Stuffed rare earth pyrochlore solid solutions

Synthesis and crystal structures are described for the compounds Ln₂(Ti_2−xLn_x)O_7−x/2, where Ln=Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu, and x ranges from 0 to 0.67. Rietveld refinements of X-ray powder diffraction data indicate that in the Tb and Dy titanate pyrochlores, the extra Ln³⁺ cations mix mainly on the Ti⁴⁺ site with little disorder on the original Ln³⁺ site. For the smaller rare earths (Ho-Lu), stuffing additional lanthanide ions results in a pyrochlore to defect fluorite transition, where the Ln³⁺ and Ti⁴⁺ ions become completely randomized at the maximum (x=0.67). Initial magnetic characterization for the fully stuffed x=0.67 samples for Ln=Tb-Yb shows no long range ordering down to 2 K, and only partial saturation of the full expected magnetic moment under applied fields up to 5 T. In all of these Ln-Ti-O pyrochlores, the addition of magnetic Ln³⁺ in place of non-magnetic Ti⁴⁺ adds edge sharing tetrahedral spin interactions to a normally corner sharing tetrahedral network of spins. The increase in spin connectivity in this family of solid solutions represents a new avenue for investigating geometrical magnetic frustration in the rare earth titanate pyrochlores.     

Synthesis and structural studies of lanthanide substituted bismuth-titanium pyrochlores

The identity of the pyrochlore phase seen during the synthesis of ferroelectric Bi_4−xLn_xTi₃O₁₂ Aurivillius oxides is shown to be Bi_2/3Ln_4/3Ti₂O₇. This pyrochlore is only stable for Ln³⁺=Sm³⁺ or smaller. For larger lanthanides the layered Aurivillius oxide is favoured. The presence of six-fold disorder, associated with the Bi 6s² lone pair electrons, is believed to stabilise the unexpected stoichiometry of this oxide. Precise structures, obtained by Rietveld refinement from synchrotron X-ray diffraction data, of three examples Ln³⁺=Eu, Ho and Yb are presented.     

Complete and limited substitution of rare-earth elements in apatite silicates La(9-x)Lnx(SiO4)6O1.5

The isomorphous substitution of smaller RE elements (Ln = Nd, Eu, Gd, Ho, Tm, and Yb) for lanthanum in the apatite silicate solid solutions La_9−xLn_x(SiO₄)₆O_1.5 was studied by X-ray powder diffraction and the Rietveld structure refinement, scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray microanalysis. Single-phase samples were prepared by solid-state synthesis at a moderate temperature of 1200 °C using an amorphous SiO₂ nanopowder (10–40 nm) as a reactant. As the atomic number of Ln increases, the complete solubility, 0 ≤ x ≤ 9, found in the systems with Ln = Nd, Eu, Gd, and Ho changes to a limited one for Ln = Tm (0 ≤ x < 1.5) and Yb (0 ≤ x < 1). The distribution of La and smaller Ln over two structurally independent cationic sites is close to statistical. In both cationic polyhedra, Ln(1)O₉ and Ln(2)O₇, the bond lengths Ln – O decrease with x, except the longest bonds Ln(1) – O(3) and Ln(2) – O(1) which increase slightly. The experimental results on the substitution limits agree with the values of the mixing energy, and critical temperature of miscibility calculated in the approximation of a regular solid solution.     

Magnetic properties of Ln2−xLn′xCo17 compounds (Ln = Gd,Dy, Ho,or Er,Ln′ = Th or Ce)

Magnetic and structural characteristics of the ternary systems Ln_2?xTh_xCo₁₇ (Ln = Gd, Dy, Ho, and Er) and Ln_2?xCe_xCo₁₇ (Ln = Gd, Dy, and Ho) are presented. Incorporation of Th in the lattice stabilizes the Th₂Zn₁₇ structure, whereas incorporation of Ce does not; if the binary system has the Th₂Ni₁₇ structure the incorporation of Ce leaves the structure unchanged. The antiferromagnetic LnCo coupling observed in the Ln₂Co₁₇ systems persists in the ternary alloys. The moment of the cobalt sublattice is decreased when more than half of the Ln is replaced by Th, suggesting that the extra electron contributed by Th enters the Co d-band or d-shell. The direction of easy magnetization is in the basal plane for all composition in the Gd, Dy, and Ho systems. In Er_2?xTh_xCo₁₇ the easy direction is along the c-axis for x = 0 and 0.2, but is in the basal plane for higher thorium contents.     

Lanthanum pyrochlores and the effect of yttrium addition in the systems La2−xYxZr2O7 and La2−xYxHf2O7

The crystal structures of the compounds La_2−xY_xZr₂O₇ and La_2−xY_xHf₂O₇ with x=0.0, 0.4, 0.8, 1.2, 1.6, and 2.0 have been studied using neutron powder diffraction and electron microscopy to determine the stability fields of the pyrochlore and fluorite solid solutions. The limits of pyrochlore stability in these solid solutions are found to be close to La_0.8Y_1.2Zr₂O₇ and La_0.4Y_1.6Hf₂O₇, respectively. In both systems the unit cell parameter is found to vary linearly with Y content across those compositions where the pyrochlore phase is stable, as does the x-coordinate of the oxygen atoms on the 48f (x,,) sites. In both systems, linear extrapolations of the pyrochlore data suggest that the disordering is accompanied by a small decrease in the lattice parameter of approximately 0.4%. After the pyrochlore solid solution limit is reached, a sharp change is observed from x∼0.41 to 0.375 as the disordered defect fluorite structure is favoured. Electron diffraction patterns illustrate that some short-range order remains in the disordered defect fluorite phases.     

Fluorite-related phases Ln3MO7, Ln = rare earth,Y, or Sc, M = Nb,Sb, or Ta. I. Crystal chemistry

Compounds Ln₃MO₇, where Ln = La, Nd, Gd, Ho, Er, Y, or Sc, and M = Nb, Ta, or Sb have been examined by powder X-ray diffraction, electron diffraction, and electron microscopy. For large Ln cations, an orthorhombic fluorite-related superstructure is formed, of probable space group Cmcm for Ln = La and C222₁ for Ln = Nd, Gd, Ho, or Y, while for the smaller Ln cations, Er, and under some conditions, Ho and Y, the structure is defect fluorite containing microdomains of ordered, but undetermined, structure. The composition Sc₃MO₇ was not single phase under the conditions used. Compounds of the type Ln₂ScMO₇ have the pyrochlore structure.     

New solid electrolytes of the pyrochlore family

The class of oxygen-ion-conducting rare-earth pyrochlores has been considerably extended. New solid electrolytes, Ln₂Ti₂O₇ (Ln = Dy-Lu) and Ln₂Hf₂O₇ (Ln = Eu, Gd) pyrochlores, are intrinsic ionic conductors at elevated temperatures, as are the well known Ln₂Zr₂O₇ (Ln = Sm-Gd) zirconates, which suggests that oxygen ion conduction in the rare-earth pyrochlore family has a general character. The thermodynamic order-disorder transitions that yield a PII cation- and anion-disordered pyrochlore phase possessing high oxygen ion conductivity occur throughout the rare-earth pyrochlore family: Ln₂M₂O₇ (Ln = Sm-Lu; M = Ti, Zr, Hf). The composition-structure-oxygen-ionic conductivity relationship is analyzed for Ln₂(M_{2 − x} Ln _x )O_{7 − δ} (Ln = Sm-Lu; M = Ti, Zr, Hf) with x from 0 to 0.81.     

ChemInform Abstract: Isomorphous Substitution of Rare‐Earth Elements in Lacunary Apatite Pb8Na2(PO4)6.

Pb_8‐xLn_xNa₂(PO₄)₆ (x = 0—2.0; Ln: Y, La, Pr—Ho, Tm—Yb) with void structural channels are prepared by solid state reaction of PbO, Na₂CO₃, (NH₄)₂HPO₄, and Ln oxides (Al₂O₃ crucible, 800 °C, 2—10 d).     

Magnetic characteristics of LnCo5ThCo5 pseudobinary systems

Magnetic characteristics of Ln_1?xTh_xCo₅ ternaries, with Ln = Gd, Ho or Er, are reported. Th is introduced into the lattice in an effort to achieve ferromagnetic coupling. It is observed that the antiferromagnetic LnCo coupling, which exists in the LnCo₅ binaries, also persists in the ternaries. The cobalt moment and Curie temperature are reduced as the Th content of the sample is increased. The decreased cobalt moment is ascribed to electron transfer from Th to the cobalt d-shell. Failure to achieve ferromagnetism in the ternaries is ascribed to electron capture by cobalt, which prevents a rise in electron concentration as Th replaces Ln in the lattice.     

Homogeneity ranges for yttrium and holmium manganites Ln2−x Mn x O3±δ (Ln = Y, Ho) in air

The homogeneity ranges with respect to the content of metal components in air were determined for yttrium and holmium manganites, based on X-ray phase analysis data for homogeneous solid solutions and heterogeneous compositions with the general formula Ln_2?x Mn _x O_3±δ (Ln = Y, Ho) prepared by ceramic synthesis procedure in air at 900–1400°C. The results were presented as fragments of the composition-temperature phase diagrams of the Ln-Mn-O (Ln = Y, Ho) systems in air.     

Effect of biphase on dielectric properties of Bi-doped lead strontium titanate thin films

Pb_0.4Sr_0.6TiO₃ (PST) thin films doped with various concentration of Bi were prepared by a sol-gel method. The phase status, surface morphology and dielectric properties of these thin films were measured by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and impedance analyzer, respectively. Results showed that the thin films with the maximum dielectric constant and minimum dielectric loss were obtained for x=0.15. For x<0.15, only pure PST perovskite phase were in the thin films. For 0.2<x<0.4, the PST/Bi₂Ti₂O₇ biphase were obtained. The thin films with pure Bi₂Ti₂O₇ pyrochlore phase were obtained for x=0.67. The biphase thin films had high tunability and high figure of merit (FOM). The FOM of PST/Bi₂Ti₂O₇ biphase thin film was about 6 times higher than that thin films formed with pure perovskite phase or pure pyrochlore phase.     

Cation‐Directed Dimeric versus Tetrameric Assemblies of Lanthanide‐Stabilized Dilacunary Keggin Tungstogermanates

Reaction of mid‐ to late lanthanide ions with GeO₂ and Na₂WO₄ in NaOAc buffer results in a library of [Ln₂(GeW₁₀O₃₈)]^6? clusters ( Ln₂ ), which consist of dilacunary Keggin fragments stabilized by the insertion of 4f atoms in the vacant sites and show the ability to undergo cation‐directed self‐assembly processes. In the presence of Na⁺, two β‐ Ln₂ subunits assemble by means of Ln‐O(WO₅)‐Ln bridges to form the chiral [Ln₄(H₂O)₆(β‐GeW₁₀O₃₈)₂]^12? dimeric anions (ββ‐ Ln₄ , Ln=Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu). When Cs⁺ is present, two Ln₄ ‐like dimers further assemble into the [{Ln₄(H₂O)₅(GeW₁₀O₃₈)₂}₂]^24? species ( Ln₈ , Ln=Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu). Two types of tetramers coexist in the solid state: One shows a full ββ‐ Ln₈ architecture, whereas the other one is a mixed αβ‐ Ln₈ assembly in which each β‐subunit is linked to its corresponding α‐ Ln₂ derivative. Regardless of differences in isomeric forms and the relative arrangement of Ln₂ subunits, all anions display virtually identical {Ln₄} cores as a common structural feature. A combination of ESI mass spectrometry and ¹⁸³W NMR spectroscopy experiments indicates that Ln₈ tetramers fragment into Ln₄ dimers upon dissolution, which undergo partial dissociation into Ln₂ monomers and slow dimer/monomer equilibration. This is most likely followed by β‐to‐α isomerization of Ln₂ clusters with consequent reassembly, as indicated by isolation of three additional αα‐ Ln₄ derivatives. Magnetic and photoluminescence properties in the Na ‐ββ‐ Ln₄ series are also discussed.     

Structural studies of the aeschynite–euxenite transformation in the series Ln(TiTa)O6 Ln = Lanthanide

Ceramics based on LnTiTaO₆ (Ln = La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb and Lu) were prepared using a conventional solid-state ceramic route. The structure and microstructure of the samples were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy, synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction and neutron diffraction techniques. The unit cell volume of the ceramics decreased with a decrease in ionic radius of the rare-earth ions until a phase change was seen at Ho where the space group changed from Pnma to Pbcn. The results confirmed that the boundary of the aeschynite to euxenite phase change that lies between DyTiTaO₆ and HoTiTaO₆ and demonstrate that this is a result of distortion of the channels in the aeschynite structure.     

Double titanium and rare-earth phosphates

Phosphates Ln_1/3Ti₂(PO₄)₃ (Ln = Y, La, Ce, Pr, Eu, Gd, Ho) were synthesized by the citrate solgel (Pechini) method. Solid-phase reactions were activated using dispersion, pressing, and sintering microadditives. Synthesized samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (Rietveld method), IR spectroscopy, electron microscopy, and microprobe analysis. The specific features of their structure formation were studied. The studied phosphates were shown to crystallize in the NaZr₂(PO₄)₃ (NZP/NASICON) structural type with space group R3. The framework of their structure is built of columns of TiO₆ and РО₄ polyhedra, and one of the two types of extraframework positions inside columns of polyhedra was occupied by Ln³⁺ cations at 2/3. The dependences of the unit cell parameters of Ln_1/3Ti₂(PO₄)₃ on the Ln³⁺ radius was observed to have a gadolinium kink.     

Zr1−xLnxW2O8−x/2 (Ln=Eu, Er, Yb): Solid solutions of negative thermal expansion-synthesis, characterization and limited solid solubility

Zr_1−xLn_xW₂O_8−x/2 solid solutions (Ln=Eu, Er, Yb) of different substitution fractions x have been synthesized. Their X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns have been indexed and lattice parameters calculated based on the α-ZrW₂O₈ structure. The coefficients of thermal expansion (CTEs) of these solid solutions were estimated to be −10.3×10⁻⁶ K⁻¹ in temperature range of 30-100 °C. The solubility of lanthanide ions in these solid solutions decreases linearly with the increase in the radius of substituted lanthanide ions. Based on the concentration dependence of phase transition temperatures, a novel method for determination of solubility of the lanthanide ions in Zr_1−xLn_xW₂O_8−x/2 solid solutions has been developed. This method seems to be more sensitive as compared with that based on XRD technique.     

Synthesis and optical absorption property of the Zn2TixSn1−xO4 (0?x?1) solid solutions

Zn₂Ti_xSn_1−xO₄ (0?x?1) solid solutions with an inverse spinel structure (Fd3m) were synthesized by solid-state reactions at 1300°C of the stoichiometric mixtures of ZnO, TiO₂ and SnO₂. X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric and differential thermal analyses, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and BET specific surface area measurements were used to gain insights into the solid-state reactions and phase transformation of the system. Optical absorption property of the Zn₂Ti_xSn_1−xO₄ (0?x?1) solid solutions was studied with the ultraviolet-visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV-Vis DRS). The Zn₂Ti_xSn_1−xO₄ (0?x?1) solid solutions showed optical absorptions of the semiconductors in the near ultraviolet region; the adsorption band shifts with the composition of the solid solution.     

A high-temperature structure for Ta2O5 with modulations by TiO2 substitution

Solid solutions in the series (1−x)Ta₂O₅−xTiO₂ with x=0.0-0.1 were prepared by high-temperature ceramic processing methods, and the crystal structure was determined at room temperature by transmission electron microscopy, electron diffraction and high-resolution lattice imaging. A structural model is proposed for the oxygen-deficient tantalum oxide (Ta₂O₅) phase with high TiO₂ doping level (x=0.08). The model is based on edge sharing of an oxygen octahedron-hexagonal bi-pyramid-octahedron molecular building block unit that repeats four times per unit cell. Electron diffraction reveals a monoclinic distortion from a pseudo-tetragonal model structure that is modulated primarily along 〈110〉. The modulation length varies with increasing TiO₂ content. Furthermore, by quantitative HREM analysis and matching of lattice images by simulation, it is shown that the modulation is associated with small ionic displacements in specific lattice planes that coincide with Ta ions in the model structure coordinated by oxygen hexagonal bi-pyramids. Based on this evidence, it is suggested that the modulation comes from a replacement of Ta with Ti ions, and the loss of inversion symmetry in the modulated structure is related to the dielectric properties of the material.     

Structural and magnetic properties of pyrochlore solid solutions (Y,Lu)2Ti2−x(Nb,Ta)xO7±y

The synthesis and characterization of the pyrochlore solid solutions, Y₂Ti_2−xNb_xO_7−y, Lu₂Ti_2−xNb_xO_7−y, Y₂Ti_2−xTa_xO_7−y and Lu₂TiTaO_7−y (−0.4<y<0.5), is described. Synthesis at 1600 °C, and 10⁻⁵ Torr yields oxygen deficiency in all systems. All compounds are found to be paramagnetic and semiconducting, with the size of the local moments being less, in some cases substantially less, than the expected value for the number of nominally unpaired electrons present. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) shows that all compounds can be fully oxidized while retaining the pyrochlore structure, yielding oxygen rich pyrochlores as white powders. Powder neutron diffraction of Y₂TiNbO₇-based samples was done. Refinement of the data for oxygen deficient Y₂TiNbO_6.76 indicates the presence of a distribution of oxygen over the 8b and 48f sites. Refinement of the data for oxygen rich Y₂TiNbO_7.5 shows these sites to be completely filled, with an additional half filling of the 8a site. The magnetic and TGA data strongly suggest a preference for a Ti³⁺/(Nb,Ta)⁵⁺ combination, as opposed to Ti⁴⁺/(Nb,Ta)⁴⁺, in this pyrochlore family. In addition, the evidence clearly points to Ti³⁺ as the source of the localized moments, with no evidence for localized Nb⁴⁺ moments.     

Study of the fluorite–pyrochlore–fluorite phase transitions in Ln<Subscript>2</Subscript>Ti<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>7</Subscript> (Ln=Lu,Yb, Tm)

The ordering processes in Ln₂Ti₂O₇ (Ln=Lu, Yb, Tm) are studied by X-ray diffraction, thermal analysis, infrared absorption (IR) spectroscopy, and electrical conductivity measurements. The coprecipitation method followed by freeze-drying was used for Ln₂Ti₂O₇ synthesis. The region of low-temperature fluorite phase existence is 600 °C<T<740 °C. The low-temperature fluorite–pyrochlore phase transition in Ln₂Ti₂O₇ takes place at ~740–800 °C. Ln₂Ti₂O₇ (Ln=Lu, Yb, Tm) have the structure of disordered pyrochlore with antisite Ln–Ti defects at 800 °C<T<1,100 °C.The high-temperature pyrochlore–fluorite transformation takes place in Tm₂Ti₂O₇, Yb₂Ti₂O₇, and Lu₂Ti₂O₇ in air at T>1,600 °C. The conductivity values are 5·10^–3 S/cm for Tm₂Ti₂O₇, 6·10^–3 S/cm for Yb₂Ti₂O₇, and 10^–2 S/cm for Lu₂Ti₂O₇ at 740 °C. This order–disorder transition leads to a 2 orders of magnitude conductivity growth and a 10–30 times permittivity increase in Ln₂Ti₂O₇ samples obtained at 1,700 °C.Presented at the OSSEP Workshop Ionic and Mixed Conductors: Methods and Processes, Aveiro, Portugal, 10–12 April 2003     

Structural changes of (K,Gd)2Ta2O7 pyrochlore at high pressure

The structure of K-bearing tantalate pyrochlore (K_2-xGd_x)Ta₂O_6+x(x∼0.4) was studied at high pressures using in situ X-ray diffraction and Raman scattering methods. Experimental results indicated that (K_2-xGd_x)Ta₂O_6+x(x∼0.4) retains the pyrochlore structure up to 40 GPa, but partial amorphization occurred at pressures above 23 GPa. The amorphous phase was also confirmed in the quenched sample by means of transmission electron microscopy. The tantalate pyrochlore lattice is more stable than pyrochlore compounds in other systems, such as rare earth titanates, zirconates and stannates. The structural stability of pyrochlore tantalate may be mainly related to the size ratio of cations on the 16d and 16c sites in the lattice.