFT.Chloride complexes are only known for Ti^III to Fe^III; the rather small electronegativity already of Co^III suggests a reducing ligand-to-metal (3dⁿ) electron transfer for n ≥ 6. Similarly, the low-lying ligand-to-metal charge transfer bands in the d–d spectra of the Cu^IIIF₆^3? complex and the reduced T_g ? ?_g coupling strength suggest a pronounced covalency of the Cu^III–F, and, even more distinctly, of the Cu^III–O bond, which is of interest for superconductivity. The Ni^IIIF₆^3? polyhedron possesses a low-spin configuration in the elpasolite structure. The spectroscopic evidence and the DFT data indicate, that the minimum positions of the alternative _a²A_1g(_a²E_g) and _a⁴A_2g (_a⁴T_1g) potential curves are only ≤0.02 eV apart, giving rise to interesting high-spin/low-spin phenomena. It is the strong E_g ? ?_g as compared to the T_1g ? ?_g coupling, which finally stabilises a spin-doublet ground state in D_4h.We think, that the selected class of solids is unique particularly for the study of Jahn–Teller coupling in T ground states, with model character for other systems. In our overview a procedure is sketched, which uses reliable computational results (here from DFT) for supplementing incomplete experimental data, and presents – on a semiquantitative scale – convincing statements, consistent with chemical intuition. It is also a pleading for ligand field theory, which rationalises d-d spectra in terms of chemical bonding; though the latter spectra provide frequently only rather coarse information, their assistance in the energy analysis is crucial.     

Effect of nanoparticles agglomeration on electrical properties of La1−xAxMnO3 (A = Sr,Ba) nanopowder and ceramic solid solutions

Peculiar features of the sol–gel synthesis of substituted manganites La_1−xA_xMnO₃ (A = Sr, Ba) have been investigated. Variation of the gel pH during synthesis was shown to affect the aggregation of particles and their crystal structure. Electrical properties of nanopowder and ceramic La_1−xA_xMnO₃ solid solutions were studied. Additional heat treatment was revealed to affect not only the resistivity, but also the character of its temperature dependence. It was shown that under the synthesis and heat treatment conditions used in the work, the La_1−xBa_xMnO₃ solid solutions with x = 0.15 have the lowest conductivity at 1200 K, which allows using them as thick-film cathodes.     

Structural properties and phase transformations under pressure of XTe compounds (X = Be,Mg, and Ca): The role of the exchange–correlation potential

We have performed first principles total energy calculations to investigate the structural properties and possible phase transitions under pressure of IIA–VI compounds: BeTe, MgTe and CaTe. We have considered the following possible structures: rock-salt, nickel arsenide, cesium chloride, zinc-blende, and in some cases wurtzite. Calculations are done using the periodic density functional theory. We employ the full potential linearized augmented plane wave method as implemented in the wien2k code. The exchange and correlation potential energies are treated according to the generalized gradient approximation (GGA) using the Perdew, Burke, Ernzerhof (PBE) parameterization, and the local density approximation (LDA). Our results show that the GGA calculations correctly predict the ground state structure of all three binary compounds: zinc-blende for BeTe, wurtzite/zinc-blende for MgTe, and rock-salt for CaTe. Under pressure, BeTe and MgTe transform to the nickel arsenide structure, while CaTe transforms from rock-salt to cesium chloride. Slightly different results are found using the LDA approximation. We discuss the role of the ionicity in the difference between the LDA and GGA results.     

Study on the cesium Tutton compounds,Cs2M(XO4)2∙6H2O (M = Mg,Co, Zn; X = S,Se): Preparation,X-ray powder diffraction and infrared spectra

The crystallization processes in the three-component systems Cs₂SO₄–MSO₄–H₂O (M = Mg, Co, Zn) have been studied at 25 °C. It has been established that cesium Tutton compounds, Cs₂M(SO₄)₂·6H₂O (M = Mg, Co, Zn; X = S, Se), crystallize from the ternary solutions within large concentration ranges. The double salts were identified by means of X-ray powder diffraction and infrared spectroscopy. Infrared spectra of the cesium compounds are presented and discussed with respect to both the normal modes of the tetrahedral ions and the water molecules. The water librations are also discussed. The strength of the hydrogen bonds formed in the cesium salts as deduced from the frequencies of ν_OH is commented. The analysis of the spectra reveals that stronger hydrogen bonds are formed in the cesium selenates as compared to those in the respective sulfates due to the stronger proton acceptor ability of the selenate ions.     

MO-RE2O3-B2O3(M=Mg,Ca,Sr,Ba;RE=La,Eu,Gd)玻璃的发光性质

在空气中采用高温固相反应方法合成的17MO－（8-x-y)-75B2O3-xGd2O3(MLBEG,M-Mg,Ca,Sr,Ba)玻璃，在紫外光（λex=350nm)激发下发射蓝光和红光，在绿色光（λex=532nm)激发下发射红光，电子自旋共振谱研究表明玻璃体系中有Eu^2 离子存在，蓝色区的宽带发射是Eu^2 离子的5d-4f跃迁发射：红色区的窄带发射是Eu^3 离子的5Do-7FJ(J=1,2,3,4)跃迁发射，发现玻璃中的碱土金属离子对Eu^3 /Eu^2 离子的比例有很大影响，选择不同的碱土金属离子可以调节玻璃蓝色光和红色光的相对发射强度，MLBEG玻璃的发光性质可用于转换太阳能，增强植物的光合作用。     

Electroconductivity of Solid Solutions Cs3–2x M x PO4 (M = Ba, Sr, Ca, Mg)

Solid solutions Cs_{3 – 2x} M _x PO₄ (M = Ba, Sr, Ca, Mg) are synthesized and their thermal behavior and electroconductivity are examined. Adding elements of Subgroup IIA of the periodic table into cesium orthophosphate shifts the phase transition, which occurs in pure Cs₃PO₄ at 450–620°, towards lower temperatures and raises the cesium cation conductivity at low temperatures. The electroconductivity of a high-temperature modification of Cs₃PO₄ is weakly dependent on the presence and concentration of such additives, which points to structural disordering of the cesium sublattice.     

Investigations in the systems Sr–As–O–X (X = H,Cl): Preparation and crystal structure refinements of the anhydrous arsenates(V) Sr3(AsO4)2, Sr2As2O7, α- and β-SrAs2O6, and of the apatite-type phases Sr5(AsO4)3OH and Sr5(AsO4)3Cl

The previously uninvestigated atomic arrangements of six strontium arsenate(V) phases in the systems Sr-As-O-X (X = H, Cl) have been determined. Single crystals of Sr₃(AsO₄)₂ and Sr₅(AsO₄)₃Cl were grown from a borate and NaCl melt, respectively, whereas single crystals of α- and β-SrAs₂O₆ and of Sr₅-(AsO₄)₃OH were obtained under hydrothermal conditions. Microcrystalline samples of Sr₂As₂O₇ were prepared by solid-state reaction of As₂O₅ with SrCO₃ and, alternatively, by thermolysis of SrHAsO₄. Crystal structure determinations based on powder X-ray diffraction data using the Rietveld method (Sr₂As₂O₇), and from single-crystal X-ray diffraction data (all other phases) revealed isotypism with known structure types (except β-SrAs₂O₆ which represents a new structure type). Sr₃(AsO₄)₂ crystallizes in the K₂Pb(SO₄)₂ structure type; Sr₂As₂O₇ is isotypic with the high-temperature polymorphs of Ca₂P₂O₇ and Sr₂V₂O₇, but itself shows no polymorphism; Sr₅(AsO₄)₃OH and Sr₅(AsO₄)₃Cl crystallize with the hydroxylapatite and chloroapatite structure, respectively; SrAs₂O₆ is dimorphic. Like all other known M^IIAs₂O₆ metaarsenates (M = Mn, Co, Ni, Sr, Pd, Cd, Hg, Pb), the α-polymorph crystallizes in the PbSb₂O₆ structure type, whereas the novel β-polymorph is the first example of a M^IIAs₂O₆ superstructure with a doubled c-axis. Additional analytical methods using Raman spectroscopy and thermal analyses support the results of the X-ray structure work.     

Electrochemical characterisation of MBaCo3ZnO7+δ (M = Y,Er, Tb) as SOFC cathode material with low thermal expansion coefficient

The electrochemical oxygen activation at high temperature was studied on a new class of oxygen-store material based on the system YBaCo₄O_7+δ. Three different porous layers made of YBaCo₃ZnO_7+δ, ErBaCo₃ZnO_7+δ and TbBaCo₃ZnO_7+δ were electrochemically tested as oxygen activation coatings and showed a very promising activity. The envisaged applications for these materials are principally as SOFC cathodes and as catalytic layer on oxygen membranes. The electrochemical performance followed the order Tb ? Y > Er at any tested temperature. Area specific resistance for the best performing material (TbBaCo₃ZnO_7+δ) ranges from 30 mΩ cm² at 850 °C to 0.46 Ω cm² at 650 °C. High temperature XRD showed that the thermal expansion coefficient (25–900 °C) in air of TbBaCo₃ZnO₇ is 9.45 × 10^?6 K^?1, which evidences the good thermochemical compatibility of this cobalt-rich electrocatalyst with YSZ/GDC electrolytes.