Phase and morphology evolution of vaterite crystals in water/ethanol binary solvent

Keeping stability is important for metastable vaterite to be applied. In this work, crystal evolution of vaterite in water/ethanol binary solvent (WEBS) was investigated. Phase identification was confirmed by XRD measurement. It is found that the stability of vaterite is sensitive to the concentration of surplus CO₃^2‐ and the ethanol mole fraction in WEBS. The vaterite phase would transform to either aragonite or calcite decided by the surplus CO₃^2‐ ions or Ca²⁺ ions, respectively. SEM observation shows that the polymorph evolution also induced the morphology change. (© 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Investigations of phase relations in the system CaO?Na2O?K2O?P2O5

The lattice constants of the compound Ca₂NaK(PO₄)₂ have been studied at room temperature using an X-ray powder diffractometer and also in the temperature range from 20 up to 1000 °C by Guinier-Lenné-technology. A hexagonal lattice with the parameters a₀ = 5.4367 Å and c₀ = 7.3125 Å and a cell volume of 187.18 ų has been determined for the high temperature phase, existing from 670 °C upward. At temperatures below 670 °C a superlattice structure is formed by tripling the axis a, a ′, and c so that it results in a hexagonal superlattice structure cell with the lattice constants of a₀ = 16.311 Å and c₀ = 21.939 Å and a cell volume of 5054 ų.     

Structural and Magnetic Characterisation of Ce@C82

Abstract

We report the structural and magnetic properties of the endohedral metallofullerene Ce@C₈₂. A hexagonal close packing phase [P6₃/mmc [a=11.1544Å, c=18.2256Å] is formed exclusively after vacuum annealing of the solvent precipitated compound. In contrast, sublimed Ce@C₈₂ was found to be dominantly face-centred cubic close packed [Fm-3m; a=15.766Å]. X-ray powder profile calculations revealed that the endohedral cerium atom lies close to 1.8Å from the C₈₂ cage centre in both phases. Hexagonal Ce@C₈₂ has been investigated by magnetic susceptibility measurements. Paramagnetic behaviour is maintained down to 2K attributable to Ce³⁺ ions. Towards lower temperatures, the observed paramagnetic moment falls from the free ion Ce³⁺(μ_eff =2.54μB) value, monotonically approaching 1μB at 2K.     

Crystal and Molecular structure of 3,3-Diethyl–2,4,6–[1 H,3 H,5 H] Pyrimidine Trione

C₈H₁₂O₃N₂, M_r = 184.19, Trigonal, R3 (hexagonal axes) a = b = 26.800(1) Å, c = 6.828(3) Å, α = β = 90°, γ = 120°, V = 4247.11 ų, Z = 18, D_m = 1.297 Mg m⁻³, D_c = 1.296 Mg m⁻³, mu = 0.79 mm⁻¹, F(000) = 1764, T = 293 K, final R = 0.080 for 1205 observed reflections. There are two crystallographically independent molecules in the unit cell of the title compound.     

Synthesis and crystal structures of two new complexes [M(OH2)(HDPA)2]·3H2O (M = Mn, Co)

Two new transition metal complexes of [M(OH₂)(HDPA)₂]·3H₂O (M=Mn(1); M=Co(2)) (H₂DPA, 2,6-pyridine-dicarboxylic acid) have been prepared at room temperature from the reaction of MCl₂·6H₂O (M=Mn or Co) and H₂DPA in the mixed solvent of H₂O and EtOH in the presence of piperazine, and were characterized by X-ray analysis, elemental analysis. X-ray analysis reveals that the coordination geometries of Mn²⁺ and Co²⁺ are of octahedron and severely distorted square-based pyramid, respectively. Crystal data: [Mn(OH₂)(HDPA)₂]·3H₂O (1), Mr=459.23, monoclinic, P2(1)/n, a=7.0056(3), b=(23.8125(12), c=10.7444(3) ?, β=99.834(2)°, Z=4, V=1766.28(13) ?³, R ₁=0.0586, wR ₂=0.1448 [I>2σ(I)]; Co(OH₂)(HDPA)₂]·3H₂O (2), Mr=463.22, monoclinic, P2(1)/n, a=7.0014(2), b=23.8346(7), c=10.7212(4) ?, β=99.8540(10)°, Z=4, V=1762.71(10) ?³, R ₁=0.0474, wR ₂=0.1366 [I>2σ(I)].     

Preparation of highly pure iron by vapour deposition

Hydrogen reduction of ferrous chloride performed at a hot iron wire results in highly pure iron in the form of polycrystalline rods. The effects of the mixture ratio hydrogen/ferrous chloride and the deposition temperature on the yield and the supersaturation on the type of iron deposition are discussed. The highly pure iron rods produced by vapour deposition have a theoretical density of 7.875 g/cm³. The high purity is demonstrated by a coercivity H_c of 0.01 oersted and a residual resistivity ratio R_293°K/R_4.2°K of 3 × 10³. The purity of this iron is higher than that of repeatedly zone-melted electrolytic iron and comparable to that of zone-melted iron prepared from chemically purified iron powder.     

Calcium Oxalate Monohydrate Crystal Growth

The growth rate of calcium oxalate monohydrate seed representing aggregates of highly irregular crystals from solutions of the stoichiometric composition with I = 100 mol m⁻³ in the range of supersaturation Δc = 0.056 to 0.353 mol m⁻³ was measured at 37 °C by the constant composition method. The crystal growth rate decreased during the initial period of experiment, then reached a value constant over a considerable time and later increased again. The initial decrease of the growth rate resulted from crystal perfection whereas the later increase was caused by formation of new crystals by secondary nucleation. The supersaturation dependence of the kinetic growth rate satisfied the power law with the growth order equal to 2 and 4 at supersaturations lower and higher than about Δc = 0.150 mol m⁻³, respectively.     

Growth kinetics of ammonium oxalate monohydrate single crystals from aqueous solutions containing Co(II) and Ni(II) impurities

The growth kinetics of different faces of ammonium oxalate monohydrate (AO) single crystals from aqueous solutions containing different concentrations of Co(II) and Ni(II) ions at a constant temperature are described and discussed. It was found that: (1) at a given supersaturation σ, both Co(II) and Ni(II) ions lead to a decrease in the growth rates R of different faces of AO crystals, (2) the growth of a particular face of the crystals occurs above a critical supersaturation σ_d, but there is also another supersaturation barrier σ* when the rate abruptly increases with σ, and (3) the values of σ_d and σ* increase with increasing concentration c_i of the impurity. The experimental R(σ) data for different concentrations c_i of the impurities were analysed according to the model involving complex source of cooperating screw dislocations and concepts of instantaneous and time‐dependent impurity adsorption. Analysis of the data showed that: (1) adsorption of Co(II) and Ni(II) impurities occurs on the surface terrace of AO crystals, (2) there is a simple relationship between Langmuir constant K and the impurity concentration c_i* corresponding to maximum surface coverage, and (3) the ratio σ_d/σ* of the supersaturation barriers observed in the presence of both impurities increases with an increase in impurity concentration c_i, and may be explained from the standpoint of the mechanism of adsorption of impurity particles at kinks and ledges. (© 2004 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Understanding supersaturation‐dependent crystal growth of L‐alanine in aqueous solution

The dependence of crystal growth rate of L‐alanine on solution supersaturation was investigated by combining experiments and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. The experimental results show that lower supersaturated solution yields more elongated L‐alanine crystals along the c‐axis, i.e., the aspect ratio (c/b) of the crystal decreases with the increase of solution supersaturation, which is due to the higher supersaturation inducing a rise in the relative growth rate between the main side surface (the (120) surface) and the main end surface (the (011) surface). MD simulations on the two surfaces in contact with different supersaturated solutions revealed that the solute molecules tend to be more efficiently attached to the (011) surface than to the (120) surface at both supersaturations studied, as the interaction between the solute molecules and the L‐alanine molecules in the first layer of the (011) surface is stronger than that of the (120) surface. However, higher supersaturation leads to larger relative interaction energy between the (120) and (011) surfaces, suggesting an increase in the relative growth rate of the two surfaces (R₍₁₂₀₎/R₍₀₁₁₎) with supersaturation, which is in agreement with the experimental results.     

Crystallization habit of calcium carbonate in presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate and/or polypyrrolidone

The synthesis of calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) crystals from aqueous solutions containing sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), poly(N-vinyl-1-pyrrolidone) (PVP) or SDS/PVP complexes has been performed through a slow titration method. It was found that aragonite and calcite coexisted in the prepared crystals. The formation of aragonite in the precipitation systems without magnesium ions indicates that at ambient temperature ca. 26.0°C, initially formed amorphous CaCO₃ could also transfer into aragonite in the sedimentary phase, which indicates the controlling factor of organic additives in the nucleation and growth process of CaCO₃ crystals. The appearance of hexagonal crystals in the suspensible phase confirmed the hexagonal crystallization cell of vaterite, and revealed the colloidal-dispersion function of the SDS/PVP complex in the crystallization process of CaCO₃.     

A hexagonal polymorph of Fe(HPO3H)3

Iron tri(hydrogenphosphite), Fe(HPO₃H)₃, crystallizes in both a monoclinic and a hexagonal space group. In this report the structure determination of the hexagonal variant is described: space group P6₃, a = 8.1690(2) Å, c = 6.9300(2) Å. The structure is slightly disordered, Fe³⁺ being partially replaced by Al³⁺, and is very close to that of Fe₂(HPO₃)₃. The only significant difference is that one half of the FeO₆ octahedra is missing and that its density is reduced by one half.     

Static Disorder in Hexagonal Crystal Structures of C60 at 100 K and 20 K

C₆₀ · 2C₈H₁₀ (100 K): hexagonal space group P6₃, a = 23.694(4), c = 10.046(2) Å, V = 4884(2) ų, D_x = 1.903 g cm⁻³, Z = 6, F(000) = 2856, γ(CuKa) = 1.54178 Å, μ = 0.84 mm⁻¹. C₆₀ · 2C₈H₁₀ (20 K): hexagonal space group P6₃, a = 23.67(1), c = 10.02(1) Å, V = 4862(6) ų, D_x = 1.912 g cm⁻³, Z = 6, F(000) = 2856, γ(CuKa) = 1.54178 Å, μ = 0.84 mm⁻¹. The structures were determined by Patterson syntheses and rigid-body refinements. The C₆₀ molecules show two orientations with one molecular centre in common. The solvent molecules are disordered too. Static disorder could not be overcome or influenced by cooling down. A coordination number of 10 was found for the fullerene molecules.     

Preparation of monodispersed aragonite microspheres via a carbonation crystallization pathway

Monodispersed calcium carbonate microspheres were prepared by carbonating a calcium acetate aqueous solution with CO₂ gas at a high pressure of 40 bar and a high temperature of 80 °C after 60 minutes of reaction. The products were characterized by X‐ray powder diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), respectively. The XRD pattern showed that the crystal polymorph of the as‐prepared monodispersed microspheres was aragonite. The SEM images also displayed needle‐like aragonite self‐organized into microsphere superstructure with diameters ranging from 5 to 15 μm. Analysis of the formation mechanism of the calcium carbonate microsphere superstructure revealed that the rod‐dumbbell‐sphere morphogenesis mechanism along with the phase transformation of vaterite to aragonite was responsible for the growth of the monodispersed aragonite microspheres. (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Copper(II) and lead(II) complexes of 4,4′-bipyridine-<Emphasis Type="Italic">N,N</Emphasis>′-dioxide

Cu(II) and Pb(II) complexes of 4,4′-bipyridine-N,N′-dioxide have been prepared using a solvent-layering system. [Cu₂Cl₄(bpdo)₃(H₂O)₂] . 2(CH₃)₂SO (1) crystallises in P-1, a=8.731(2), b=8.943(2), c=14.408(3) ?, α=102.85(3), β=97.49(3), γ=109.77(3)°. The Cu(II) complex is a z-shaped discrete molecule with a DMSO molecule hydrogen bonded to the host through coordinated water molecule. Crystallisation of PbCl₂, PbBr₂ and PbI₂ with bpdo afforded isostructural 2D coordination polymers. [PbCl₂(bpdo)]_n is monoclinic, C2/c with a=16.3274(7), b=4.0708(1), c=18.6146(8) ?, β=93.73(1)°; [PbBr₂(bpdo)]_n is monoclinic, C2/c with a=16.403(3), b=4.2412(8), c=18.846(4) ?, β=92.59(3)° and [PbI₂(bpdo)]_n is monoclinic, C2/c with a=16.438(3), b=4.538(1), c=18.973(4) ?, β=91.04(3)°. The adjacent metal centres of these polymers are bridged by coordinated Cl⁻, Br⁻ or I⁻ anions as well as by bpdo ligands. These polymers possess no conventional hydrogen bonds.     

Temperature fluctuations in a LiNbO3 melt during crystal growth

The synthesis of calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) crystals from aqueous solutions containing sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), poly(N-vinyl-1-pyrrolidone) (PVP), or SDS/PVP complexes has been performed through a slow titration method. It was found that aragonite and calcite co-existed in the prepared crystals. The formation of aragonite in the precipitation systems without magnesium ions indicates that at ambient temperature ca. 26.0°C, initially formed amorphous CaCO₃ could also transfer into aragonite in the sedimentary phase, which indicates the controlling factor of organic additives in the nucleation and growth process of CaCO₃ crystals. The appearance of hexagonal crystals in the suspensible phase confirmed the hexagonal crystallization cell of vaterite, and revealed the colloidal-dispersion function of the SDS/PVP complex in the crystallization process of CaCO₃.     

X‐ray diffraction refinement of the crystal structure of anosovite prepared from leucoxene

The crystal structure of anosovite, (Ti_1.69Al_0.26Fe_0.05)³⁺(Ti_0.97Zr_0.03)⁴⁺O₅, prepared by carbothermal reduction of leucoxene under vacuum at 1450°C has been refined by Rietveld method using powder X‐ray diffraction data. It was found that it represents slightly monoclinically deformed pseudobrookite type structure with lattice parameters a = 9.8111 Å, b = 3.7509 Å, c = 9.9468 Å, β = 90.628°. (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Effect of supersaturation on the crystallization of phenylbutazone polymorphs

The article describes the effect of degree of supersaturation, σ, on the crystallization of specific polymorphs of phenylbutazone from its methanolic solution at 20 °C. At low initial supersaturation, σ ≤ 2.0, the fraction of the metastable α polymorph in the crystallized product exceeds that of the δ polymorph, while at σ ≥ 5.0, the fraction of the stable δ polymorph increases in the crystallized product. The results are explained by the effect of supersaturation on the relative rates of nucleation and crystal growth of the polymorphs. Furthermore, the mechanism of nucleation and crystal growth also change with supersaturation. Supersaturated methanolic solutions of phenylbutazone exhibit a critical temperature at which the nucleation rates of the polymorphs decrease drastically. This effect is partly explained by the decreased mobility of phenylbutazone molecules at lower temperatures. Nucleation is most rapid when the crystallization temperature is close to the transition temperature, T_t(α ⟷ δ), between the polymorphs, α and δ. The nucleation rate decreases as the temperature difference between T_t(α ⟷ δ) and the crystallization temperature increases. (© 2005 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Polymorphism and morphology of calcium carbonate precipitated in mixed solvents of ethylene glycol and water

The influence of (mono) ethylene glycol (MEG) on polymorphism and the resulting morphology of calcium carbonate have been studied for activity-based supersaturation ratios in the range of 3–10 and temperatures from 25–80 °C in mixed solvents of ethylene glycol and water at ratios of 0–90 wt%. The presence of a co-solvent in the solution affects the supersaturation, because of changes in the activity coefficients and the solubility of the salt, a fact that is usually not accounted for in similar studies in the literature. In the present study, the effect of the solvent was isolated from the accompanying change in the supersaturation. MEG was found to affect both the polymorphic abundance in the precipitates, the morphology of the particles and the transformation rates. High concentrations of MEG favoured the precipitation of vaterite and higher temperatures promoted the formation of aragonite. The particle size was reduced in experiments with high MEG concentrations at supersaturations ratios comparable to water solutions, illustrating that the nucleation rate is affected by the co-solvent. The morphology of the calcium carbonate particles was changed at various conditions of MEG concentrations and temperatures from cubes of calcite to spherical, flower-like and dumbbell particles of vaterite and aragonite needles. MEG prolongs the transformation time of metastable polymorphs and the effect was shown to be caused by the solvent itself, probably as a result of kinetic stabilization by delaying the growth rate of the more stable polymorphs.     

The effect of polyacrylamide on the crystallization of calcium carbonate: Synthesis of aragonite single-crystal nanorods and hollow vatarite hexagons

CaCO₃ nanorods were synthesized via a facile solution route by polymer-controlled crystallization in the presence of polyacrylamide (PAM). The morphology, size and crystal structure were characterized by means of scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The results suggest that the as-synthesized product was CaCO₃ (aragonite) nanorods with diameter ca. 50 nm and length ca. 1 μm. Selected area electron diffraction (SAED) pattern shows the single-crystal nature of CaCO₃ nanorods. The reaction time, temperature, pH and reactant concentration were systemically investigated. With the increase in the reaction time, hollow vaterite hexagonal disks can be obtained.     

The precipitation of sparingly-soluble metal salts from aqueous solution: Heterogeneous nucleus numbers at low to intermediate supersaturation

The precipitation of series of alkaline-earth metal and transition hydroxides, sulphates, chromates and molybdates, hydrogen phosphate carbonates, oxalates and ‘oxinates’ were studied in aqueous solution of low to intermediate supersaturation. Heterogeneous nucleation probably occurred onto micro-crystalline particles of some siliceous mineral (of the trigonal, hexagonal or cubic system), dispersed in the solution. The heterogeneous nucleus numbers for these precipitations then depended on the rates of the heterogeneous nucleation onto these substrates and the rates of the mononuclear growth of nuclei to crystallites (during the induction periods). Generally, N_het values in polypropylene and glass beakers, at low supersaturation, varied from 10⁴ to 10¹³ dm⁻³: the N_het values then increased slightly with concentration and supersaturation according to the relation N_het = K_N^β, where K_N is a function of the metal salt surface energy and an ‘epitaxy’ factor; β = 0.4–0.5. In turn, at any supersaturation, log N_het = log N + Fσ, where N and F were constants for any precipitation: N_het values then increased from 10⁴ to 10⁸ times for increase in σ from 50 to 150 mJ m⁻². At any supersaturation and surface energy, N_het values increased in the order monoclinic < orthohombic < tetragonal < trigonal crystals.