A systematic study of magnetic order in divalent europium perovskites

The magnetic properties of a series of cubic perovskite materials, Eu(Al_0.5Ta_0.5)O₃, Eu(Mg_0.5W_0.5)O₃, and Eu(Lu_0.5Ta_0.5)O₃ have been investigated using bulk magnetic and Mössbauer techniques. Eu(Al_0.5Ta_0.5)O₃ is a ferromagnet (T_c ～ 5°K, θ_c = + 8°K), Eu(Lu_0.5Ta_0.5)O₃ is an antiferromagnet (T_N = 4.0, θ_c = ?8°K), while Eu(Mg_0.5W_0.5)O₃ is probably antiferromagnetic (T_N = 2.8°K, θ_c = ? 1°K). These data are compared with the known properties of EuLiH₃ and EuTiO₃ and a sharp drop in θ_c as a function of increasing lattice constant is noted. A molecular field theory analysis of the data yields two possible sets of nn (J₁) and nnn (J₂) exchange constants for each compound which are compared with existing theories.     

Investigation of modification of hydrogenation and structural properties of LaNi5 intermetallic compound induced by substitution of Ni by Pd

The hydrogenation properties of the LaNi₅ (CaCu₅ type, hP6, P6/mmm) and Pd substituted derivatives LaNi_5−xPd_x compounds have been studied in the whole homogeneity range of the solid solution (0.25≤x≤1.5). The pressure versus hydrogen content isotherms show several plateaus and an increase of the plateau pressure as a function of palladium concentration. The volume increase of the Pd substituted alloys should have resulted in a lowering, and not an increase, of the plateau pressure, according to the conventional models based on the size effect. In order to elucidate the origin of this anomalous behavior, both an experimental and a theoretical ab initio electronic structure investigation have been carried out. Experimentally, the nature and the structural properties of the hydrides have been studied by both in situ and ex situ neutron diffraction. The crystal structures of the three hydride phases are reported (LaNi_3.5Pd_1.5D_1.96, filled-up CaCu₅ type, P6/mmm; LaNi₄PdD_2.72, LaNi₂(Ni_0.75Pt_0.25)₃H_2.61 type, oI128, Ibam; LaNi_4.75Pd_0.25D_5.67, partly ordered CaCu₅ type, P6mm). In addition, the phase diagram of LaNi_5−xPd_x-H system has been investigated. The electronic and thermodynamic properties of both intermetallic compounds and the hydrides have been studied by ab initio electronic structure calculations. The theoretical results are in good agreement with our experimental data, and show that electronic interactions play a major role in the hydrogenation behavior of these Pd substituted intermetallic compounds, and that these effects cannot be accounted for by a simplistic model based on the size effect alone.     

Effect of ring coordination of pyridine-3,5-dicarboxylate and metatungstate to Ln ions on metatungstate structure: Synthesis, structure and optical property of four new compounds

Four novel compounds based on α-metatungstate [H₂W₁₂O₄₀]⁶⁻ (W₁₂) and Ln-organic complexes, (NH₄)₄[Ln₂(L)₂(H₂O)₉(H₂W₁₂O₄₀)]·nH₂O (Ln=Eu^III (1), Gd^III (2), Dy^III (4), n=11; Tb^III (3), n=12; L=pyridine-3,5-dicarboxylate dianion) have been synthesized in aqueous solution and characterized by element analysis, IR spectrometry and thermogravimetric analysis. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses reveal these compounds are isostructural with a P21/n space group. The W₁₂ cluster acting as a tridentate ligand connects three Ln³⁺ ions, in turn, each Ln2 ion links two W₁₂ clusters, as a result, a W₁₂-Ln polymeric chain is formed. Coordination of pyridine-3,5-dicarboxylate ligands to the Ln³⁺ ions leads to a Ln-L polymeric chain. The two chains, W₁₂-Ln and Ln-L, share Ln2 ions, resulting in a 2-D layer. Ring coordination of pyridine-3,5-dicarboxylate and W₁₂ to the Ln ions changes some bond angles of W₁₂ that leads to a slight distortion of W₁₂ and splitting of vibration band of W-Oc-W. Solid-state photoluminescence properties of compounds 1−4 have been investigated.     

Determination of K shell X-ray intensity ratios for some heavy elements

The K shell X-ray intensity ratios K_α2/K_α1, K_β1,3/K_α1 and K_β2/K_α1 for 21 elements with 65⩽Z⩽92 have been measured using an incident photon energy of 123.6 keV. The X-rays have been measured with a Si(Li) semiconductor detector. K_β and K_α X-rays have been analyzed into the components K_β1,3 and K_β2 and K_α1 and K_α2, respectively, using a computer program. The experimental results were compared with the theoretical values of Scofield and available experimental results. All X-ray intensity ratios values have been plotted versus atomic number.     

Excess molar quantities of (a halogenated n-alkane + an n-alkane) A comparative study of mixtures containing either 1-chlorobutane or 1,4-dichlorobutane

Excess molar volumes V_m^E at 298.15 K were obtained, as a function of mole fraction x, for series I: {x1-C₄H₉Cl + (1 ? x)n-C_lH_{2l + 2}}, and II: {x1,4-C₄H₈Cl₂ + (1 ? x)n-C_lH_{2l + 2}}, for l = 7, 10, and 14. 10, and 14. The instrument used was a vibrating-tube densimeter. For the same mixtures at the same temperature, a Picker flow calorimeter was used to measure excess molar heat capacities C_{p, m}^E at constant pressure. V_m^E is positive for all mixtures in series I: at x = 0.5, V_m^E/(cm³ · mol^?1) is 0.277 for l = 7, 0.388 for l = 10, and 0.411 for l = 14. For series II, V_m^E of {x1,4-C₄H₈Cl₂ + (1 ? x)n-C₇H₁₆} is small and S-shaped, the maximum being situated at x_max = 0.178 with V_m^E(x_max)/(cm³ · mvl^?1) = 0.095, and the minimum is at x_min = 0.772 with V_m^E(x_min)/(cm³ · mol^?1) = ?0.087. The excess volumes of the other mixtures are all positive and fairly large: at x = 0.5, V_m^E/(cm³ · mol^?1) is 0.458 for l = 10, and 0.771 for l = 14. The C_{p, m}^Es of series I are all negative and |C_{p, m}^E| increases with increasing l: at x = 0.5, C_{p, m}^E/(J · K^?1 · mol^?1) is ?0.56 for l = 7, ?1.39 for l = 10, and ?3.12 for l = 14. Two minima are observed for C_{p, m}^E of {x1,4-C₄H₈Cl₂ + (1 ? x)n-C₇H₁₆}. The more prominent minimum is situated at x′_min = 0.184 with C_{p, m}^E(x′_min)/(J · K^?1 · mol^?1) = ?0.62, and the less prominent at x″_min = 0.703 with C_{p, m}^E(x″_min)/(J · K^?1 · mol^?1) = ?0.29. Each of the remaining two mixtures (l = 10 and 14) has a pronounced minimum at low mole fraction (x_min = 0.222 and 0.312, respectively) and a broad shoulder around x = 0.7.     

Factors affecting the precision of a new method for determining the reduced and oxidized forms of a redox couple by a single potentiometric titration

In a potentiometric titration of a solution that contains both the reduced form Red₂ and the oxidized form Ox₂ of a redox couple, at concentrations of c⁰_Red2M and c⁰_Ox2M, respectively, using as reagent a solution that contains the oxidized and reduced forms Ox₁ and Red₁ at concentrations of c_Ox1M and c_Red1M, respectively, the reaction that occurs is nRed₂ + n₂Ox₁ = n₁Ox₂ + n₂Red₁; K_t = exp[n₁n₂(E⁰₁′–E⁰₂′)/0.02569] if all of the reactants and products are monomeric and if the titration is done at 25°C. By applying weighted non-linear regression analysis to the data obtained in such a titration, if c_Ox1 is known, it is possible to evaluate four parameters: c⁰_Red2, c⁰_Ox2 , and the formal potentials E⁰₂′ and E⁰₁′ for the couple titrated and the reagent couple, respectively. For the common situation in which n₁ and n₂ are equal, this paper describes the ways in which the precisions of all four parameters depend, over a wide range of conditions, on their values and on the precisions of measurement of the volume of reagent and the potential of the indicator electrode.     

Electronic structures and stabilities of sodium clusters: jellium-sphere dimer calculation

Bonding properties of sodium-cluster dimers, (X ₄)₂ and (X ₈)₂, whereX _n is a jellium sphere corresponding to a cluster ofn atoms, were investigated by the linear-combination-of-jellium-orbitals method with local-spin-density-functional approximation. The stability ofn=8 clusters, observed in the experiment, is discussed in relation to the binding properties of dimers. We have found that (1) the (X ₄)₂ bonding has a covalent character, which makes theX ₈ formation favorable, and (2)X ₈ has an inert property because the force between jellium spheres in (X ₈)₂ is due to a weak dispersion force.     

Ab-initio study of localization of an excess electron in sodium halide clusters

The equilibrium geometries of Na _n F _n and Na _n F _n?1 are optimized forn=2, 3, 4 at the SCF level. The Na _n F _n molecules appear as formed by Na⁺ and F^? ions. The paper studies the localization of the excess electron in the Na _n F _n?1 molecules. Na _n F _n?1 is obtained by removing from Na _n F _n a fluorine atom, and the excess electron takes the place of this lacking center, and allows a weak bond between the neighbouring Na atoms. Secondary minimum geometries, for which the excess electron has no defined place, are also studied.     

A relaxation time study of the electron-beam induced polymerization of 1,6-hexanediol diacrylate

NMR measurements have been used to characterize the electron-beam (EB) induced polymerization of 1,6-hexanediol diacrylate. Hydrogen T₁, T_1θ, and T₂ values have been measured as a function of radiation dose. The T₂ signal consists of a Gaussian component and a longer component consisting of two exponentials. The sum of the Gaussian and the short exponential intensities is strongly correlated with the polymer fraction determined by gel extraction. T₂ values associated with the exponential component decrease rapidly with increasing dose. The T₁ relaxation consists of two exponentials for low dose and a single exponential for high dose. The T_1θ relaxation consists of from two to three exponential components, and the departure from a single exponential decreases with increasing dose. T₁ and T_1θ intensities are poorly correlated with gel extraction results. T₁ and T_1θ minima occur at intermediate radiation dose, and T_1θ depends on H₁ at high dose. Limited spin diffusion plays an important role in the T₁ and T_1θ relaxation. Hydroquinone has little effect on the EB-induced polymerization.     

Disordered modifications of cobalt molybdate

The structures of recently discovered new high-temperature modifications of cobalt molybdate, a′-and a″-CoMoO₄, were determined. a′-and a″-CoMoO₄ appear after the phase a-CoMoO₄ is heated above the temperature range 700–1000°C. They seem to be the disordered modifications of a-CoMoO₄ with metal atoms distributed at random in an a-CoMoO₄ oxygen network.The F(hkl) values, calculated for variously disordered a-CoMoO₄ structure, were compared with the observed intensities of diffraction lines changing in the course of a → a′ and a → a″ transitions. It was concluded that a″-CoMoO₄₄ has a completely disordered structure with random distribution of both Co and Mo atoms in oxygen interatomic voids. The a′-CoMoO₄ is a partly disordered modification, with random distribution of some cations only.The temperature and the kind of order-disorder transition depend on the method of preparation of a-CoMoO₄ samples.The disordered modifications of cobalt molybdate may be supercooled—even to room temperature—before it transforms rapidly into low-temperature b-CoMoO₄ form.     

Subsolidus phase relations and crystal structures of R-Ca-Cu-O (R=Nd, Sm, Gd, Tm) systems

The subsolidus phase relations of R₂O₃-CaO-CuO ternary systems (R=Nd, Sm, Gd, Tm) have been investigated by X-ray powder diffraction. All samples were synthesized at about 950° in air. There exists a ternary compound Ca_14−xR_xCu₂₄O₄₁ (x = 4 for R=Nd, Gd and x = 5 for R = Sm) and a ternary solid solution Ca_2+xR_2−xCu₅O₁₀ (R=Nd, Sm, Gd, Tm) with a wide composition range Δx of about 0.6. The compound Ca_14−xR_xCu₂₄O₄₁ possesses a layered orthorhombic structure and is isostructural to Sr_14−xCa_xCu₂₄O₄₁. The lattice parameters a and c of the compound are basically independent of the ionic radius of R, while the lattice parameter b and unit-cell volume V decrease substantially with the decrease of the ionic radii of R. The Ca_2+xR_2−xCu₅O₁₀ solid solution is isostructural to Ca_2+xY_2−xCu₅O₁₀, the structure of which is based on an orthorhombic “NaCuO₂-type” subcell containing infinite one-dimensional chains of edge-shared square planar cuprate groups crosslinked by the layered cations Ca and R that locate in the inter-chain tunnels.     

Molecular weight dependence of crystal pattern transitions of poly(ethylene oxide)

Crystal patterns in ultrathin films of six poly(ethylene oxide) fractions with molecular weights from 25000 to 932000 g/mol were characterized within crystallization temperature range from 20 ℃ to 60 ℃.Labyrinthine,dendritic and faceted crystal patterns were observed in different temperature ranges,and then labyrinthine-to-dendritic and dendritic-tofaceted transition temperatures T L-D and T D-F were quantitatively identified.Their molecular weight dependences are T L-D(M w) = T L-D(∞) K L-D /M w,where T L-D(∞) = 38.2 ℃ and K L-D = 253000 ℃.g/mol and T D-F(M w) = T D-F(∞) K D-F /M w,where T D-F(∞) = 54.7 ℃ and K D-F = 27000 ℃.g/mol.Quasi two-dimensional blob models were proposed to provide empirical explanations of the molecular weight dependences.The labyrinthine-to-dendritic transition is attributed to a molecular diffusion process change from a local-diffusion to diffusion-limited-aggregation(DLA) and a polymer chain with M w ≈ 253000 g/mol within a blob can join crystals independently.The dendritic-to-faceted transition is attributed to a turnover of the pattern formation mechanism from DLA to crystallization control,and a polymer chain with a M w ≈ 27000 g/mol as an independent blob crosses to a depletion zone to join crystals.These molecular weight dependences reveal a macromolecular effect on the crystal pattern formation and selection of crystalline polymers.     

Synthesis and characterization of Di-π-cyclopentadienyl- metal pentasulfides of titanium(IV) and vanadium (IV):an operational test of the influence of an unpaired electron on the molecular geometry

Our preparation of Ti(h⁵?C₅H₅)₂ S₅ by the reaction of elemental sulfur with Ti(h⁵?C₅H₅)₂(CO)₂ in hexane and of V(h⁵?C₅H₅)₂S₅?$\text{1}\text{2}$ H₂O by the reacti of V(h⁵?C₅H₅)₂ Cl₂ with Na₂S₅ in THF and structural analyses by single crystal X-ray diffraction (together with infrared, solution EPR, and temperaturedependent magnetic susceptibility measurements) represent an extension of our previous work on M(h⁵?C₅H₅)₂ (SC₆H₅)₂ (M = Ti, V). The crystallographic results provide further support of our previous conclusions that the Ballhausen—Dahl model is not valid for M(h⁵?C₅H₅)₂L₂ systems. The structuralfeatures of the chair-like titanium and vanadium pentasulfide molecules are compared to the corresponding phenylmercapto analogs and to the chair-like cyclohexasulfur molecule in rhombohedral sulfur. Ti(h⁵?C₅H₅)₂S₅ was isolated as a mixture of monoclinic and orthorhombic Crystalline phases-which were both characterized by preliminary X-ray data. A complete Structural determination and refinement of the monoclinic phase, which contains two independent molecules in a cell of dimensions a 22.843(2), b 7.958(1), c 14.465(1) Å, β 90.074(4)° and symmetry P2₁/c, yielded R₁ 5.3 % and R₂ 5.9 % for 2168 independent diffractometry-collected data with I≥ 2.5o(I). V(h⁵?C₅H₅)₂S₅-$\text{1}\text{2}$ H₂O contains four V(h⁵?C₅H₅)₂S₅ molecules and two water molecules of hydration (of crystallographic site symmetry C₂-2) in onorthorhombic unit cell of symmetry P2₁2₁2 and of dimensions a 13.491(1), b 12.748(1), c 7.715(1) Å. Least-squares refinement of 750 diffractometry data with I≥2.0σ(I) gave R₁ 2.4% and R₂ 3.0% Both of these compounds were independently synthesized and Spectroscopically characterized by Köpf and co-workers, and-a Complete X-ray diffraction study was performed by Epstein and Bernal on a different monoclinic phase of Ti(h⁵?C₅H₅)₂S₅ (isolated by-Köpf). An extraction of V(h⁵?C₅H₅)₂S₅ with re fluxing benzene under nitrogen atmosphere in a Soxhlet apparatus led to the formation of the previously reported [V₂ (h⁵?C₅H₅)₂S₅]_n compound which was characterized by physical measurements including a preliminary X-ray diffraction study.     

Fluorinated nitroxides as ESR probes of solvation

Some newly synthesized fluorinated nitroxides, such as t-butyl perfluoroalkyl nitroxides Bu^tN(O) R_f (R_f=CF₃, 5; C₂F₅, 6; n-C₃F₇, 7) and s-butyl perfluoroacyl nitroxides Bu^sN(O) COR_f (R_f=CF₃, 9; n-C₃F₇, 10) have been employed as ESR probes of solvation in different common organic solvents. In aprotic solvents, the measured a_N values for each of the nitroxyl probes show a linear correlation with the cybotactic polar solvent parameters E_T (Dimroth) and Z (Kosowar), i.e. a_N=bE_T+c, and a_N=b′Z+c′. The physical significance for the slope (b or b′), the slope×E_T or slope×Z, the extrapolated intercept on a_N axis, c or c′, are linked, respectively, to the sensitivity of a specific nitroxide toward solvation, the magnitude of the overall solvation effect on the a_N value, and the intrinsic a_N value of each nitroxide in the ideal gaseous state. The intercept on the a_N axis may also serve as a new measure of electronegativity for perfluoroalkyl groups, CF₃, C₂F₅, n-C₃F₇, and perfluoroacyl groups, CF₃CO, n-C₃F₇CO. In protic solvents, i.e. alcohols and carboxylic acids, however, a_N values of all the probes, kept almost no change with the increase in E_T and Z. Furthermore, the plots of a_N versus non-cybotactic solvent constants, such as dipolar moment (μ) and dielectric constant (ε), all show random variations.     

Normalized potential sweep voltammetry: Part III. Elimination of the effect of uncompensated Resistance and the application to heterogeneous kinetics of rapid charge-transfer processes

Uncompensated resistance (R_u) has a distoring effect on normalized potential sweep voltammetry (NPSV) slopes. This provides a simple and effective method to determine R_f^o, the value of the potentiostat feedback resistance necessary for full compensation. If the NPSV range is divided into overlapping segment, 1 and 2, corresponding to I_N of 0.20–0.50 and 0.50–0.80 respectively, the slopes m₁ and m₂ differ significantly when R_f differs form R_f^o. The difference, m₁-m₂, is negative for R_f<R_f^o and positive for R_f>R_f^o. Fine tuning of the potentiostat R_f setting so that the average value of the difference is the theoretical value can be accomplished in a minimum of time. Under these conditions, m₁ and m₂, as well as m_T, the slope of the entire correlation have very nearly the same values. Linear equations were derived from theoretical data which allow heterogeneous rate constants to be obtained directly from NPSV slopes. The precision in the NPSV slopes was observed to be of the order of ±0.002 which implies that the method should give reliable rate constants as great as 10cm s^? at a voltage sweep rate of 100V s^?1. The method is demonstrated using the reduction of benzonitrile and perylene in N,N-dimethylformamide and acetonitrile as examples.     

Structures and syntheses of layered and framework amine-bearing uranyl phosphate and uranyl arsenates

Two hydrated uranyl arsenates and a uranyl phosphate were synthesized by hydrothermal methods in the presence of amine structure-directing agents and their structures determined: (N₂C₆H₁₄)[(UO₂)(AsO₄)]₂(H₂O)₃, DabcoUAs, {NH(C₂H₅)₃}[(UO₂)₂(AsO₄)(AsO₃OH)], TriethUAs, and (N₂C₄H₁₂)(UO₂)[(UO₂)(PO₄)]₄(H₂O)₂, PiperUP. Intensity data were collected at room temperature using MoKα X-radiation and a CCD-based area detector. The crystal structures were refined by full-matrix least-squares techniques on the basis of F² to agreement indices (DabcoUAs, TriethUAs, PiperUP) wR₂=5.6%, 8.3%, 7.2% for all data, and R₁=2.9%, 3.3%, 4.0%, calculated for 1777, 5822, 9119 unique observed reflections (|F_o|?4σ_F), respectively. DabcoUAs is monoclinic, space group C2/m, Z=2, a=18.581(1), b=7.1897(4), c=7.1909(4) Å, β=102.886(1)°, V=936.43(9) Å³, D_calc=3.50 g/cm³. TriethUAs is monoclinic, space group P2₁/n, Z=4, a=9.6359(4), b=18.4678(7), c=10.0708(4) Å, β=92.282(1)°, V=1790.7(1) Å³, D_calc=3.41 g/cm³. PiperUP is monoclinic, space group Pn, Z=2, a=9.3278(4), b=15.5529(7), c=9.6474(5) Å, β=93.266(1)°, V=1397.3(1) Å³, D_calc=4.41 g/cm³. The structure of DabcoUAs contains the autunite-type sheet formed by the sharing of vertices between uranyl square bipyramids and arsenate tetrahedra. The triethylenediammonium cations are located in the interlayer along with two H₂O groups and are disordered. Both TriethUAs and PiperUP contain sheets formed of uranyl pentagonal bipyramids and tetrahedra (arsenate and phosphate, respectively) with the uranophane sheet-anion topology. In TriethUAs, triethlyammonium cations are located in the interlayer. In PiperUP, the sheets are connected by a uranyl pentagonal bipyramid that shares corners with phosphate tetrahedra of adjacent sheets, resulting in a framework with piperazinium cations and H₂O groups in the cavities of the structure.     

A mass spectral study of some symmetric and unsymmetric sulfides,disulfanes, and trisulfanes

The low-resolution mass spectra of 13 trifluoromethyl and/or methyl sulfur-containing compounds (CF₃S_nCF₃, CF₃S_nCH₃, CH₃S_nCH₃, CF₃S_mCl, and CH₃S_mCl; n = 1, 2, 3; m = 1, 2) are reported and discussed. There is a considerable similarity between the fragmentation pattern of compounds with the same terminal groups. However, with a fluorinated and a non-fluorinated methyl group, the major fragmentation products produced are similar to those for the dimethyl compounds.     

Symmetry of Kekulé structures

The symmetry of Kekulé structures for aromatic hydrocarbons is studied by group theory. The general problem of deducing the distribution over irreducible representations (Λ_Kek) or characters of the representation based on the Kekulé structures (χ_Kek) has not been solved. A partial solution is given for two classes of molecules, namely (a) the “straight chain” aromatics (polyacenes): naphthalene, anthracene, naphthacene, etc., and (b) the “zig-zag chain” aromatics: phenanthrene, chrysene, picene, etc. As a part of this solution the number of Kekulé structures (K) in the two cases was found to be (a) K = Q + 1 and (b) K = F_Q+1, respectively. Here Q is the number of benzene rings in the molecule in question, and F_i denotes the i-th member of the Fibonacci series. Symmetrical structures (Λ_Kek) or characters (χ_Kek) are given for a number of additional molecules as examples: benzene (D_6h), tetraphene (C_s), benzo[c] phenanthrene (C_2v), pyrene (D_2h), triphenylene (D_3h), perylene (D_2h), pentaphene (C_2v), dibenzophenanthrene (C_2v), heptaphene (C_2v) and coronene (D_6h). Here the appropriate symmetry groups are given in parentheses.     

The symmetry of azodicarbonitrile

The infrared and Raman spectra of azodicarbonitrile (I) made from cyanogen azide (II) were recorded under varied conditions of phase, temperature, concentration, and pressure and strongly indicate a C_2h symmetry (trans-(I)). Cis-(I) was not shown positively either by these techniques or by microwave spectra. The fundamental vibration frequencies tentatively suggested for trans-(I) are (cm⁻¹): v₁ = 2176, v₂ = 1422, v₃ = 1002, v₄= 741, v₅ = 282 (A_g), v₆ = 108 (B_g, v₇ = 2204, v₈ = 982, v₉ = 904, v₁₀ = 596 (B_u), v₁₁ = 574, v₁₂ = 133 (A_u). Of these, v₄ and v₆ were not observed directly, but inferred from an analysis of a complex band in the infrared spectrum.     

Synthesis of perovskite-related layered AnBnO3n+2 = ABOX type niobates and titanates and study of their structural,electric and magnetic properties

ABO_X niobates and titanates belonging to the homologous series A_nB_nO_3n+2 are a special group of perovskite-related layered materials. These oxides comprise the highest-T_c ferroelectrics such as CaNbO_3.50 and LaTiO_3.50, as well as thermodynamically stable bulk compounds involving well-ordered stacking sequences of layers with different thickness such as SrNbO_3.45. An extensive overview on many ABO_X compositions of the A_nB_nO_3n+2 family and its properties is presented. The crystal structure type is given by n and can be tuned by adjusting the oxygen content X. The charge carrier concentration of the electrical conducting oxides can be varied by appropriate substitutions at the A or B site. To investigate the properties of these systems, more than 150 different compositions were prepared. Most of them were grown by floating zone melting, of which many were fabricated as single crystals with precise control of the oxygen content X. For these crystalline compounds, the synthesis, structural, electric and magnetic features are discussed. Attempts to prepare series members beyond the known structure types n=4, 4.33, 4.5, 5 and 6 were not successful. For some of the known structures types n, however, pronounced non-stoichiometric homogeneity ranges with respect to the oxygen content X and cation ratio A/B were found. Thus, these systems offer many possibilities to vary the compositional, structural, chemical and physical properties. Further, measurements of the resistivity as a function of temperature T are reported for crystals of the n=4 type Sr_0.8La_0.2NbO_3.50, n=4.5 type Sr_0.96Ba_0.04NbO_3.45 and n=5 types Sr_1−YLa_YNbO_3.41 (Y=0, 0.035, 0.1), Sr_0.95NbO_3.37, CaNbO_3.41 and LaTiO_3.41. These measurements, which were performed in the temperature range 4 K≤T≤290 K and along the a-, b- and c-axis, revealed a highly anisotropic conductivity and intricate behavior. In parts of the temperature range, these materials are quasi-1D metals which display temperature-driven metal-semiconductor transitions at lower temperatures. The niobates and titanates investigated represent a new group of quasi-1D metals which are in compositional, structural and electronical proximity to non-conducting layered (anti)ferroelectrics. Furthermore, measurements of the magnetic susceptibility as a function of temperature are reported for many compounds. As a typical property at elevated temperatures, it was observed that the magnetic susceptibility rises with increasing temperature.