Evolution of the crystal and electronic structures of magnetic RuSr(2-x)La(x)GdCu2O8 superconductors upon La substitution

We have investigated systematically the effects of La substitution on the chemical bonding nature and physical properties of magnetic RuSr(2-x)La(x)GdCu2O8 superconductors. X-ray diffraction and energy dispersive spectroscopic microprobe analyses reveal that a fraction of Sr ions can be successfully replaced by La ions with the contraction of unit cell volume. According to electrical resistance and dc magnetization measurements, the La substitution gives rise to a significant reduction of superconducting transition temperature (T(c)) but to an increase of magnetic ordering temperature with depressed remanent magnetization. Ru K- and Cu K-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopic results clarify that average Ru and Cu oxidation states decrease upon the La substitution. On the basis of the spectroscopic evidences presented here, we are able to attribute the T(c) reduction upon the La substitution to the depletion of the hole density in CuO2 layers and the accompanying variation of magnetic coupling behavior to the change of Ru oxidation state.     

Mechanochemical synthesis,structure and properties of lead containing alkaline earth metal fluoride solid solutions MxPb1-xF2 (M = Ca,Sr, Ba)

The paper deals with the mechanochemical synthesis of lead containing alkaline earth metal fluoride solid solutions M_xPb_1-xF₂ (M = Ca, Sr, Ba) by high-energy ball milling. Several metal precursors and fluorinating agents were tested for synthesizing M_0.5Pb_0.5F₂. Metal acetates and ammonium fluoride as precursors show the most promising results and were therefore used for the formation of M_xPb_1-xF₂ with different metal cationic ratios. The characterization of the local fluorine coordination and the crystal structure was performed by ¹⁹F MAS NMR spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction. Additional calculations of ¹⁹F chemical shifts using the superposition model allow a deeper insight into the local structure of the compounds. The fluoride ion conductivity was followed by temperature dependent DC conductivity measurements. Significantly higher conductivities were found in comparison with those of the corresponding binary fluorides. The highest values were observed for samples with high lead content M_0.25Pb_0.75F₂, bearing in mind the much higher conductivity of PbF₂ compared to MF₂.     

Hydration energies and structures of alkaline earth metal ions, M2+(H2O)n, n = 5-7, M = Mg, Ca, Sr, and Ba

The evaporation of water from hydrated alkaline earth metal ions, produced by electrospray ionization, was studied in a Fourier transform mass spectrometer. Zero-pressure-limit dissociation rate constants for loss of a single water molecule from the hydrated divalent metal ions, M(2+)(H(2)O)(n) (M = Mg, Ca, and Sr for n = 5-7, and M = Ba for n = 4-7), are measured as a function of temperature using blackbody infrared radiative dissociation. From these values, zero-pressure-limit Arrhenius parameters are obtained. By modeling the dissociation kinetics using a master equation formalism, threshold dissociation energies (E(o)) are determined. These reactions should have a negligible reverse activation barrier; therefore, E(o) values should be approximately equal to the binding energy or hydration enthalpy at 0 K. For the hepta- and hexahydrated ions at low temperature, binding energies follow the trend expected on the basis of ionic radii: Mg > Ca > Sr > Ba. For the hexahydrated ions at high temperature, binding energies follow the order Ca > Mg > Sr > Ba. The same order is observed for the pentahydrated ions. Collisional dissociation experiments on the tetrahydrated species result in relative dissociation rates that directly correlate with the size of the metals. These results indicate the presence of two isomers for hexahydrated magnesium ions: a low-temperature isomer in which the six water molecules are located in the first solvation shell, and a high-temperature isomer with the most likely structure corresponding to four water molecules in the inner shell and two water molecules in the second shell. These results also indicate that the pentahydrated magnesium ions have a structure with four water molecules in the first solvation shell and one in the outer shell. The dissociation kinetics for the hexa- and pentahydrated clusters of Ca(2+), Sr(2+), and Ba(2+) are consistent with structures in which all the water molecules are located in the first solvation shell.     

Hydrothermal synthesis and crystal structure of two new hydrated alkaline earth metal borates Sr3B6O11(OH)2 and Ba3B6O11(OH)2

Two new hydrated borates Sr(3)B(6)O(11)(OH)(2) (1) and Ba(3)B(6)O(11)(OH)(2) (2) were hydrothermally synthesized. Their structures were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction and further characterized by IR, powder XRD, and DSC/TGA. Compound 1 crystallizes in the triclinic space group P-1 with unit cell parameters of a = 6.6275(13) ?, b = 6.6706(13) ?, c = 11.393(2) ?, α = 91.06(3)°, β = 94.50(3)°, and γ = 93.12(3)°, while compound 2 crystallizes in the noncentrosymmetric monoclinic space group Pc with a = 6.958(14) ?, b = 7.024(14) ?, c = 11.346(2) ?, and β = 90.10(3)°. In spite of the differences in symmetry and packing of the borate chains, both structures consist of the same fundamental building block (FBB) of a [B(6)O(11)(OH)(2)](-6) unit and three unique alkaline earth metal atoms.     

Probing the role of encapsulated alkaline earth metal atoms in endohedral metallofullerenes M@C76 (M = Ca, Sr, and Ba) by first-principles calculations

By means of density functional theory and statistical mechanics, we investigate the geometric and electronic structures, thermodynamic stability and infrared (IR) vibrational frequencies of alkaline earth metal endohedral fullerenes, M@C(76) (M = Ca, Sr, and Ba). The results reveal that M@C(1)(17,459)-C(76) possesses the lowest energy followed by M@C(2v)(19,138)-C(76) with a very small energy difference. Both the structures have a pair of adjacent pentagons and are related by a single Stone-Wales transformation. Equilibrium statistical thermodynamic analyses based on Gibbs energy treatments suggest that M@C(1)(17,459)-C(76) has a prominent thermodynamic stability at higher temperatures, in contrast with M@C(2v)(19,138)-C(76) whose thermodynamic stability is affected by the encapsulated metal atom. The encapsulated metallic atoms as well as cage structures significantly influence the electronic properties of endohedral fullerenes such as electron affinities and ionization potentials. On the other hand, the singlet-triplet splitting energy ΔE(S-T) depends on the cage structures. In addition, IR spectra and chemical shifts of these compounds have been computed to assist further experimental characterization.     

Synthesis, crystal and electronic structures, and properties of the new pnictide semiconductors A2CdPn2 (A = Ca, Sr, Ba, Eu; Pn = P, As)

A series of ternary Zintl phases, Ca(2)CdP(2), Ca(2)CdAs(2), Sr(2)CdAs(2), Ba(2)CdAs(2), and Eu(2)CdAs(2), have been synthesized through high temperature metal flux reactions, and their structures have been characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. They belong to the Yb(2)CdSb(2) structure type and crystallize in the orthorhombic space group Cmc2(1) (No. 36, Z = 4) with cell dimensions of a = 4.2066(5), 4.3163(5), 4.4459(7), 4.5922(5), 4.4418(9) ?; b = 16.120(2), 16.5063(19), 16.904(3), 17.4047(18), 16.847(4) ?; c = 7.0639(9), 7.1418(8), 7.5885(11), 8.0526(8), 7.4985(16) ? for Ca(2)CdP(2) (R1 = 0.0152, wR2 = 0.0278), Ca(2)CdAs(2) (R1 = 0.0165, wR2 = 0.0290), Sr(2)CdAs(2) (R1 = 0.0238, wR2 = 0.0404), Ba(2)CdAs(2) (R1 = 0.0184, wR2 = 0.0361), and Eu(2)CdAs(2) (R1 = 0.0203, wR2 = 0.0404), respectively. Among these, Ca(2)CdAs(2) was found to form with another closely related structure, depending on the experimental conditions--monoclinic space group Cm (No. 8, Z = 10) with lattice constants a = 21.5152(3) ?, b = 4.30050(10) ?, c = 14.3761(2) ? and β = 110.0170(10)° (R1 = 0.0461, wR2 = 0.0747). UV/vis optical absorption spectra for both forms of Ca(2)CdAs(2) show band gaps on the order of 1.0 eV, suggesting semiconducting properties, which have also been confirmed through electronic band structure calculations based on the density-functional theory. Results from differential scanning calorimetry measurements probing the thermal stability and phase transitions in the two Ca(2)CdAs(2) polymorphs are discussed. Magnetic susceptibility measurements for Eu(2)CdAs(2), indicating divalent Eu(2+) cations, are presented as well.     

Electronic structure and properties of isolectronically substituted compounds Y1Ba2−m M m Cu3O7 and Y1Ba2−m M m Cu4O8 (M=Be,Mg, Ca,Sr, Ba,Ra)

According to cluster calculations, the electronic structures of compounds based on Y₁Ba₂Cu₃O₇ and Y₁Ba₂Cu₄O₈ with isoelectronically substituted barium have some qualitative distinctions. These compounds behave differently upon barium substitution by other elements due to differences in the character of their highest occupied and lowest unoccupied molecular orbitals. Substitution of barium by radium is expected to lead to an increase in oxygen stability without a significant decrease in the critical temperature of superconduction transition T_s. In order to raise T_s, it is of interest to study the systems YBa_2−m(Be or Mg)_mCu₃O_x and YBa_2−m(Ca, Sr)_mCu₃O_x. On partial substitution of barium by calcium in YBa₂Cu₄O₈, the mechanism of T_s elevation may involve contraction of the forbidden band due to oxygen sublattice distortions in the vicinity of Ba centers. D. I. Mendeleev Russian Chemical Engineering University, Novomoskovsk Branch. Translated fromZhurnal Strukturnoi Khimii, Vol. 35, No. 2, pp. 24–31, March–April, 1994. Translated by O. Kharlamova     

Unimolecular reactions of dihydrated alkaline earth metal dications M2+(H2O)2, M = Be, Mg, Ca, Sr, and Ba: salt-bridge mechanism in the proton-transfer reaction M2+(H2O)2 --> MOH+ + H3O

The unimolecular reactivity of M(2+)(H(2)O)(2), M = Be, Mg, Ca, Sr, and Ba, is investigated by density functional theory. Dissociation of the complex occurs either by proton transfer to form singly charged metal hydroxide, MOH(+), and protonated water, H(3)O(+), or by loss of water to form M(2+)(H(2)O) and H(2)O. Charge transfer from water to the metal forming H(2)O(+) and M(+)(H(2)O) is not favorable for any of the metal complexes. The relative energetics of these processes are dominated by the metal dication size. Formation of MOH(+) proceeds first by one water ligand moving to the second solvation shell followed by proton transfer to this second-shell water molecule and subsequent Coulomb explosion. These hydroxide formation reactions are exothermic with activation energies that are comparable to the water binding energy for the larger metals. This results in a competition between proton transfer and loss of a water molecule. The arrangement with one water ligand in the second solvation shell is a local minimum on the potential energy surface for all metals except Be. The two transition states separating this intermediate from the reactant and the products are identified. The second transition state determines the height of the activation barrier and corresponds to a M(2+)-OH(-)-H(3)O(+) "salt-bridge" structure. The computed B3LYP energy of this structure can be quantitatively reproduced by a simple ionic model in which Lewis charges are localized on individual atoms. This salt-bridge arrangement lowers the activation energy of the proton-transfer reaction by providing a loophole on the potential energy surface for the escape of H(3)O(+). Similar salt-bridge mechanisms may be involved in a number of proton-transfer reactions in small solvated metal ion complexes, as well as in other ionic reactions.     

Synthesis and crystal structure of the alkaline-earth thallates MnTl2O3+n (M=Ca,Sr)

The phases present in the Tl₂O₃–MO system, where M=Ca and Sr, have been synthesised and characterised using powder neutron diffraction data. The structures of the phases known to exist in the Ca_nTl₂O_3+n system with n=1, 1.5, 2 and 3 have been refined and the oxycarbonate phase with composition Ca₄Tl₂O₆CO₃ has been identified. In the Sr_nTl₂O_3+n system, the structures of the phases with n=1, 2 and 3 have also been refined. The M_nTl₂O_3+n phases with M=Ca and Sr and n=1–3 are related to the lillianite structure while the n=4 compound is an oxycarbonate that has been found to crystallise in I4/mmm symmetry for M=Ca and in three different modifications with space groups P4/mmm, I4/mmm and Pmmm for M=Sr, depending on the ordering of the carbonate groups. The relationships between these structures are discussed and comparisons are made to the previously published structures determined from X-ray powder diffraction data.     

Revisiting isoreticular MOFs of alkaline earth metals: a comprehensive study on phase stability, electronic structure, chemical bonding, and optical properties of A-IRMOF-1 (A = Be, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba)

Formation energies, chemical bonding, electronic structure, and optical properties of metal-organic frameworks of alkaline earth metals, A-IRMOF-1 (where A = Be, Mg, Ca, Sr, or Ba), have been systemically investigated with DFT methods. The unit cell volumes and atomic positions were fully optimized with the Perdew-Burke-Ernzerhof functional. By fitting the E-V data into the Murnaghan, Birch and Universal equation of states (UEOS), the bulk modulus and its pressure derivative were estimated and provided almost identical results. The data indicate that the A-IRMOF-1 series are soft materials. The estimated bandgap values are all ca. 3.5 eV, indicating a nonmetallic behavior which is essentially metal independent within this A-IRMOF-1 series. The calculated formation energies for the A-IRMOF-1 series are -61.69 (Be), -62.53 (Mg), -66.56 (Ca), -65.34 (Sr), and -64.12 (Ba) kJ mol(-1) and are substantially more negative than that of Zn-based IRMOF-1 (MOF-5) at -46.02 kJ mol(-1). From the thermodynamic point of view, the A-IRMOF-1 compounds are therefore even more stable than the well-known MOF-5. The linear optical properties of the A-IRMOF-1 series were systematically investigated. The detailed analysis of chemical bonding in the A-IRMOF-1 series reveals the nature of the A-O, O-C, H-C, and C-C bonds, i.e., A-O is a mainly ionic interaction with a metal dependent degree of covalency. The O-C, H-C, and C-C bonding interactions are as anticipated mainly covalent in character. Furthermore it is found that the geometry and electronic structures of the presently considered MOFs are not very sensitive to the k-point mesh involved in the calculations. Importantly, this suggests that sampling with Γ-point only will give reliable structural properties for MOFs. Thus, computational simulations should be readily extended to even more complicated MOF systems.     

Hydrothermal synthesis and crystal structures of two novel acentric mixed alkaline earth metal berylloborates Sr3Be2B5O12(OH) and Ba3Be2B5O12(OH)

The synthesis and structure of the isostructural acentric compounds Sr(3)Be(2)B(5)O(12)(OH) (1) and Ba(3)Be(2)B(5)O(12)(OH) (2) are reported for the first time. These compounds crystallize in the space group R3m, and the unit cell parameters are a = 10.277(15) ? and c = 8.484(17) ? for 1 and a = 10.5615(15) ? and c = 8.8574(18) ? for 2. The structures consist of a network of [Be(2)B(4)O(12)(OH)] units interwoven with a network consisting of MO(9) polyhedra (M = Sr, Ba) and BO(3) triangles and exemplify how acentric building blocks such as [BO(3)](3-), [BO(4)](5-), and [BeO(4)](6-) can be especially suitable to build noncentrosymmetric long-range structures. Both networks are centered on the 3-fold rotation axis and present themselves in alternating fashion along [001]. Acentricity is imparted by the alignment of the polarities of BO(3) and BeO(4) environments. Infrared spectroscopy has been used to confirm the local geometries of B and Be, as well as the presence of hydroxide in the crystal structure. Another interesting feature of these compounds is the presence of disorder involving Be and B at the tetrahedral Be site. The degree of the disorder has been confirmed by observing a noticeable shortening of average Be-O bond distances.     

Ba2[Ni3N2]: a low-valent nitridonickelate-synthesis, crystal structure, and physical properties

The ternary alkaline-earth nitridonickelate Ba2[Ni3N2] (Ba2[NiI2Ni0N2]) was prepared by the reaction of mixtures of Ba2N and Ni in nitrogen gas of ambient back-pressure at 1173 K. The crystal structure determined by X-ray single-crystal and powder diffraction methods as well as from neutron diffraction data at various temperatures between 2 and 298 K is orthorhombic (Cmca (no. 64), 298 K: a=715.27(18) pm, b=1032.99(21) pm, c=740.12(20) pm) and provides the first example of a nitridonickelate with a two-dimensional complex anion. The Ni2 atom is described with a split position and the corresponding superstructure variants are investigated by theoretical full-potential nonorthogonal local-orbital calculations (FPLO). The average oxidation state of Ni in Ba2[Ni3N2] is +0.67, the lowest average value observed in nitridonickelates so far. Investigations of the physical properties demonstrate that Ba2[Ni3N2] acts as a "poor" metal with a large resistivity of approximately 2.7 mOmega cm at 300 K and exhibits low-dimensional magnetism with antiferromagnetic ordering at T approximately 90 K. XAS spectra correspond with low-valent Ni states.     

V2O5/MO-Al2O3（M = Mg，Ca，Sr，Ba）催化剂用于正丁烷催化氧化脱氢反应

采用浸渍法制备了不同V2O5担载量的V2O5/MO-Al2O3(M = Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba)催化剂,钒物种的前驱体为偏钒酸铵.对制备的催化剂进行了一系列表征,并对催化剂上正丁烷选择性氧化脱氢制取丁烯进行了反应研究.表征结果(包括比表面积、X射线衍射、傅里叶红外光谱、氢气程序升温还原和拉曼光谱)显示,不同碱土金属元素掺杂的催化剂显示不同的钒价态信息和催化性能.其中掺杂Ca, Sr, Ba的催化剂,正钒酸盐相很难被还原,因此催化剂的氧化还原循环难以建立,导致以上三种催化剂在正丁烷氧化脱氢反应中活性较低.然而, Mg掺杂的催化剂却显示出较高的催化活性和选择性.实验结果表明：在Mg掺杂的载体上担载5% V2O5的催化剂上600°C时可获得高达30.3%的正丁烷转化率和64.3%的烯烃总选择性.这与V2O5担载量为5%时,在获得高度分散的钒氧化合物物种时可使MgO晶相稳定存在密切相关.     

MO-RE2O3-B2O3(M=Mg,Ca,Sr,Ba;RE=La,Eu,Gd)玻璃的发光性质

在空气中采用高温固相反应方法合成的17MO－（8-x-y)-75B2O3-xGd2O3(MLBEG,M-Mg,Ca,Sr,Ba)玻璃，在紫外光（λex=350nm)激发下发射蓝光和红光，在绿色光（λex=532nm)激发下发射红光，电子自旋共振谱研究表明玻璃体系中有Eu^2 离子存在，蓝色区的宽带发射是Eu^2 离子的5d-4f跃迁发射：红色区的窄带发射是Eu^3 离子的5Do-7FJ(J=1,2,3,4)跃迁发射，发现玻璃中的碱土金属离子对Eu^3 /Eu^2 离子的比例有很大影响，选择不同的碱土金属离子可以调节玻璃蓝色光和红色光的相对发射强度，MLBEG玻璃的发光性质可用于转换太阳能，增强植物的光合作用。     

A5Sn2As6 (A = Sr, Eu). Synthesis, crystal and electronic structure, and thermoelectric properties

Two new ternary Zintl phases, Sr(5)Sn(2)As(6) and Eu(5)Sn(2)As(6), have been synthesized, and their structures have been accurately determined through single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Both compounds crystallize in orthorhombic space group Pbam (No. 55, Z = 2) with cell parameters of a = 12.482(3)/12.281(5) ?, b = 14.137(3)/13.941(5) ?, and c = 4.2440(10)/4.2029(16) ? for Sr(5)Sn(2)As(6) (R1 = 0.0341; wR2 = 0.0628) and Eu(5)Sn(2)As(6) (R1 = 0.0324; wR2 = 0.0766), respectively. Their structure belongs to the Sr(5)Sn(2)P(6) type, which can be closely related to the Ca(5)Ga(2)As(6) type. Electronic band structure calculations based on the density functional theory reveal an interesting electronic effect in the structure formation of these two types of Zintl phases, which substantially affect their corresponding electronic band structure. Related studies on the thermal stability, magnetism, and thermoelectric properties of Eu(5)Sn(2)As(6) are presented as well.     

碱土金属铝酸盐系列长余辉磷光体的制备研究

研究了MAl2O4∶Eu2+(M=Ca,Sr,Ba)磷光体的制备过程,通过向磷光体中引入微量Dy3+,B3+等添加剂离子,得到了发绿色光的超长余辉磷光体,余辉发光初始亮度达4.8cd·m-2,激发停止50h后,其余辉发光仍清晰可见。制备出发紫色光、蓝色光及黄色光的碱土金属铝酸盐系列长余辉磷光体。分析了各磷光体发射光谱、激发光谱及余辉发光,讨论了磷光体的光谱移动以及Eu2+在碱土金属铝酸盐中的发光。     

Synthesis,crystal growth and structure,magnetic and electrical properties of Ba4Ru2FeO10 and Ba4Ru2CoO10

Crystals of Ba₄Ru₂FeO₁₀ and Ba₄Ru₂CoO₁₀ (Cmca, Z = 4, Ba₄Ru₂FeO₁₀: a = 5.7899(1) Å, b = 13.2898(3) Å, c = 13.0098(4) Å, V = 1001.06 Å³; Ba₄Ru₂CoO₁₀: a = 5.7691(2) Å, b = 13.2061(3) Å, c = 12.9755(4) Å, V = 988.57 Å³) were obtained from binary oxides and BaCoO₃ at 1300 °C. Both compounds crystallize isostructural to Ba₄Ru₃O₁₀ with different preference of the 3d metal at the two crystallographic sites of Ru in the parent compound. Ba₄Ru₂FeO₁₀ exhibits a spin-glass like transition at 25 K, while Ba₄Ru₂CoO₁₀ does not show any magnetic order down to 2 K. According to electrical resistivity measurements performed on single crystals both compounds are semiconductors. In contrast to the variable-range hopping of the transport mechanism of Co bearing material, the electrical resistivity of Ba₄Ru₂FeO₁₀ follows an activation law resulting in a band gap of approximately 0.98 eV.     

Transformation of AeIn4 Indides (Ae=Ba, Sr) into an AeAu2In2 structure type through gold substitution

The title compounds were prepared from the elements by high-temperature solid-state synthesis techniques. X-ray structural analyses shows that BaAu2In2 (1) and SrAu2In2 (2) crystallize in a new orthorhombic structure, Pnma, Z=4 (a=8.755(2), 8.530(2) A; b=4.712(1), 4.598(1) A; c=12.368(3), 12.283(4) A, respectively). Gold substitutes for 50% of the indium atoms in the tetragonal BaIn4 and monoclinic SrIn4 parents to give this new and more flexible orthorhombic structure. The Ae atoms in this structure are contained within chains of hexagonal prisms built of alternating In and Au that have additional augmenting atoms around their waists from further condensation of parallel displaced chains. The driving forces for these structural changes are in part the shorter Au-In distances (2.72 and 2.69 A) relative to d(In-In) in the parents, presumably because of relativistic contractions with Au. Generalities about such centered prismatic building blocks and their condensation modes in these and related phases are described. Band structure calculations (EHTB) demonstrate that the two compounds are metallic, which is confirmed by measurements of the resistivity of 1 and the magnetic susceptibilities of both.