Theoretical studies of the Spin Hamiltonian parameters and local structures for Cu2+ centers in MNB ternary glasses

ABSTRACT

The spin Hamiltonian parameters (g factors g_|| and g_⊥ and the hyperfine structure constants A_|| and A_⊥) for the doped Cu²⁺ ion (in the form of CuO) in ternary glasses (i.e. xMgO·(30-x)Na₂O·69B₂O₃·CuO, with 5?<?x < 17?mol%) are theoretically investigated based on the high-order perturbation formulas for a tetragonally elongated octahedral 3d⁹ complex. In these formulas, the required crystal-field parameters are estimated from the superposition model which enables correlation of the crystal-field parameters and hence the spin Hamiltonian parameters with the tetragonal distortion (characterized by relative tetragonal elongation δ along the C₄ axis due to the Jahn–Teller effect) of [CuO₆]^10? cluster. The concentration dependences of the spin Hamiltonian parameters are illustrated by the approximately linear increases of the cubic field parameter D_q and the covalency factor N as well as the relative elongation δ with increasing the MgO concentration x. Based on the calculation, the [CuO₆]^10? clusters in the MNB glasses are found to suffer the relative elongations of about δ (≈ 0.125?Å) along the tetragonal axis due to the Jahn–Teller effect. The theoretical results show good agreement with the experimental data. And the improvement is also achieved in present work with respect to the previous theoretical analysis based on the conventional crystal-field model formulas by including the ligand orbital and spin–orbit coupling contributions.     

Spin Hamiltonian parameters and local structures for tetragonal and orthorhombic Ir2+ centers in AgCl

The perturbation formulae of the spin Hamiltonian parameters (the anisotropic g factors, hyperfine structure constants and superhyperfine parameters) are established for a 5d⁷ ion in an orthorhombically elongated octahedron based on the cluster approach. These formulae are applied to the theoretical studies of the EPR spectra and the local structures for the tetragonal and orthorhombic Ir²⁺ centers in AgCl. For the tetragonal Ir²⁺ center, the uncompensated substitutional [IrCl₆]⁴ cluster is found to experience a relative elongation of about 0.08 Å along the C ₄ axis due to the Jahn–Teller effect. For the orthorhombic center, the ligand octahedron also suffers Jahn–Teller elongation (by about 0.08 Å) along the [001] (or Z) axis. Meanwhile, the ligand Cl intervening in the impurity Ir²⁺ and the next nearest neighbor silver vacancy V_Ag along the [100] (or X) axis may undergo an inward displacement of 0.004 Å towards the center of the octahedron due to electrostatic repulsion of the V_Ag. The calculated spin Hamiltonian parameters based on the above local structures show good agreement with experimental data for both centers.     

Theoretical investigations of the spin Hamiltonian parameters and local tetragonal distortions for Cu2+ in crystalline and amorphous TeO2 and GeO2

The spin Hamiltonian parameters (i.e., anisotropic g factors and hyperfine structure constants) and local tetragonal distortions for Cu²⁺ in crystalline and amorphous TeO₂ and GeO₂ are theoretically investigated using the high-order perturbation formulas of these parameters for a tetragonally elongated octahedral 3d⁹ cluster. The impurity Cu²⁺ occupying the octahedral sites are found to experience the relative tetragonal elongation ratios of about 11.4% and 9.5% for crystalline TeO₂ and GeO₂ and 10.8% and 6.6% for amorphous TeO₂ and GeO₂, respectively, along the C₄ axis due to the Jahn–Teller effect. This reveals the larger tetragonal elongation distortions for the Cu²⁺ centres in crystalline than amorphous systems (especially TeO₂). The theoretical spin Hamiltonian parameters show good agreement with the experimental data. The results are discussed.     

Theory studies of the local lattice distortions and the EPR parameters for Cu2+, Mn2+ and Fe3+ centres in ZnWO4

The local lattice distortions and the electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) parameters (g factors, hyperfine structure constants and zero-field splittings) for Cu²⁺, Mn²⁺ and Fe³⁺ in ZnWO₄ are theoretically studied based on the perturbation calculations for rhombically elongated octahedral 3d⁹ and 3d⁵ complexes. The impurity centres on Zn²⁺ sites undergo the local elongations of 0.01, 0.002 and 0.013 Å along the C₂ axis and the planar bond angle variations of 8.1°, 8.0° and 8.6° for Cu²⁺, Mn²⁺ and Fe³⁺, respectively, due to the Jahn–Teller effect and size and charge mismatch. In contrast to the host Zn²⁺ site with obvious axial elongation (～0.31 Å) and perpendicular (angular) rhombic distortion, all the impurity centres demonstrate more regular octahedral due to the above local lattice distortions. The copper centre exhibits significant Jahn–Teller reductions for the spin-orbit coupling and orbital angular momentum interactions, characterised by the Jahn–Teller reduction factor J (≈0.29 ? 1). The calculated EPR parameters agree well with the experimental results. The local structures of the impurity centres are analysed in view of the corresponding lattice distortions.     

Studies on the local structures and the spin Hamiltonian parameters for Fe3+ in CdX (X = S,Se, Te)

The improved perturbation formulas of the spin Hamiltonian parameters (zero-field splitting D and g factors) for a 3d⁵ ion in trigonally distorted tetrahedra are constructed from the cluster approach by including both the crystal-field and charge-transfer contributions. These formulas are applied to the studies of the local structures and the electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectra for Fe³⁺ in CdX (X = S, Se, Te). The impurity Fe³⁺ is found not to occupy exactly the host Cd²⁺ sites but to experience the small outward shifts 0.014 and 0.006 Å away from the ligand triangles along the C₃ axis in CdS and CdSe, respectively. The charge-transfer contributions to the spin Hamiltonian parameters are important and increase significantly with increasing atomic number of the ligand (i.e., S^2? < Se^2? < Te^2?) arising from the decreases of charge-transfer energy levels and the increases of ligand spin–orbit coupling coefficients. The results are discussed.     

Investigation of the local structure of Cu2+ ions doped in alkali lead tetraborate glasses by their electron paramagnetic resonance and optical spectra

The local structure of the Cu²⁺ centers in alkali lead tetraborate glasses was theoretically studied based on the optical spectra data and high-order perturbation formulas of the spin Hamiltonian parameters (electron paramagnetic resonance g factors g_∥, g_⊥ and hyperfine structure constants A_∥, A_⊥) for a 3d⁹ ion in a tetragonally elongated octahedron. In these formulas, the relative axial elongation of the ligand O^2? octahedron around the Cu²⁺ due to the Jahn–Teller effect is taken into account by considering the contributions to the g factors from the tetragonal distortion which is characterized by the tetragonal crystal-field parameters Ds and Dt. From the calculations, the ligand O^2? octahedral around Cu²⁺ is determined to suffer about 19.2% relative elongation along the C₄ axis of the alkali lead tetraborate glass system, and a negative sign for A_∥ and a positive sign for A_⊥ for these Cu²⁺ centers are suggested in the discussion.     

Theoretical investigations on the g factors and local structures for Cu2+ in the ZnX (X= O,S and Se) nanocrystals

ABSTRACT

The g factors and local structures for Cu²⁺ in the ZnX (X = O, S and Se) nanocrystals at room temperature are theoretically investigated by the perturbation calculations for a tetragonally distorted tetrahedral 3d⁹ cluster in a consistent way, and the isotropic g factor is predicted for the ZnS:Cu²⁺ nanocrystals at room temperature. The bond angles θ between the four equivalent Cu²⁺?X^2? bonds and the C₄ axis are found to be about 1.26°, 1.24° and 1.07°, respectively, larger in the ZnO, ZnS and ZnSe nanocrystals than that (θ₀ ≈ 54.74°) for an ideal tetrahedron, inducing tetragonally compressed tetrahedra. The declining tendency (ZnO > ZnS > ZnSe) of the tetragonal angular distortion Δθ (= θ ? θ₀) can be ascribed to the decreasing strength of the dynamic Jahn–Teller effect via the vibration interactions of the [CuX₄]^6? groups due to the weakening Cu²⁺?X^2? bonding. The isotropic g factors are attributable to the appropriate Δθ due to the dynamic Jahn–Teller effect and the internal stress. The slightly increasing (ZnO < ZnS < ZnSe) g factors can be illustrated by the declining cubic field parameter Dq, angular distortion Δθ and covalency factor N of the systems.     

Theoretical studies of the spin Hamiltonian parameters and local structures for WO3 doped Zn3(PO4)2ZnO nanopowders

The spin Hamiltonian parameters (SHPs) and the local structures for impurity W⁵⁺ in the Zn₃(PO₄)₂ZnO nanopowders doped with WO₃ under different concentrations are theoretically investigated using the perturbation calculations of these parameters. The exponential functions of the related quantities (cubic field parameter Dq, covalency factor N, relative tetragonal compression ratio τ and core polarisation constant κ) of concentration x with totally four adjustable coefficients a, b, c and d are adopted to fit the concentration dependences of the experimental d-d transition bands and SHPs. The impurity W⁵⁺ centres demonstrate moderate tetragonal compression ratios τ (～3.1%) due to the Jahn–Teller effect. With the increase of WO₃ concentration, Dq and N show moderately decreasing rules, while τ and κ exhibit slightly and moderately increasing tendencies with x, respectively. The mechanisms of the above concentration dependences of these quantities are analysed from the modifications of the local crystal-field strength and electron cloud density around the impurity W⁵⁺ with the variation of x. Present theoretical studies would be useful to the exploration of the structural properties and optical applications for WO₃ doped Zn₃(PO₄)₂ZnO nanopowders.     

Studies of the g factors and the local structure for Ni3+ in LaAl0.9Ni0.1O3, La0.75Y0.25Al0.99Ni0.01O3 and YAl0.9Ni0.1O3

The electron paramagnetic resonance g factors and the local structure for Ni³⁺ in LaAl_0.9Ni_0.1O₃ (LAN), La_0.75Y_0.25Al_0.99Ni_0.01O₃ (LYAN) and YAl_0.9Ni_0.1O₃ (YAN) are theoretically studied from the perturbation formulas of the g factors for a 3d⁷ ion of low spin (S = 1/2) in tetragonally elongated octahedra. In these formulas, the contributions to the g factors from the tetragonal distortion, characterized by the tetragonal field parameters Ds and Dt are taken into account. According to the calculations, the ligand octahedra around Ni³⁺ are suggested to suffer 2% relative elongation along the [001] (or C₄) axis due to the Jahn-Teller effect.     

Investigations of the defect structures and the EPR parameters for the substitutional Mo5+ centers in rutile type crystals

The defect structures and the electron paramagnetic resonance parameters for the substitutional Mo⁵⁺ centers in rutile type SnO₂, TiO₂ and GeO₂ crystals are theoretically investigated from the perturbation formulas of these parameters for a 4d¹ ion in rhombically compressed octahedra. The [MoO₆]^7? clusters suffer the Jahn–Teller effect and transform the ligand octahedra from original elongation on host tetravalent sites to compression in the impurity centers, with additional smaller rhombic (perpendicular) distortions when compared with those in the hosts. The defect structures and the importance of the ligand contributions are discussed.     

Spin-Hamiltonian parameters and tetragonal distortion due to the Jahn–Teller effect for Cu2+ centres in trigonal Zn(BrO3)·6H2O crystal

The spin-Hamiltonian parameters (g factors g_//, g_⊥ and hyperfine structure constants ⁶⁵A_// and ⁶⁵A_⊥) for the tetragonal Cu²⁺ centres in trigonal Zn(BrO₃)·6H₂O crystal are calculated from the complete diagonalization (of energy matrix) method (CDM) based on the cluster approach. In the CDM, the Zeeman and hyperfine interaction terms are added to the Hamiltonian in the conventional CDM and the contributions to the spin-Hamiltonian parameters from both the spin-orbit coupling parameter of central d⁹ ion and that of ligand ion are included. The calculated spin-Hamiltonian parameters of Zn(BrO₃)·6H₂O: Cu²⁺ show good agreement with the experimental values and the tetragonal elongation (characterized by ΔR=R_// ? R _⊥, where R_// and R _⊥ represent the metal-ligand distances parallel with and perpendicular to the C₄ axis) due to the static Jahn–Teller effect is obtained from the calculations. The results are discussed.     

Theoretical studies on the EPR parameters of the interstitial V4+ in rutile

The electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) parameters g-factors g _i (i=x, y, z) and the hyperfine structure constants A _i for the interstitial V⁴⁺ in rutile are theoretically studied from the perturbation formulas of these parameters for a 3d¹ ion in rhombically distorted octahedra. On the basis of the studies, the local axial distortion angle Δα′ in the impurity center is found to be about 2° smaller than the host value, characterized as stretching and contraction of the parallel and perpendicular bonding lengths by about 0.28 and 0.14 Å,respectively. This results in the less compressed ligand octahedron because of the Jahn–Teller effect and space effect arising from occupation of the impurity V⁴⁺ at the interstitial site. The theoretical EPR parameters based on the above local structural parameters of this work are in better agreement with the experimental data than those of the previous studies in the absence of the local angular distortion and the ligand orbital contributions. The two experimental optical absorption bands are also reasonably analyzed.     

Theoretical investigation of the spin-Hamiltonian parameters and optical spectra for the doped Cu2+ in ZnCdO nanopowder

The spin-Hamiltonian (SH) parameters (g factors g_||, g_⊥ and hyperfine structure constants A_||, A_⊥) and d–d transitions for ZnCdO:Cu²⁺ are calculated based on the perturbation formulas for a 3d⁹ ion in tetragonally elongated octahedra. Good agreement between the calculated results (four SH parameters and three optical absorption bands) and the experimental results can be obtained. Since the SH parameters are sensitive to the local structure of a paramagnetic impurity center, the tetragonal distortion (characterized by the relative elongation ratio ρ ≈ 3.5% along the C₄ axis) of the impurity center due to the Jahn–Teller effect is also acquired from the calculations. The negative and positive signs of hyperfine structure constants A_|| and A_⊥ for ZnCdO:Cu²⁺, respectively, are also suggested in the discussions.     

Investigations on the EPR parameters and tetragonal distortions for Cu2+ in alkali lead tetraborate glasses

The electron paramagnetic resonance parameters (g factors and hyperfine structure constants) and local structures are theoretically investigated for Cu²⁺ in alkali lead tetraborate 90R₂B₄O₇·9PbO·CuO (R = Li, Na and K) glasses based on the high-order perturbation calculations for a tetragonally elongated octahedral 3d⁹ complex. The [CuO₆]^10? complexes are found to experience the relative tetragonal elongation ratios 18%, 23% and 30% for R = Li, Na and K, respectively, due to the Jahn–Teller effect, much larger than those for similar ARbB₄O₇ (A = Li, Na and K) glasses. This point is attributed to the lattice expansion (longer A–O bond lengths) with doped PbO, yielding lower force constants and more intense Jahn–Teller elongations in the 90R₂B₄O₇·9PbO·CuO glasses. The increasing tendency (Li > Na > K) of the relative elongation ratio λ, covalency and the ratio Δg_///Δg_⊥ for g-shifts are systematically analysed in a uniform way.     

Theoretical investigations on the spin Hamiltonian parameters and local structures for the trigonal Ni2+ centers in CsMgX3 (X=Cl,Br, I)

The spin Hamiltonian parameters (zero-field splitting and the anisotropic g factors) and the local structures for the trigonal Ni²⁺ centers in CsMgX₃ (X=Cl, Br, I) are theoretically investigated from the perturbation formulas of these parameters for a 3d⁸ ion in trigonally distorted octahedra, by including the ligand s-orbital contributions. Based on the studies, the local impurity-ligand bond angles β related to the C ₃ axis in the Ni²⁺ centers are found to be about 2° larger than the corresponding angles, β_H, in the hosts, due to the size mismatching substitution of Mg²⁺ by Ni²⁺. The theoretical results based on the inclusion of the ligand s-orbital contributions show an improvement when compared with those in the absence of the above contributions, especially for the ligand I^?.     

Local structure of the trigonal defect center for Cr3+ ions in KMgF3 crystals

Abstract

The zero-field splitting D, the anisotropic g-factors g _∥, Δg(=g _∥ ? g _⊥) and the first excited state splitting Δ(² E) for the trigonal Cr³⁺–V_K center in KMgF₃: Cr³⁺ crystals have been studied from Macfarlane's high-order perturbation formulas. From the studies, the local structure of the trigonal center is obtained. The local lattice distortions (i.e., the displacement directions of the ions in the center) are consistent with the expectation based on the electrostatic interaction.     

Studies on the spin Hamiltonian parameters for Mn2+ in the ZnS nanocrystals and bulks

The spin Hamiltonian parameters (zero-field splitting D, g factors and hyperfine structure constants) are theoretically studied for Mn²⁺ in the ZnS nanocrystals and bulks from the perturbation formulae of these quantities for trigonal and cubic tetrahedral 3d⁵ clusters, respectively. The trigonal Mn²⁺ centre in the ZnS nanocrystals is attributed to the impurity–ligand bond angle related to the C₃ axis about 0.39° larger than that (≈109.47°) of an ideal tetrahedron. Almost the same g factors and hyperfine structure constants for the nanocrystals and bulks can be ascribed to similar crystal-field environments (i.e. comparable cubic field parameters Dq), nearly the same covalency (i.e. the equal covalency factors N) and the Mn²⁺ 3d–3s orbital admixture (i.e. the identical core polarisation constants κ) in both systems. The ligand orbital and spin–orbit coupling contributions are found to be important and should be included in the electron paramagnetic resonance analysis in view of significant covalency.     

Theoretical evaluation of the electron paramagnetic resonance spin Hamiltonian parameters for the impurity displacements for Fe3+ and Ru3+ in corundum

The impurity displacements for Fe³⁺ and Ru³⁺ in corundum (Al₂O₃) are theoretically studied using the perturbation formulas of the spin Hamiltonian parameters (zero-field splitting and anisotropic g factors) for a 3d⁵ (with high spin S = 5/2) and a 4d⁵ (with low spin S = 1/2) ion in trigonal symmetry, respectively. According to the investigations, the nd⁵ (n = 3 and 4) impurity ions may not locate at the ideal Al³⁺ site but undergo axial displacements by about 0.132 Å and 0.170 Å for Fe³⁺ and Ru³⁺, respectively, away from the center of the ligand octahedron along the C₃ axis. The calculated spin Hamiltonian parameters based on the above axial displacements show good agreement with the observed values. The validity of the results is discussed.     

Electron spin resonance study of a CuIr2S4 single crystal

A spinel sulphide CuIr₂S₄ single crystal, which exhibits an orbitally induced Peierls phase transition at ～230?K, is investigated by electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy. The phase transition is clearly manifested on the ESR spectra. It is suggested that the ESR signals are produced by a few non-dimerized Ir⁴⁺ ions. Moreover, an extra ESR spectrum appears at low temperature in addition to the paramagnetic ESR signals of Ir⁴⁺ ions, which is suggested to be caused by the Jahn–Teller effect of the non-dimerized Ir⁴⁺ ions. From the ESR results, it is found that the Jahn–Teller splitting energy ΔE _JT is much smaller than the spin-dimerization gap.     

Studies of the g factors and the local structure of the orthorhombic Ni center in KTaO3 crystal

The local structure and the g factor (g_x, g_y, and g_z) of the Ni⁺ center in KTaO₃ are theoretically studied using the perturbation formulas of the g factors for a 3d⁹ ion in orthorhombically elongated octahedra. The orthorhombic field parameters are determined from the superposition model and the local geometry of the system. In view of the covalency, the contributions from the ligand orbital and spin–orbit coupling interactions are taken into account from the cluster approach. In the calculations, the orthorhombic center is attributed to Ni⁺ occupying the host Ta⁵⁺ site, associated with the nearest-neighboring oxygen vacancy V_O along the c-axis. Furthermore, the planar Ni⁺–O²⁻ bonds are found to experience the relative variation ΔR (≈0.076 Å) along the a- and b-axis, respectively, due to the Jahn–Teller effect and the size mismatching substitution of Ta⁵⁺ by Ni⁺. Meanwhile, the effectively positive V_O can make the central Ni⁺ displace away from V_O along the c-axis by about 0.20 Å. The calculated g factors based on the above local distortions show good agreement with the experimental data.