Crystal structure and stability of Tl2CO3 at high pressures

The crystal structure of dithallium carbonate, Tl₂CO₃ (C2/m, Z = 4), was investigated at pressures of up to 7.4 GPa using single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction in a diamond anvil cell. It is stable to at least 5.82 GPa. All atoms except for one of the O atoms lie on crystallographic mirror planes. At higher pressures, the material undergoes a phase transition that destroys the single crystal.     

X‐Ray Diffraction and Mössbauer Spectroscopy Studies of Pressure‐Induced Phase Transitions in a Mixed‐Valence Trinuclear Iron Complex

The mixed‐valence complex Fe₃O(cyanoacetate)₆(H₂O)₃ ( 1 ) has been studied by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction analysis at pressures up to 5.3(1) GPa and by (synchrotron) Mössbauer spectroscopy at pressures up to 8(1) GPa. Crystal structure refinements were possible up to 4.0(1) GPa. In this pressure range, 1 undergoes two pressure‐induced phase transitions. The first phase transition at around 3 GPa is isosymmetric and involves a 60° rotation of 50 % of the cyanoacetate ligands. The second phase transition at around 4 GPa reduces the symmetry from rhombohedral to triclinic. Mössbauer spectra show that the complex becomes partially valence‐trapped after the second phase transition. This sluggish pressure‐induced valence‐trapping is in contrast to the very abrupt valence‐trapping observed when compound 1 is cooled from 130 to 120 K at ambient pressure.     

Unusual high-temperature structural behaviour in ferroelectric Bi2WO6

The crystal structure of Aurivillius phase ferroelectric Bi2WO6 has been studied in detail as a function of temperature by using high-resolution powder neutron diffraction. In agreement with an earlier study, a transition from space group P2(1)ab to B2cb occurs at about 660 degrees C. This transition corresponds to the loss of one octahedral tilt mode within the perovskite-like WO4 layer of the structure. A second, reconstructive, phase transition occurs around 960 degrees C, corresponding to the ferroelectric Curie point; in contrast to previous suggestions, the structure of this high-temperature phase contains layers of stoichiometry WO4, with WO6 octahedra sharing edges and corners, and with the fluorite-like Bi2O2 layers remaining essentially unchanged. This structure is closely related to that of the ambient temperature phase of lanthanide-doped derivatives, for example, Bi0.7Yb1.3WO6 recently reported. This phase-transition behaviour is in stark contrast to that of other members of the Aurivillius family, such as SrBi2Ta2O9 and Bi4Ti3O12, which retain the archetypal Aurivillius connectivity at all temperatures.     

Designed ferromagnetic, ferroelectric Bi(2)NiMnO(6)

A newly designed ferromagnetic, ferroelectric compound, Bi(2)NiMnO(6), was prepared by high-pressure synthesis at 6 GPa. The crystal structure, as determined by synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction, is a heavily distorted double perovskite with Ni(2+) and Mn(4+) ions ordered in a rock-salt configuration. The presence of 6s(2) lone pairs of Bi(3+) ions and the covalent Bi-O bonds give ferroelectric properties with T(CE) of 485 K, while -Ni(2+)-O-Mn(4+)-O-Ni(2+)- magnetic paths lead to a ferromagnetism with T(CM) of 140 K. This simple material design to distribute two magnetic elements with and without e(g) electrons on B sites of Bi- and Pb-based perovkites can be applied to other Bi(2)M(2+)M'(4+)O(6) and Pb(2)M(3+)M'(5+)O(6) systems to search for newer ferromagnetic ferroelectrics.     

High pressure Raman spectra of l-glutamic acid hydrochloride crystal

Semiorganic nonlinear optical single crystal l-glutamic acid hydrochloride has been studied by Raman spectroscopy under high pressure conditions. Our results show that this amino acid crystal presents one structural phase transition at about 2.1 GPa and one molecular conformational change around 7.5 GPa. If we compare such behavior with that of the l-glutamic acid crystal in the same range of pressure we note a great stability for the hydrochloride samples. The chloride ion plays an important role increasing the number of the hydrogen bonds that hold the crystal together and thus, contributing to improve the structural stability of the crystal.     

Structure and physical properties of 1D magnetic chalcogenide, jamesonite (FePb4Sb6S14)

Monoclinic FePb(4)Sb(6)S(14) phase, jamesonite, which is a candidate material as a S = 2 Haldane compound, has been synthesized by the direct reaction of elements under dry conditions with sealed evacuated quartz tubes. The congruent melting point was determined at 592 degrees C by DTA measurements. Shiny metallic gray needle crystals grow on the surface of bulk heated at 550 degrees C. The elongated direction of each needle crystal is parallel to the c-axis. The crystal structure refinement (P2(1)/a, a = 15.750(6) A, b = 19.125(3) A, c = 4.030(4) A, beta = 91.68(8) degrees, V = 1213(1) A(3), Z = 2, D(c) = 5.651 g/cm(3), R(1) = 3.16%) reveals the presence of two rod substructures elongated parallel to the c-axis. One is the lozenge-shaped Bi(2)Te(3)-type (or called SnS archetype), [Pb(4)Sb(6)S(13)]. The other is the novel single magnetic one-dimensional (1D) straight chain, [FeS(6)]. This compound shows intrinsic semiconductor behavior in the electric conductivity measurements. The optical band gap, 0.48 eV, is estimated by near-IR diffuse reflectance measurements. In the magnetic susceptibility measurements, this compound shows 1D-Heisenberg antiferromagnetic behavior with a broad peak at approximately 33.5 K, where Fe(2+) takes the high-spin state, t(2g)(4)e(g)(2). A possibility for the S = 2 Haldane system is discussed.     

High pressure Raman scattering of dl-leucine crystals

We have obtained the Raman spectra of dl-leucine crystal through a diamond anvil cell for pressures between 0 and 5 GPa. The observation of several anomalies in the regions of both the lattice mode and the internal mode suggests that the crystal undergoes a phase transition between 2.4 and 3.2 GPa. This phase transition is preceded by a gradual change of the molecular conformation of leucine molecules in the unit cell. We show that, up to 5 GPa, the dl-leucine crystal is more stable than the chiral l-leucine crystal because while the former presents only one phase transition in the 2.4–3.2 GPa interval, the latter presents three different transitions, the first of which is observed at 0.46 GPa. Additionally, when pressure is released to 0.0 GPa, the original Raman spectrum is recovered, indicating that the modification at high pressure on dl-leucine crystal is reversible.     

Structural transition of PETN-I to ferroelastic orthorhombic phase PETN-III at elevated pressures

Using powder x-ray diffraction and first-principles calculations, we provide evidence for a structural transition of PETN-I below 6 GPa to an orthorhombic phase of space group P2(1)2(1)2. The transition can be rationalized as shear-stress induced and ferroelastic, which involves a slight static displacement of the molecules that breaks the fourfold symmetry of PETN-I. Previously reported changes in the optical spectra reflect a lifting of the twofold degeneracy of modes in tetragonal PETN-I. The observed transition is expected to induce soft shear compliances along specific directions in PETN crystallites that may relate to the observed dependence of detonation pressure on crystal orientation.     

Mullite-derivative Bi2Mn(x)Al(7-x)O14 (x~1): structure determination by powder X-ray diffraction from a multi-phase sample

As a supplementary method to single crystal X-ray diffraction (XRD), nowadays crystal structure determination by powder XRD has become popular, especially for those areas with difficulties getting high quality single crystals. Here we observed an intermediate phase Bi(2)Mn(x)Al(7-x)O(14) (x~1) during the decomposition of mullite-Bi(2)Mn(x)Al(4-x)O(9+δ) (solid solution of Bi(2)Mn(4)O(10)-Bi(2)Al(4)O(9)). As a metastable phase, it started to decompose while forming, thus no single-phase sample can be obtained. We successfully determined its structure by powder XRD from a multi-phase sample. A modified Le Bail fitting using the atomic structure information of known impurities showed a more reliable intensity extraction from a multi-phase powder XRD than that without using atomic structures for the known impurities. The charge-flipping algorithm and Monte-Carlo based simulated annealing technique were then applied to obtain the full structural model. In principle, this strategy is applicable to more complex problems, and not limited to the oxide materials. Bi(2)Mn(x)Al(7-x)O(14) possesses a mullite-related structure. There are one tetrahedral and two octahedral sites for Mn and Al, where disordering with substantial site preferences is observed. Specifically, M1O(6) and M3O(6) octahedra share edges along the c-direction with the periodicity of 1 : 2. These octahedral chains are further connected into a 3D structure through M2O(4) dimmers and Bi.     

(NH4)2WTe2O8 at 5.09 GPa: a single‐crystal study using synchrotron radiation

The polar crystal structure of diammonium [octaoxidoditellurato(IV)]tungstate, (NH₄)₂WTe₂O₈, was studied at high pressures using single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction in a diamond‐anvil cell at the HASYLAB synchrotron (DESY, Hamburg, Germany). No phase transition was observed up to 7.16 GPa. However, a full structure determination at 5.09 GPa shows that the coordination number of one of the two non‐equivalent Te atoms has decreased from four to three.     

Behavior of microporous zirconosilicate hilairite under high pressure

The behavior of natural zeolite-like hetero-framework zirconosilicate hilairite |Na_1.47H_0.53(H₂O)_2.7| [ZrSi₃O₉] is studied by single crystal X-ray diffraction at a high pressure (up to 4.73 GPa): space group R3, a = 10.5667(2) Å, c = 15.9109(4) Å, V = 1538.54(6) ų, Z = 6. The compression of hilairite is practically isometric in the whole pressure range studied and is close to linear. Above 3.5 GPa an increasing deterioration of the single crystal is observed, which is interpreted as the started first order phase transition accompanied by significant volumetric changes.     

Tropochemical cell-twinning in the new quaternary bismuth selenides KxSn(6-2x)Bi(2+x)Se9 and KSn5Bi5Se13

The quaternary K(x)Sn(6-2x)Bi(2+x)Se(9) and KSn(5)Bi(5)Se(13) were discovered from reactions involving K(2)Se, Bi(2)Se(3), Sn, and Se. The single crystal structures reveal that K(x)Sn(6-2x)Bi(2+x)Se(9) is isostructural to the mineral heyrovskyite, Pb(6)Bi(2)S(9), crystallizing in the space group Cmcm with a = 4.2096(4) A, b = 14.006(1) A, and c = 32.451(3) A while KSn(5)Bi(5)Se(13) adopts a novel monoclinic structure type (C2/m, a = 13.879(4) A, b = 4.205(1) A, c = 23.363(6) A, beta = 99.012(4) degrees ). These compounds formally belong to the lillianite homologous series xPbS.Bi(2)S(3), whose characteristic is derivation of the structure by tropochemical cell-twinning on the (311) plane of the NaCl-type lattice with a mirror as twin operation. The structures of K(x)Sn(6-2x)Bi(2+x)Se(9) and KSn(5)Bi(5)Se(13) differ in the width of the NaCl-type slabs that form the three-dimensional arrangement. While cell-twinning of 7 octahedra wide slabs results in the heyrovskyite structure, 4 and 5 octahedra wide slabs alternate in the structure of KSn(5)Bi(5)Se(13). In both structures, the Bi and Sn atoms are extensively disordered over the metal sites. Some physicochemical properties of K(x)Sn(6-2x)Bi(2+x)Se(9) and KSn(5)Bi(5)Se(13) are reported.     

Synthesis and structural investigation of a unique columnar phase in the Bi2O3–TeO2–V2O5 System

A new columnar phase Bi(11.65)Te(1.35)V(5)O(34-δ) (δ ～ 1.3) containing VO(4) tetrahedra has been identified for the first time in the Bi(2)O(3)-TeO(2)-V(2)O(5) system. The phase formation and the extent of substitution of Te(4+) for Bi(3+) ions in order to stabilize V(5+) in this composition have been confirmed by the single crystal analysis, combined with the powder X-ray diffraction of the solid state synthesized bulk crystalline samples. The oxide crystallizes in a monoclinic crystal system, space group P2/c, with unit cell parameters a = 11.4616(7) ?, b = 5.7131(3) ?, c = 23.5090(18) ?, β = 101.071° (6) (Z = 2). The structure retains the basic features of the columnar oxides with the presence of [Bi(10.65)Te(1.35)O(14)](n)(9.35n+) columns along the (010) direction, surrounded by (VO(4)) tetrahedra placed in the planes parallel to (100) and (001), with an isolated bismuth atom in between the columns. The composition with a limited Te(4+) substitution, Bi(11.65)Te(1.35)V(5)O(34-δ) (δ ～ 1.3), exists with a surprisingly high oxygen deficiency as compared to the stoichiometrically known columnar oxides such as Bi(13)Mo(4)VO(34), Bi(12)Te(1)Mo(3)V(2)O(34), and Bi(11)Te(2)Mo(2)V(3)O(34). The structure of this interesting member of the columnar family of oxides based on the single crystal X-ray diffraction and the Raman spectroscopic studies indicates the possibility of the distribution of the oxygen vacancies among the VO(4) tetrahedral units. Further confirmation for the formation of vanadium stabilized columnar structures has been provided by the successful preparation of Bi(11.65)Te(1.35)V(4)CrO(34-δ) (δ ～ 0.83) and Bi(11.65)Te(1.35)V(4)WO(34-δ) (δ ～ 0.83) phases. Preliminary investigation of the photocatalytic efficiencies of the oxides Bi(11.65)Te(1.35)V(5)O(34-δ), Bi(11.65)Te(1.35)V(4)CrO(34-δ), and Bi(11.65)Te(1.35)V(4)WO(34-δ) revealed moderate photocatalytic activities for the decomposition of the dyes such as Rhodamine B under UV-vis light irradiation.     

Tl2CO3 at 3.56 GPa

The crystal structure of thallium carbonate, Tl₂CO₃ (C2/m, Z = 4), is stable at least up to 3.56 GPa, as demonstrated by hydrostatic single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction measurements in a diamond anvil cell at room temperature. Our results contradict earlier observations from the literature, which found a structural phase transition for this compound at about 2 GPa. Under atmospheric conditions, all atoms except for one O atom reside on the mirror plane in the high‐pressure structure. The compression mainly affects the part of the structure where the nonbonded electron lone pairs on the Tl⁺ cations are located.     

铋（Ⅲ）苯乙酸-1,10-邻菲罗啉三元配合物[Bi2（PPA）6·（Phen）2]的合成、晶体结构及抑菌活性

合成了铋(III)苯乙酸-1,10-邻菲罗啉[Bi2(PPA)6·(Phen)2](HPPA=苯乙酸(C8H7O2),Phen=l,10-邻菲罗啉(C12H8N2))三元配合物,并通过元素分析和红外(IR)光谱对其进行了表征,用单晶X-射线衍射测定了配合物的晶体结构.配合物属于三斜晶系,P-1空间群,a=0.9100(6)nm,b=1.2617(8)nm,c=1.3324(9)nm,α=89.757(8)°,β=87.277(8)°,γ=81.155(8)°,V=1.5099(17)nm3,Dc=1.748g·cm-3,μ=5.890mm-1,Z=1,F(000)=780,残差因子R1=0.0484,wR2=0.1090[I>2σ(I)],S=1.002.标题化合物为双核铋(III)配合物,金属中心Bi(III)原子与三个苯乙酸根(PPA)中的6个氧原子、一个1,10-邻菲罗啉分子中的两个氮原子和一个桥连氧原子进行配位,形成九配位的扭曲三帽三方柱配位十四面体,围绕铋原子的价键总数VBi(1)=2.897,两个Bi(III)原子通过两个桥连氧原子连结成中心对称的分子,Bi…Bi间距离为0.4469(2)nm.初步抑菌试验结果显示,配合物对大肠杆菌(E.Coli)、金黄色葡萄球菌(S.Aureus)、枯草芽孢杆菌(B.Subtilis)表现出相似且良好的抑菌效果.     

Temperature-Dependent Electrical Conductance of Bi Nanowires

The single crystal bismuth nanowire arrays grown along [0112] with the diameter of 30 nm was synthesized in the pore of anodic aluminum oxide templates through electrodeposi-tion process. The temperature dependent electric conductance of Bi nanowire arrays was measured from 78 K to 320 K. We found that the semimetal-to-semiconductor transition happened around 230 K for 30 nm Bi nanowires oriented along [01112] and the electric con-ductance of the nanowires had a strong temperature dependence.     

Structure, and magnetic and transport behavior of twinned Ce2Rh3(Pb,Bi)5

Single crystals of a new compound, Ce₂Rh₃(Pb,Bi)₅, have been grown via a flux-growth technique using molten Pb as a solvent. The compound has been characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction and found to be of the orthorhombic Y₂Rh₃Sn₅ structure type [Cmc2₁ (No. 36), Z=4] with lattice parameters a=4.5980(2), b=27.1000(17) and c=7.4310(4) Å, with V=925.95(9) Å³. Ce₂Rh₃(Pb,Bi)₅ has a complex crystal structure containing Ce atoms encased in Rh-X (X=Pb/Bi) pentagonal and octagonal channels in [100], with polyanions similar to those found in Ce₂Au₃In₅ and Yb₂Pt₃Sn₅. Magnetization measurements find that Ce₂Rh₃(Pb,Bi)₅ is a quasi-two-dimensional system, where the Ce moments are spatially well-localized. Heat capacity measurements show a transition at the Néel temperature of 1.5 K. Evidence for Fermi surface nesting is found in electrical resistivity measurements, and we argue that Ce₂Rh₃(Pb,Bi)₅ is very near a metal-insulator transition in zero field.     

Pressure dependent Raman studies in the K2Mo2O7·H2O crystal

The pressure dependent Raman scattering in the potassium molybdenum oxide hydrate crystal, K₂Mo₂O₇·H₂O, was measured. The high pressure Raman study showed, that the compound remains in the triclinic structure within the 0.0–3.81 GPa range and undergoes a structural phase transition between 3.81 and 4.13 GPa. This particular phase transition is most likely connected with changes in the Raman spectrum, in which the number of modes associated originally with the stretching vibrations in the MoO₅ and MoO₆ units is increased. However, the phase at atmospheric pressure shows bands due to the presence of only one equivalent site, while in the high-pressure phase, two bands are associated with the stretching modes. Continuing the pressure evolution up to 17.04 GPa, two further phase transitions occurred in this crystal in the 6.3–8.1 GPa and the 12.3–14.0 GPa range, respectively. The Raman spectra measured at about 17.04 GPa presented a crystal structure, which experienced a pre-amorphization with a total loss of all lattice modes. This particular result is indicative that this material may have undergone a complete amorphization at pressures larger than 17.04 GPa. Then, the reversible character in the triclinic P-1 (C_i¹) structure was recovered after releasing the pressure.     

Bi4Ge3O12 at the onset of pressure‐induced amorphization

The crystal structure of tetrabismuth tris(germanate), Bi₄Ge₃O₁₂ (I3d, Z = 4), is stable to at least 7.30 GPa, as demonstrated by hydrostatic single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction measurements in a diamond anvil cell at room temperature. The highest pressure reached in this study is close to the onset of amorphization at about 8 GPa. The Bi and Ge atoms are located at the 16c (3) and 12a () Wyckoff positions, respectively. The compression mainly affects the distorted BiO₆ octahedra, while the GeO₄ tetrahedra are relatively rigid. When compared with the values obtained under ambient conditions, the long Bi—O distances decrease with increasing pressure, while the short Bi—O distances do not change.     

Pb5In3Bi5S17 [Pb4.94(3)In3.05(3)Bi4.99(3)S17] and its structural relationship with Pb4In3Bi7S18

The title phase (pentalead triindium pentabismuth heptadecasulfide) has been synthesized and structurally characterized. Its structure contains mixed Bi/In, In/Bi and Pb/In positions; all atoms lie on crystallographic mirror planes. The structural relationship between Pb₅In₃Bi₅S₁₇ and a phase known by the formula Pb₄In₃Bi₇S₁₈ is discussed. A comparatively large and complex structural `seed' is defined which is common to both phases. The structural changes within this seed when moving from one phase to the other are described by graphical means.