Synthesis, structure, and magnetism of Tb4PdGa12 and Tb4PtGa12

Single crystals of Tb₄MGa₁₂ (M=Pd, Pt) have been synthesized. The isostructural compounds crystallize in the cubic space group , with Z=2 and lattice parameters: a=8.5940(5) and 8.5850(3) Å for Tb₄PdGa₁₂ and Tb₄PtGa₁₂, respectively. The crystal structure consists of corner-sharing MGa₆ octahedra and TbGa₃ cuboctahedra. Magnetic measurements suggest that Tb₄PdGa₁₂ is an antiferromagnetic metamagnet with a Néel temperature of 16 K, while the Pt analog orders at T_N=12 K.     

Synthesis, structure and magnetic properties of new phosphates K2Mn0.5Ti1.5(PO4)3 and K2Co0.5Ti1.5(PO4)3 with the langbeinite structure

New complex phosphates of the general formula K₂M_0.5Ti_1.5(PO₄)₃ (M=Mn, Co) have been obtained from the melting mixture of KPO₃, K₄P₂O₇, TiO₂ and CoCO₃·mCo(OH)₂ or Mn(H₂PO₄)₂ by means of a flux technique. The synthesized phosphates have been characterized by the single-crystal X-ray diffraction and the FTIR-spectroscopy. The compounds crystallize in the cubic system with the space group P2₁3 and cell parameters a=9.9030(14) Å for K₂Mn_0.5Ti_1.5(PO₄)₃ and a=9.8445(12) Å for K₂Co_0.5Ti_1.5(PO₄)₃. Both phosphates are isostructural with the langbeinite mineral and contain four formula unit K₂M_0.5Ti_1.5(PO₄)₃ per unit cell. The structure can be described using [M₂(PO₄)₃] framework composed of two [MO₆] octahedra interlinked via three [PO₄] tetrahedra. The Curie-Weiss-type behavior is observed in the magnetic susceptibility.     

Magnetic diphase nanostructure of ZnFe2O4/γ-Fe2O3

Magnetic diphase nanostructures of ZnFe₂O₄/γ-Fe₂O₃ were synthesized by a solvothermal method. The formation reactions were optimized by tuning the initial molar ratios of Fe/Zn. All samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, infrared spectroscopy, and Raman spectra. It is found that when the initial molar ratio of Fe/Zn is larger than 2, a diphase magnetic nanostructure of ZnFe₂O₄/γ-Fe₂O₃ was formed, in which the presence of ZnFe₂O₄ enhanced the thermal stability of γ-Fe₂O₃. Further increasing the initial molar ratio of Fe/Zn larger than 6 destabilized the diphase nanostructure and yielded traces of secondary phase α-Fe₂O₃. The grain surfaces of diphase nanostructure exhibited a spin-glass-like structure. At room temperature, all diphase nanostructures are superparamagnetic with saturation magnetization being increased with γ-Fe₂O₃ content.     

Synthesis and structure of a 1,6-hexyldiamine heptaborate, [H3N(CH2)6NH3][B7O10(OH)3]

A new 1,6-hexyldiamine heptaborate, [H₃N(CH₂)₆NH₃][B₇O₁₀(OH)₃] (1), has been solvothermally synthesized and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, FTIR, elemental analysis, and thermogravimetric analysis. Compound 1 crystallizes in monoclinic system, space group P2₁/n with a=8.042(2) Å, b=20.004(4) Å, c=10.103(2) Å, and β=90.42(3)°. The anionic [B₇O₁₀(OH)₃]_n²ⁿ⁻ layers are interlinked via hydrogen bonding to form a 3D supramolecular network containing large channels, in which the templated [H₃N(CH₂)₆NH₃]²⁺ cations are located.     

Synthesis and structural investigation of the compounds containing HF2 anions: Ca(HF2)2, Ba4F4(HF2)(PF6)3 and Pb2F2(HF2)(PF6)

Three new compounds Ca(HF₂)₂, Ba₄F₄(HF₂)(PF₆)₃ and Pb₂F₂(HF₂)(PF₆) were obtained in the system metal(II) fluoride and anhydrous HF (aHF) acidified with excessive PF₅. The obtained polymeric solids are slightly soluble in aHF and they crystallize out of their aHF solutions. Ca(HF₂)₂ was prepared by simply dissolving CaF₂ in a neutral aHF. It represents the second known compound with homoleptic HF environment of the central atom besides Ba(H₃F₄)₂. The compounds Ba₄F₄(HF₂)(PF₆)₃ and Pb₂F₂(HF₂)(PF₆) represent two additional examples of the formation of a polymeric zigzag ladder or ribbon composed of metal cation and fluoride anion (MF⁺)_n besides PbF(AsF₆), the first isolated compound with such zigzag ladder. The obtained new compounds were characterized by X-ray single crystal diffraction method and partly by Raman spectroscopy. Ba₄F₄(HF₂)(PF₆)₃ crystallizes in a triclinic space group P1¯ with a=4.5870(2) Å, b=8.8327(3) Å, c=11.2489(3) Å, α=67.758(9)°, β=84.722(12), γ=78.283(12)°, V=413.00(3) Å³ at 200 K, Z=1 and R=0.0588. Pb₂F₂(HF₂)(PF₆) at 200 K: space group P1¯, a=4.5722(19) Å, b=4.763(2) Å, c=8.818(4) Å, α=86.967(10)°, β=76.774(10)°, γ=83.230(12)°, V=185.55(14) ų, Z=1 and R=0.0937. Pb₂F₂(HF₂)(PF₆) at 293 K: space group P1¯, a=4.586(2) Å, b=4.781(3) Å, c=8.831(5) Å, α=87.106(13)°, β=76.830(13)°, γ=83.531(11)°, V=187.27(18) Å³, Z=1 and R=0.072. Ca(HF₂)₂ crystallizes in an orthorhombic Fddd space group with a=5.5709(6) Å, b=10.1111(9) Å, c=10.5945(10) Å, V=596.77(10) Å³ at 200 K, Z=8 and R=0.028.     

Non-centrosymmetric Ba3Ti3O6(BO3)2

The compound previously reported as Ba₂Ti₂B₂O₉ has been reformulated as Ba₃Ti₃B₂O₁₂, or Ba₃Ti₃O₆(BO₃)₂, a new barium titanium oxoborate. Small single crystals have been recovered from a melt with a composition of BaTiO₃:BaTiB₂O₆ (molar ratio) cooled between 1100°C and 850°C. The crystal structure has been determined by X-ray diffraction: hexagonal system, non-centrosymmetric space group, a=8.7377(11) Å, c=3.9147(8) Å, Z=1, wR(F²)=0.039 for 504 unique reflections. Ba₃Ti₃O₆(BO₃)₂ is isostructural with K₃Ta₃O₆(BO₃)₂. Preliminary measurements of nonlinear optical properties on microcrystalline samples show that the second harmonic generation efficiency of Ba₃Ti₃O₆(BO₃)₂ is equal to 95% of that of LiNbO₃.     

Synthesis, structure and physical properties of Ru ferrites: BaMRu5O11 (M=Li and Cu) and BaM′2Ru4O11 (M′=Mn, Fe and Co)

The synthesis, structure, and physical properties of five R-type Ru ferrites with chemical formula BaMRu₅O₁₁ (M=Li and Cu) and BaM′₂Ru₄O₁₁ (M′=Mn, Fe and Co) are reported. All the ferrites crystallize in space group P6₃/mmc and consist of layers of edge sharing octahedra interconnected by pairs of face sharing octahedra and isolated trigonal bipyramids. For M=Li and Cu, the ferrites are paramagnetic metals with the M atoms found on the trigonal bipyramid sites exclusively. For M′=Mn, Fe and Co, the ferrites are soft ferromagnetic metals. For M′=Mn, the Mn atoms are mixed randomly with Ru atoms on different sites. The magnetic structure for BaMn₂Ru₄O₁₁ is reported.     

Synthesis, crystal structure, infrared and Raman spectra of Sr4Cu3(AsO4)2(AsO3OH)4·3H2O and Ba2Cu4(AsO4)2(AsO3OH)3

The two new compounds, Sr₄Cu₃(AsO₄)₂(AsO₃OH)₄·3H₂O (1) and Ba₂Cu₄(AsO₄)₂(AsO₃OH)₃(2), were synthesized under hydrothermal conditions. They represent previously unknown structure types and are the first compounds synthesized in the systems SrO/BaO-CuO-As₂O₅-H₂O. Their crystal structures were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction [space group C2/c, a=18.536(4) Å, b=5.179(1) Å, c=24.898(5) Å, β=93.67(3)°, V=2344.0(8) Å³, Z=4 for 1; space group P4₂/n, a=7.775(1) Å, c=13.698(3) Å, V=828.1(2) Å³, Z=2 for 2]. The crystal structure of 1 is related to a group of compounds formed by Cu²⁺-(XO₄)³⁻ layers (X=P⁵⁺, As⁵⁺) linked by M cations (M=alkali, alkaline earth, Pb²⁺, or Ag⁺) and partly by hydrogen bonds. In 1, worth mentioning is the very short hydrogen bond length, D···A=2.477(3) Å. It is one of the examples of extremely short hydrogen bonds, where the donor and acceptor are crystallographically different. Compound 2 represents a layered structure consisting of Cu₂O₈ centrosymmetric dimers crosslinked by As1φ₄ tetrahedra, where φ is O or OH, which are interconnected by Ba, As2 and hydrogen bonds to form a three-dimensional network. The layers are formed by Cu₂O₈ centrosymmetric dimers of CuO₅ edge-sharing polyhedra, crosslinked by As1O₄ tetrahedra. Vibrational spectra (FTIR and Raman) of both compounds are described. The spectroscopic manifestation of the very short hydrogen bond in 1, and ABC-like spectra in 2 were discussed.     

Thermal stability and crystal structure of β-Ba3YB3O9

A new compound, β-Ba₃YB₃O₉, has been attained through solid phase transition from α-Ba₃YB₃O₉ at high temperatures. Differential thermal analysis (DTA) revealed the phase transition at about 1120°C, the melting temperature at about 1253°C. Its crystal structure has been determined from powder X-ray diffraction data. The refinement was carried out using the Rietveld method and the final refinement converged with R_p=10.5% and R_wp=13.7%. This compound belongs to the hexagonal space group R-3, with lattice parameters a=13.0441(1) Å and c=9.5291(1) Å. There are 6 formulas per unit cell and 7 atoms in the asymmetric unit. The structure of β-Ba₃YB₃O₉ is built up from Ba(Y)O₈, BaO₆ and YB₆O₁₈ units formed by one YO₆ octahedron and six BO₃ triangles with shared O atoms.     

Syntheses, crystal structures and Raman spectra of Ba(BF4)(PF6), Ba(BF4)(AsF6) and Ba2(BF4)2(AsF6)(H3F4); the first examples of metal salts containing simultaneously tetrahedral BF4 and octahedral AF6 anions

In the system BaF₂/BF₃/PF₅/anhydrous hydrogen fluoride (aHF) a compound Ba(BF₄)(PF₆) was isolated and characterized by Raman spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction on the single crystal. Ba(BF₄)(PF₆) crystallizes in a hexagonal space group with a=10.2251(4) Å, c=6.1535(4) Å, V=557.17(5) Å³ at 200 K, and Z=3. Both crystallographically independent Ba atoms possess coordination polyhedra in the shape of tri-capped trigonal prisms, which include F atoms from BF₄⁻ and PF₆⁻ anions. In the analogous system with AsF₅ instead of PF₅ the compound Ba(BF₄)(AsF₆) was isolated and characterized. It crystallizes in an orthorhombic Pnma space group with a=10.415(2) Å, b=6.325(3) Å, c=11.8297(17) Å, V=779.3(4) Å³ at 200 K, and Z=4. The coordination around Ba atom is in the shape of slightly distorted tri-capped trigonal prism which includes five F atoms from AsF₆⁻ and four F atoms from BF₄⁻ anions. When the system BaF₂/BF₃/AsF₅/aHF is made basic with an extra addition of BaF₂, the compound Ba₂(BF₄)₂(AsF₆)(H₃F₄) was obtained. It crystallizes in a hexagonal P6₃/mmc space group with a=6.8709(9) Å, c=17.327(8) Å, V=708.4(4) Å³ at 200 K, and Z=2. The barium environment in the shape of tetra-capped distorted trigonal prism involves 10 F atoms from four BF₄⁻, three AsF₆⁻ and three H₃F₄⁻ anions. All F atoms, except the central atom in H₃F₄ moiety, act as μ₂-bridges yielding a complex 3-D structural network.     

Synthesis of trisubstituted alkenes by reductive dehydroxylation of Baylis-Hillman adducts using polymethylhydrosiloxane (PMHS) and catalytic B(C6F5)3

B(C₆F₅)₃ as a catalyst and polymethylhydrosiloxane as a hydride source have been employed for the reductive dehydroxylation of Baylis-Hillman adducts wherein the hydride adds in an S_N2′ manner onto the unactivated allyl alcohol moiety with concomitant elimination of the hydroxy group along with double bond migration. The products formed were found to be E in the case of ester adducts and Z in the case of nitrile adducts.     

Crystal chemistry and crystallography of the SrR2CuO5 (R=lanthanides) phases

The crystal chemistry and crystallography of the compounds SrR₂CuO₅ (Sr-121, R=lanthanides) were investigated using the powder X-ray Rietveld refinement technique. Among the 11 compositions studied, only R=Dy and Ho formed the stable SrR₂CuO₅ phase. SrR₂CuO₅ was found to be isostructural with the “green phase”, BaR₂CuO₅. The basic structure is orthorhombic with space group Pnma. The lattice parameters for SrDyCuO₅ are a=12.08080(6) Å, b=5.60421(2) Å, c=7.12971(3) Å, V=482.705(4) Å³, and Z=8; and for the Ho analog are a=12.03727(12) Å, b=5.58947(7) Å, c=7.10169(7) Å, V=477.816(9) Å³, and Z=8. In the SrR₂CuO₅ structure, each R is surrounded by seven oxygen atoms, forming a monocapped trigonal prism (RO₇). The isolated CuO₅ group forms a distorted square pyramid. Consecutive layers of prisms are stacked in the b-direction. Bond valence calculations imply that residual strain is largely responsible for the narrow stability of the SrR₂CuO₅ phases with R=Dy and Ho only. X-ray powder reference diffraction patterns for SrDy₂CuO₅ and SrHo₂CuO₅ were determined.     

Chiral 2-C-methylene glycosides and carbohydrate-derived pyrano[2,3-b][1]benzopyrans: synthesis via InCl3 catalyzed stereoselective Ferrier rearrangement of 2-C-acetoxymethyl glycal derivatives

2-C-Acetoxymethyl glycal derivatives react with aliphatic alcohols in the presence of InCl₃ (30 mol %) to furnish the corresponding 2-C-methylene glycosides in excellent yields and with exclusive α-selectivity except for the methyl 2-C-methylene glycosides, which are formed in ∼2:1 anomeric ratio in favour of the α-anomer. The reaction of 2-C-acetoxyglycals with phenols, however, produces the corresponding chiral carbohydrate-derived pyranobenzopyran derivatives via initial Ferrier rearrangement followed by tandem cyclization in excellent yields and moderate to high stereoselectivities in favour of the corresponding 10a-R-pyrano[2,3-b][1]benzopyran derivatives.     

Thermoelectric properties of Ag-doped n-type (Bi2Te3)0.9-(Bi2−xAgxSe3)0.1 (x=0-0.4) alloys prepared by spark plasma sintering

Ag-doped n-type (Bi₂Te₃)_0.9-(Bi_2−xAg_xSe₃)_0.1 (x=0-0.4) alloys were prepared by spark plasma sintering and their physical properties evaluated. When at low Ag content (x=0.05), the temperature dependence of the lattice thermal conductivity follows the trend of (Bi₂Te₃)_0.9-(Bi₂Se₃)_0.1; while at higher Ag content, a relatively rapid reduction above 400 K can be observed due possibly to the enhancement of scattering of phonons by the increased defects. The Seebeck coefficient increases with Ag content, with some loss of electrical conductivity, but the maximum dimensionless figure of merit ZT can be obtained to be 0.86 for the alloy with x=0.4 at 505 K, about 0.2 higher than that of the alloy (Bi₂Te₃)_0.9-(Bi₂Se₃)_0.1 without Ag-doping.     

Synthesis and electrical conductivity of perovskite-type PrCo1−xMgxO3

Oxides in the system PrCo_1−xMg_xO₃ (x=0.0, 0.05, 0.10, 0.15, 0.20, 0.25) were synthesized by citrate technique and characterized by powder X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscope. All compounds have a cubic perovskite structure (space group ). The maximum ratio of doped Mg in the system PrCo_1−xMg_xO₃ is x=0.2. Further doping leads to the segregation of Pr₆O₁₁ in PrCo_1−xMg_xO₃. The substitution of Mg for Co improves the performance of PrCoO₃ as compared to the electrical conductivity measured by a four-probe electrical conductivity analyzer in the temperature range from 298 to 1073 K. The substitution of Mg for Co on the B site may be compensated by the formations of Co⁴⁺ and oxygen vacancies. The electrical conductivity of PrCo_1−xMg_xO₃ oxides increases with increasing x in the range of 0.0-0.2. The increase in conductivity becomes considerable at the temperatures ?673 K especially for x?0.1; it reaches a maximum at x=0.2 and 1073 K. From x>0.2 the conductivity of PrCo_1−xMg_xO₃ starts getting lower. This is probably a result of the segregation of Pr₆O₁₁ in PrCo_1−xMg_xO₃ , which blocks oxygen transport, and association of oxygen vacancies. A change in activation energy for all PrCo_1−xMg_xO₃ compounds (x=0-0.25) was observed, with a higher activation energy above 573 K and a lower activation energy below 573 K. The reasons for such a change are probably due to the change of dominant charge carriers from Co⁴⁺ to Vö in PrCo_1−xMg_xO₃ oxides and a phase transition mainly starting at 573 K.     

Interactions of Ba2YCu3O6+y with the Gd3NbO7 buffer layer in coated conductors

A systematic study of the chemical interaction of Ba₂YCu₃O_6+y and Gd₃NbO₇ was conducted under two processing conditions: purified air (21% p_o2), and 100 Pa p_o2 (0.1% p_o2). Phases present along the pseudo-binary join Ba₂YCu₃O_6z and Gd₃NbO₇ were found to be in two five-phase volumes within the system. Three common phases that are present in all samples are (Y,Gd)₂Cu₂O₅, Ba(Y,Gd)₂CuO₅ and Cu₂O or CuO (depending on the processing conditions). The assemblies of phases can be categorized in three regions, with Ba₂YCu₃O_6+y: Gd₃NbO₇ ratios of (I)<5.5:4.5; (II)=5.5:4.5; and (III)>5.5:4.5. The lowest melting temperature of the system was determined to be ≈938 °C in air, and 850 °C at 100 Pa p_o2. Structure determinations of two selected phases, Ba₂(Gd_xY_1−x)NbO₆ (Fm3¯m, No. 225), and (Gd_xY_3−x)NbO₇ (C222₁, No. 20 and Ccmm, No. 63), were completed using the X-ray Rietveld refinement technique. Reference X-ray powder diffraction patterns for selected phases of Ba₂(Gd_xY_1−x)NbO₆ (x=0.2, 0.4, 0.6, and 0.8) and (Gd_xY_3−x)NbO₇ (x=0.6, 1.2, 1.8, 2.4 and 3) have been prepared for inclusion in the Powder Diffraction File (PDF).     

Pressure-induced structural transformations in lanthanide titanates: La2TiO5 and Nd2TiO5

The structure of orthorhombic rare earth titanates of La₂TiO₅ and Nd₂TiO₅, where Ti cations are in five-fold coordination with oxygen, has been studied at high pressures by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman scattering measurements, and quantum mechanical calculations. Both XRD and Raman results indicated two pressure-induced phase transitions during the process. An orthorhombic super cell (a×b×2c) formed at a pressure between 6 and 10 GPa, and then transformed to a hexagonal high-pressure phase accompanied by partial decomposition. The hexagonal high-pressure phase is quenchable. Detailed structural analysis indicated that the five-coordinated TiO₅ polyhedra remain during the formation of super cell, but the orthorhombic-to-hexagonal phase transition at high pressures is a reconstructive process, and the five-fold Ti-O coordination increased to more than 6. This phase transition sequence was verified by quantum mechanical calculations.     

Crystal growth, structural characterization and magnetic properties of Ca3CuRhO6, Ca3Co1.34Rh0.66O6 and Ca3FeRhO6

Single crystals of Ca₃CuRhO₆, Ca₃Co_1.34Rh_0.66O₆ and Ca₃FeRhO₆ were synthesized by high temperature flux growth in molten K₂CO₃ and structurally characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction. While Ca₃Co_1.34Rh_0.66O₆ and Ca₃FeRhO₆ crystallize with trigonal (rhombohedral) symmetry in the space group , Z=6: Ca₃Co_1.34Rh_0.66O₆a=9.161(1) Å, c=10.601(2) Å; Ca₃FeRhO₆a=9.1884(3) Å, c=10.7750(4) Å; Ca₃CuRhO₆ adopts a monoclinic distortion of the K₄CdCl₆ structure in the space group C2/c, Z=4: a=9.004(2) Å, b=9.218(2) Å, c=6.453(1) Å, β=91.672(5). All crystals of Ca₃CuRhO₆ examined were twinned by pseudo-merohedry. Ca₃CuRhO₆, Ca₃Co_1.34Rh_0.66O₆, and Ca₃FeRhO₆ are structurally related and contain infinite one-dimensional chains of alternating face-sharing RhO₆ octahedra and MO₆ trigonal prisms. In the monoclinic modification, the copper atoms are displaced from the center of the trigonal prism toward one of the rectangular faces adopting a pseudo-square planar configuration. The magnetic properties of Ca₃CuRhO₆, Ca₃Co_1.34Rh_0.66O₆, and Ca₃FeRhO₆ are discussed.     

Local environment in Ba2In2−xWxO5+3x/2 oxide ion conductors

The actual oxygen environment of the tungsten dopant in the Ba₂In_2−xW_xO_5+3x/2 solid solution was revealed by combining X-ray absorption spectroscopy at the tungsten L_I and L_III edges and at the indium L_I edge. Whatever the substitution ratio, the tungsten atoms exhibit a regular octahedral environment. When the substitution ratio increases, the oxygen vacancies are progressively filled until their total occupancy for x=2/3. For x?0.3, the perovskite structure is stabilised; the tungsten atoms are randomly distributed in the structure. Although X-ray diffraction revealed a cubic symmetry for these compositions, a local distortion of the indium environment is observed when a tungsten atom is in its surrounding.     

Preparation and photocatalytic degradability of TiO2/polyacrylamide composite

Based on the unique absorbent characters and three-dimensional network structure of polyacrylamide (PAM) superabsorbent polymer, a photocatalytic degradable TiO₂/PAM composite was synthesized by an aqueous solution polymerization method with N,N′-methylene bisacrylamide as crosslinker, potassium peroxydisulfate as initiator, acrylamide as monomer, and TiO₂ (P-25) as functional filler. The photocatalytic degradability of the composite was evaluated using methyl orange as photodegradation target, and the recovery and reproducibility of the composite was investigated. It was found that TiO₂/PAM composite had a good photocatalytic degradability, the composite also possessed a good reproducibility of photocatalytic degradability, which is possible to be used in practical process.