Nouveaux échangeurs cationiques avec une structure à tunnels entrecroisés: les niobates et tantalates A10M29.2O78 et A10M29.2O78·1OH2O

New oxides with formula A₁₀M_29.2O₇₈ (A = Rb, Cs; M = Ta, Nb) have been synthesized. They crystallize in the hexagonal system with cell parameters: a = 7.5 Å, c = 36.4Å. Structural study on powders shows that the framework can be described by hexagonal tungsten bronze and A₂M₇O₁₈ phases intergrowth. Cationic ion exchange properties of these compounds are shown in aqueous solution. Thus, new hydrated oxides have been prepared.     

Intergrowth of hexagonal tungsten bronze and perovskite-like structures: The oxides ACu3M7O21 (A = K,Rb, Cs,TI; M = Nb,Ta)

Seven oxides ACu₃M₇O₂₁ have been isolated with A = K, Rb, Tl, Cs for M = Ta and A = K, Rb, Cs for M = Nb. These phases are orthorhombic: $\text{a ? 28}$ Å, $\text{b ? 7.50}$ Å, and $\text{c ? 7.55}$ Å, probable space group Cmmm. Their structure has been established from an X-ray diffraction study and from high-resolution microscopy observations. The structure consists of an intergrowth of single hexagonal tungsten bronze AM₃O₉ slices and double distorted perovskite Cu₃M₄O₁₂ slabs (M = Nb, Ta) in which copper has a square coordination. The host lattice of these compounds can be considered as the member “n = 1; n′ = 2” of a series of intergrowths corresponding to the formulation |M₃O₉|^H_n|M₂O₆|^P_n′.     

Synthesis and structure of a new family of phases, A2MGe5O12: A = Rb,Cs; M = Be,Mg, Co,Zn

A new family of eight germanate phases, A₂MGe₅O₁₂: A = Rb, Cs; M = Be, Mg, Co, Zn, has been synthesized. They are cubic with a in the range 13.7 to 14.0 Å, Z = 8, and space group $\text{I}\text{4}\text{3d}$. These phases, named the β phases, are isostructural with KBSi₂O₆ which has a structure related to that of pollucite, CsAlSi₂O₆. The structure of one, Rb₂ZnGe₅O₁₂, has been refined to an R value of 0.079 using X-ray powder diffraction data. Several of the new phases are polymorphic. Cs₂ZnGe₅O₁₂, Cs₂CoGe₅O₁₂, and Rb₂MgGe₅O₁₂ form low-temperature, δ polymorphs which have primitive cubic unit cells. Rb₂ZnGe₅O₁₂ forms a low-temperature, ε polymorph which is probably a tetragonal distortion of the β structure.     

Effects of the A-site cation number on the properties of Ln5/8M3/8MnO3 manganites

The properties of manganites can be tuned by changing the doping level x in Ln_1−xM_xMnO₃. A second mechanism allows tuning of magnetic and electronic properties, for fixed x values, by varying the average A-cation radius, 〈r_A〉. Moreover, for fixed x and 〈r_A〉 values, the changes in the A-cation size variance, σ², also modify the ferromagnetic and metal-insulator transition temperatures. Here, we investigate the influence of the number of A-site cations on Ln_5/8M_3/8MnO₃ manganites, where x, 〈r_A〉 and σ² values are kept constant, and in the absence of phase separation phenomena. We have found that the number of cation species at the A site (N_A) has a strong influence on the width of the ferromagnetic and metal-insulator transitions, and a small influence on the average transition temperature. This behavior is opposite to that observed for increasing values of the variance σ² in manganites, with the same x and 〈r_A〉 values, where average transition temperatures are strongly reduced.     

Crystal structure and luminescence of compounds A3BC10O20

In this paper we describe compounds A₃BC₁₀O₂₀ (A = Sr, Ba, Pb; B = Ti, Ge, Sn; and C = Al, Ga). The crystal structure of Ba₃TiAl₁₀O₂₀ has been determined by neutron powder profile refinement. The luminescence of these compounds has been investigated. Apart from the titanate luminescence of Ba₃TiAl₁₀O₂₀, these compounds show a semiconductor type of luminescence.     

Structural studies of five layer Aurivillius oxides: A2Bi4Ti5O18 (A=Ca, Sr, Ba and Pb)

The room temperature structures of the five layer Aurivillius phases A₂Bi₄Ti₅O₁₈ (A=Ca, Sr, Ba and Pb) have been refined from powder neutron diffraction data using the Rietveld method. The structures consist of [Bi₂O₂]²⁺ layers interleaved with perovskite-like [A₂Bi₂Ti₅O₁₆]²⁻ blocks. The structures were refined in the orthorhombic space group B2eb (SG. No. 41), Z=4, and the unit cell parameters of the oxides are a=5.4251(2), b=5.4034(1), c=48.486(1); a=5.4650(2), b=5.4625(3), c=48.852(1); a=5.4988(3), b=5.4980(4), c=50.352(1); a=5.4701(2), b=5.4577(2), c=49.643(1) for A=Ca, Sr, Ba and Pb, respectively. The structural features of the compounds were found similar to n=2-4 layers bismuth oxides. The strain caused by mismatch of cell parameter requirements for the [Bi₂O₂]²⁺ layers and perovskite-like [A₂Bi₂Ti₅O₁₆]²⁻ blocks were relieved by tilting of the TiO₆ octahedra. Variable temperature synchrotron X-ray studies for Ca and Pb compounds showed that the orthorhombic structure persisted up to 675 and 475 K, respectively. Raman spectra of the compounds are also presented.     

Une nouvelle famille structurale: Les titanoniobates et titanotantalates A2Nb6TiO18 et A2Ta6TiO18

New ternary oxides A₂M₆TiO₁₈ (A = Rb, Cs; M = Ta, Nb) have been synthesized by reaction between M₂O₅ and TiO₂ oxides and A₂CO₃ carbonates. They crystallize in the hexagonal system in a cell of dimensions a and c near 7.5 and 8.2 Å, respectively. There is one formula unit in the cell, in good agreement with the observed densities 4.38 and 4.78 for A₂Nb₆TiO₁₈, 6.62 and 6.93 for A₂Ta₆TiO₁₈. The structure has been determined from powder diffraction patterns, from the 64 first reflections (i.e., 190 hkl), and refined to R₁ values ranging from 0.06 and 0.08. It can be described from a basic unit of composition (M₆O₂₄) formed of 3 × 2 octahedra of oxygen atoms, sharing edges and corners, with MO distances ranging from 1.8 and 2.2 Å. Relations with the hexagonal tungsten bronze and pyrochlore-type structures are discussed.     

Nonstoichiometric oxides with a layer structure: The compounds A1−x(Ti1−xM1+x)O5

New nonstoichiometric oxides A_1?x(Ti_1?xNb_1+x)O₅ and tantalates ATiTaO₅ with a layer structure of the KTiNbO₅ type have been isolated, with A = K, Rb, Tl, Cs. These oxides, which are orthorhombic, space group Pnma, are characterized by a preferential occupation of one type of site 4c by the titanium atoms. The structural evolution as a function of composition and the stability of these compounds are discussed.     

A structure, conductivity and dielectric properties investigation of A3CoNb2O9 (A=Ca, Sr, Ba) triple perovskites

The room temperature structures as well as the temperature-dependent conductivity and dielectric properties of the A₃CoNb₂O₉ (A=Ca²⁺, Sr²⁺ and Ba²⁺) triple perovskites have been carefully investigated. A constrained modulation wave approach to Rietveld structure refinement is used to determine their room temperature crystal structures. Correlations between these crystal structures and their physical properties are found. All three compounds undergo insulator to semiconductor phase transitions as a function of increasing temperature. The hexagonal Ba₃CoNb₂O₉ compound acts as an insulator at room temperature, while the monoclinic Ca₃CoNb₂O₉ compound is already a semiconductor at room temperature. The measured dielectric frequency characteristics of the A=Ba compound are excellent.     

Synthesis and characterization of the pseudo-hexagonal hollandites ALi2Ru6O12 (A=Na, K)

The crystal structures, synthesis and physical properties of ruthenium hollandites ALi₂Ru₆O₁₂ (A=Na, K) with a new pseudo-hexagonal structure type are described. Analogous to tetragonal hollandites, the framework is made of MO₆ octahedra in double chains that share corner oxygens with each other to create interstitial tunnels. The tunnels are either hexagonal or triangular in cross-section. Magnetic susceptibilities, low temperature specific heat, and electrical resistivities are reported. The data indicate that these materials are normal, low density of states metals. This new structure type can be extended from A=Group I to A=Group II ions with the synthesis of CaLi₂Ru₆O₁₂ and SrLi₂Ru₆O₁₂.     

Synthesis and structural studies of cation-substituted Aurivillius phases ASrBi2Nb2TiO12

We report here a novel method to prepare high-quality samples of the three layered oxides ASrBi₂Nb₂TiO₁₂ACa, Sr or Ba using the pre-formed intermediates ABi₂Nb₂O₉ and SrTiO₃. The room temperature structures were refined using synchrotron X-ray and Neutron powder diffraction data in the orthorhombic space group B2cb. This symmetry arises as a consequence of cooperative tilting of the BO₆ octahedra in the [ASrNb₂TiO₁₀]²⁻ perovskite-like slabs and a polar displacement of the cations. The structure is characterized by extensive cation disorder but lacks appreciable oxygen vacancies.     

On AgRhO2, and the new quaternary delafossites AgLi1/3M2/3O2, syntheses and analyses of real structures

Two new quaternary delafossite type oxides with the general formula Ag(Li_1/3M_2/3)O₂, M=Rh, Ir, have been synthesized, and their structures characterized. Based on X-ray and electron diffraction analyses the structural similarity with AgRhO₂ delafossite, has been evidenced. The real structures of the quaternary delafossites have been revealed, which has allowed to fully explain the diffuse scattering as observed in X-ray powder diffraction. AgRhO₂ is thermally stable up to 1173 K, the behavior of the two quaternary compounds AgLi_1/3Rh_2/3O₂ and AgLi_1/3Ir_2/3O₂ is comparable, and they decompose above 950 and 800 K, respectively. AgRhO₂ shows temperature independent paramagnetism, while for the other two an effective magnetic moment of 1.77μ_B for Ir, and 1.70μ_B for Rh were determined, applying the Curie-Weiss law. All compounds are semiconducting with activation energies of 4.97 kJ mol⁻¹ (AgLi_1/3Rh_2/3O₂), 11.42 kJ mol⁻¹ (AgLi_1/3Ir_2/3O₂) and 17.58 kJ mol⁻¹ (AgRhO₂).     

Structural Investigations of ACu3Ru4O12 (A=Na, Ca, Sr, La, Nd)—A Comparison between XRD-Rietveld and EXAFS Results

The structures of five perovskite-related oxides with the general composition ACu₃Ru₄O₁₂ with A=Na, Ca, Sr, La and Nd, have been examined both by XRD-Rietveld refinements and Ru-K EXAFS-spectroscopy. In addition, the behavior on reduction was investigated by thermogravimetry (TG). The TG measurements revealed that the composition was almost exactly A₁Cu₃Ru₄O₁₂ for all samples. The inter-atomic distances derived from EXAFS- and XRD-Rietveld fits show an excellent agreement with differences smaller than 8 mÅ even for R>5 Å. All inter-atomic distances increase in the order Na<Ca<Sr<Nd<La and were found to depend linearly on the product of charge and ionic radius of the A-cation. The experimentally found distances are compared with the corresponding values expected from bond-valence calculations.     

Les oxydes A2BaCuO5 (A = Y,Sm, Eu,Gd, Dy,Ho, Er,Yb)

A series of new phases, A₂BaCuO₅ (A = Y, Sm, Eu, Gd, Dy, Ho, Er, Yb), has been isolated. These compounds are orthorhombic, with $\text{a ? 7.1, b ? 12.2}$, and $\text{c ? 5.6}$Å. The probable space groups deduced from the electron diffraction patterns are Pbnm and Pbn2₁. The structure has been resolved from X-ray powder patterns. The framework can be considered as built up from distorted monocapped trigonal prisms AO₇ which share one triangular face forming A₂O₁₁ blocks. The edge-sharing A₂O₁₁ blocks form a three-dimensional network which delimits cavities where Ba²⁺ and Cu²⁺ are located. Barium is coordinated to 11 oxygen atoms, while the coordination polyhedron of copper is a distorted tetragonal pyramid CuO₅.     

Evolution structurale sous haute pression des phases K2MO3 (M = Zr,Hf, Sn,Pb)

The study of the high-pressure modifications of the oxides K₂MO₃ (M = Zr, Hf, Sn, Pb) confirms the tendency of potassium to adopt the trigonal prismatic coordination in layer oxides: The β form is characterized by layers of (K, M)O₆ octahedra with common edges, between which other potassium atoms are inserted with prismatic coordination. For M = Zr and Hf, an increase of pressure or temperature transforms β to the γ or δ variety, both derived from the NaCl structure. The influence of the electronegativity of M on the potassium coordination in layer structures is discussed.     

Application de la spectrometrie vibrationnelle à un probleme de non-stoechiométrie par insertion dans les tunnels pentagonaux des réseaux (M6X4O26) (M = Nb,Ta; X = Si,Ge)

The ir spectra of A₃M₆Si₄O₂₆ (A = Ba, Sr; M = Nb, Ta) and K₆M₆Si₄O₂₆ oxides, whose structure contains linear Si₂O₇ groups, are discussed with particular emphasis on the peculiar behavior of the antisymmetric stretching frequency of the linear SiOSi bridge. In accord with previous data, this frequency is the highest of the spectrum (near 1200 cm^?1), but it is significantly lowered (by about 75 cm^?1) when passing from the A₃M₆Si₂₄O₂₆ to the K₆M₆Si₄O₂₆ compounds. This is readily explained by the peculiar structure of the K₆ compounds, in which three (out of the six) K⁺ cations are located near the bridge oxygen (A₂ sites), these sites remaining empty in the A₃M₆Si₄O₂₆ compounds. The resulting KO bonding weakens the SiO bond, thus leading to a lowering of the corresponding bridge frequency. The same type of explanation holds for the presence of a new band at an intermediate frequency (about 1150 cm^?1) in phases of intermediate composition K_6?2xBa_xM₆Si₄O₂₆, this new band being correlated with a partial occupancy of the A₂ sites. This has been applied to, and is a sensitive means of, detecting nonstoichiometry in the A₂ sites of other compounds with (M₆X₄O₂₆) layers (X = Si, Ge) such as Ba_6+xNb₁₄Si₄O₄₇, K₈M₁₄Si₄O₄₇, and K₁₀M₂₂X₄O₆₈ (M = Nb, Ta).     

Layer structure: The oxides A3Ti5MO14

Five new oxides, K₃Ti₅MO₁₄, Rb₃Ti₅MO₁₄ (M = Ta, Nb), and Tl₃Ti₅NbO₁₄, have been synthesized. The structure of these oxides consists of octahedral layers similar to those observed for Na₂Ti₃O₇ and held together by monovalent ions; the sheets consist of blocks of 2 × 3 edge-sharing octahedra, which are then joined to each other by the corners of the octahedra. The relative disposition of the layers is similar to that observed for Tl₂Ti₄O₉. These oxides can be considered as the member n = 3 of a series of closely related structures with formula A_nB_2nO_4n+2, where n indicates the number of octahedra which determines the width of the blocks of 2 × n octahedra.     

New open-framework in the uranyl vanadates A3(UO2)7(VO4)5O (A=Li, Ag) with intergrowth structure between A(UO2)4(VO4)3 and A2(UO2)3(VO4)2O

New uranyl vanadates A₃(UO₂)₇(VO₄)₅O (M=Li (1), Na (2), Ag (3)) have been synthesized by solid-state reaction and their structures determined from single-crystal X-ray diffraction data for 1 and 3. The tetragonal structure results of an alternation of two types of sheets denoted S for _∞²[UO₂(VO₄)₂]⁴⁻ and D for _∞²[(UO₂)₂(VO₄)₃]⁵⁻ built from UO₆ square bipyramids and connected through VO₄ tetrahedra to _∞¹[U(3)O₅-U(4)O₅]⁸⁻ infinite chains of edge-shared U(3)O₇ and U(4)O₇ pentagonal bipyramids alternatively parallel to a- and b-axis to construct a three-dimensional uranyl vanadate arrangement. It is noticeable that similar _∞[UO₅]⁴⁻ chains are connected only by S-type sheets in A₂(UO₂)₃(VO₄)₂O and by D-type sheets in A(UO₂)₄(VO₄)₃, thus A₃(UO₂)₇(VO₄)₅O appears as an intergrowth structure between the two previously reported series. The mobility of the monovalent ion in the mutually perpendicular channels created in the three-dimensional arrangement is correlated to the occupation rate of the sites and by the geometry of the different sites occupied by either Na, Ag or Li. Crystallographic data: 293 K, Bruker X8-APEX2 X-ray diffractometer equipped with a 4 K CCD detector, MoKα, λ=0.71073 Å, tetragonal symmetry, space group P4¯m2, Z=1, full-matrix least-squares refinement on the basis of F²; 1,a=7.2794(9) Å, c=14.514(4) Å, R1=0.021 and wR2=0.048 for 62 parameters with 782 independent reflections with I?2σ(I); 3, a=7.2373(3) Å, c=14.7973(15) Å, R1=0.041 and wR2=0.085 for 60 parameters with 1066 independent reflections with I?2σ(I).     

Cation disorder and phase transitions in the four-layer ferroelectric Aurivillius phases ABi4Ti4O15 (A=Ca, Sr, Ba, Pb)

Crystal structures of a series of bi-layered compounds ABi₄Ti₄O₁₅ (A=Ca, Sr, Ba, Pb) have been investigated using a combination of synchrotron X-ray and neutron powder diffraction data. All four oxides adopt an orthorhombic structure at room temperature and the structures have been refined in space group A2₁am. This orthorhombic structure is a consequence of a combination of rotation of the TiO₆, resulting from the less than optimal size of the A-type cation, and displacement of the Ti atoms towards the Bi₂O₂ layers. There is partial disorder of the Bi and A-type cations over two of the three available sites, which increases in the order Ca<Sr and Pb<Ba.     

Syntheses, structures, and second-harmonic generating properties in new quaternary tellurites: A2TeW3O12 (A=K, Rb, or Cs)

The syntheses, structures, and characterization of a new family of quaternary alkali tungsten tellurites, A₂TeW₃O₁₂ (A=K, Rb, or Cs), are reported. Crystals of the materials were synthesized by supercritical hydrothermal methods using 1 M AOH (A=K, Rb, or Cs), TeO₂, and WO₃ as reagents. Bulk, polycrystalline phases were synthesized by standard solid-state methods combining stoichiometric amounts of A₂CO₃, TeO₂, and WO₃. Although the three materials are not iso-structural, each exhibits a hexagonal tungsten oxide layer comprised of corner-sharing W⁶⁺O₆ octahedra. Te⁴⁺O₃ groups connect the WO₆ layers in K₂TeW₃O₁₂, whereas the same groups cap the WO₆ layers in Rb₂TeW₃O₁₂ and Cs₂TeW₃O₁₂. This capping results in non-centrosymmetric structures for Rb₂TeW₃O₁₂ and Cs₂TeW₃O₁₂. Powder second-harmonic generation measurements on Rb₂TeW₃O₁₂ and Cs₂TeW₃O₁₂ revealed strong SHG efficiencies of 200 and 400×SiO₂, respectively. These values indicate an average non-linear optical susceptibility, 〈d_eff〉_exp of 16 and 23 pm/V for Rb₂TeW₃O₁₂ and Cs₂TeW₃O₁₂, respectively. Crystallographic information: K₂TeW₃O₁₂, monoclinic, space group P2₁/n (No. 14), a=7.3224(13) Å, b=11.669(2) Å, c=12.708(2) Å, β=90.421(3)°, Z=4; Rb₂TeW₃O₁₂, trigonal, space group P31c (No. 159), a=b=7.2980(2) Å, c=12.0640(2) Å, Z=2.