Low-temperature luminescence of Eu3+ in K2EuCl5

The luminescence associated with the Eu³⁺ ion in K₂EuCl₅ has been studied at cryogenic temperatures under conditions of high resolution. Emission was observed to originate from both the ⁵D₀ and ⁵D₁ excited states, and transitions to the ${}^7\text{F}{}_0\text{,}{}^7\text{F}{}_1\text{,}{}^7\text{F}{}_2\text{,}{}^7\text{F}{}_3$, and ⁷F₄ ground levels were observed. The fine structure observed within these emission bands was found to be consistent with the existence of an effective C₄ site symmetry for the emitting Eu(III) species, even though the crystal structure does not indicate the presence of a true or pseudo C₄ axis.     

Nd3+, Eu3+, and Gd3+ ions as local probes in the NaxSr3−2xLnx(PO4)2 and KCaLn(PO4)2 rare earth phosphates

Use of Nd³⁺, Eu³⁺, and Gd³⁺ as local structural probes allows the determination of the rare earth positions in the Na_xSr_3?2xLn_x(PO₄)₂ (Ln = La to Tb) and KCaLn(PO₄)₂ phases (Ln = rare earth). Moreover, a common feature of both series is a particularly high splitting of the excitation ${}^6\text{P}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>7</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}$ and ${}^6\text{P}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>5</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}$ levels of the Gd³⁺ ions.     

Nonstoichiometry and defect structure of the perovskite-type oxides La1−xSrxFeO3−°

In order to elucidate the defect structure of the perovskite-type oxide solid solution La_1?xSr_xFeO_3?δ (x = 0.0, 0.1, 0.25, 0.4, and 0.6), the nonstoichiometry, δ, was measured as a function of oxygen partial pressure, P_O2, at temperatures up to 1200°C by means of the thermogravimetric method. Below 200°C and in an atmosphere of P_O2 ≥ 0.13 atm, δ in La_1?xSr_xFeO_3?δ was found to be close to 0. With decreasing log P_O2, δ increased and asymptotically reached $\text{x}\text{2}$. The value corresponding to $\text{δ =}\text{x}\text{2}$ was about ?10 at 1000°C. With further decrease in log P_O2, δ slightly increased. For LaFeO_3?δ, the observed δ values were as small as <0.015. It was found that the relation between δ and log P_O2 is interpreted on the basis of the defect equilibrium among Sr′_La (or V?_La for the case of LaFeO_3?δ), V^··_O, Fe′_Fe, and Fe^·_Fe. Calculations were made for the equilibrium constants K_ox of the reaction

$\text{1}\text{2}\text{O}{}_2\text{(g) + V}{}^{\mathrm{··}}{}_{\mathrm{o}}\text{+ 2Fe}{}^{\mathrm{x}}{}_{\mathrm{Fe}}\text{= O}{}^{\mathrm{x}}{}_{\mathrm{o}}\text{+ 2Fe}{}^{\mathrm{·}}{}_{\mathrm{Fe}}$

and K_i for the reaction

$\text{2Fe}{}^{\mathrm{x}}{}_{\mathrm{Fe}}\text{= Fe}{}^{\mathrm{\prime }}{}_{\mathrm{Fe}}\text{+ Fe}{}^{\mathrm{·}}{}_{\mathrm{Fe·}}$

Using these constants, the defect concentrations were calculated as functions of P_O2, temperature, and composition x. The present results are discussed with respect to previously reported results of conductivity measurements.     

Interactions magnétiques dans des groupements binucléaires [Fe2O7]8− au sein de Na8Fe2O7

The magnetic interaction in the structural units [Fe₂O₇]^8?, built of two corner-sharing FeO₄ tetrahedra, in Na₈Fe₂O₇ ($\text{Na}{}_2\text{O}\text{Fe}{}_2\text{O}{}_3\text{=}\text{4}\text{1}$) has been studied by magnetic susceptibility measurements (4.2–500 K). An exchange integral $\text{J}\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>B</mtext>}}$ of ?37 K is obtained by comparison of the experimental values and the calculated ones using a Heisenberg-Dirac-Van Vleck-type Hamiltonian ? = $\text{?2J}\text{S}\text{?}{}_1\text{S}\text{?}{}_2$. The hypothesis of magnetically isolated [Fe₂O₇]^8? groups is corroborated by Mössbauer spectroscopy between 1.5 and 77 K. The susceptibility measurements of the solid solutions Na₈Fe_2?xM_xO₇ (M = Al, Ga; 0 ≤ x ≤ 0.2 for Al; 0 ≤ x ≤ 2 for Ga) leads to the same conclusion of the existence of isolated Fe³⁺Fe³⁺ pairs in Na₈Fe₂O₇. The type of substitution of Fe by Al or Ga is determined; homonuclear Fe³⁺Fe³⁺ and M³⁺M³⁺ pairs and heteronuclear Fe³⁺M³⁺ pairs are formed.     

Etude comparative des structures type K4NiF4 et pérovskite par la méthode des invariants

The study of K₂NiF₄ and perovskite structure type by the “method of invariants” leads to the relationship: $\text{(A-X)}{}_9\text{2}{}^{\mathrm{<mtext>1</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}\text{? (A-X)}{}_{12}\text{=}\text{constant}$, where (A-X)₉ and (A-X)₁₂ are the invariant values associated with cation A in coordination number 9 and 12. In the case where A = K⁺ and X = F^?, we propose the relationship:

$\text{(K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{?F)}{}_{\mathrm{R}}\text{= 2.832 R}{}^{\mathrm{<mtext>1</mtext><mtext>11.4</mtext>}}$

where R is the coordination number.     

Valence state of the Fe ions in Sr1−yLayFeO3

The Sr²⁺_1?yLa³⁺_yFeO₃ system with 0.1 ≦ y ≦ 0.6 has been studied mainly by the Mössbauer effect. The results are discussed referring to the Ca_1?xSr_xFeO₃ system. The following four kinds of electronic phases have been observed: the paramagnetic and the antiferromagnetic average valence phases and the corresponding mixed valence phases. Two kinds of Fe ions coexist, in general, in the mixed valence phases. In the antiferromagnetic mixed valence phase, typically at 4 K, the magnetic hyperfine field and the center shift each takes a wide range of value depending on the composition, while a beautiful correlation is kept between them. The extreme values are close to those expected for Fe³⁺ and Fe⁵⁺. The appropriate chemical formulas are, therefore, Ca_1?xSr_xFe^(3+Δ)+_0.5Fe^(5?Δ)+_0.5O₃ and $\text{Sr}{}_{\mathrm{1?y}}\text{La}{}_{\mathrm{y}}\text{Fe}{}^{\mathrm{(3+\delta )+}}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>(1+y)</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}\text{Fe}{}^{\mathrm{(5?\delta )+}}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>(1?y)</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}\text{O}{}_3$.     

Etude cristallochimique des phases de type perovskite du systeme Th0.25 NbO3NaNbO3

The compound Th_0.25 NbO₃ melts congruently at 1390°C. Single crystals obtained by slow cooling from the melt are transparent and show uniaxial optical properties. A single-crystal X-ray analysis confirms the tetragonal cell found by Kovba and Trunov from a powder data and gives a = 3.90 Å and c = 7.85 Å. No systematic absence of the hkl reflections is observed on precession films. The relative intensities of the main reflections are characteristic of a perovskite-like arrangement ABO₃ whose large dodecahedral A sites are only partly occupied. Several domains have been found in the perovskite-type solid solution (1 ? x) Th_0.25NbO₃-x NaNbO₃. For 0 ? x ? 0.5 the phases have a tetragonal cell with $\text{a ? a}{}_0$ and $\text{c ? 2a}{}_0$ as in pure Th_0.25 NbO₃. When 0.6 ? x ? 0.8 the corresponding phases crystallize with a small cubic cell ($\text{a}{}_0\text{? 3.9}$Å), while phases with 0.9 ? x ? 1 have an orthorhombic cell ($\text{a ? 2}{}^{\mathrm{<mtext>1</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}\text{a}{}_0\text{, b ? 2}{}^{\mathrm{<mtext>1</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}\text{a}{}_0\text{, c ? a}{}_0$).     

Synthèse et caractérisation d'une série de titanates pérowskites isotypes de [CaCu3](Mn4)O12

A series of titanates which have perovskite-like arrangements and are isostructural with [CaCu₃](Mn₄)O₁₂ have been synthesized. The total charge of the A sites can be modified (1) by substituting the Ca²⁺ cations with monovalent ones and the tetravalent manganese cations of the B sites by a mixture of (Ti⁴⁺ + M⁵⁺) in which M = Ta, Nb, Sb, or (2) by substituting the Ca²⁺ cations by a combination of cations plus vacancies. In this case, if the total charge of the A sites is 2, one obtains compounds such as $\text{[}\text{Th}{}^{\mathrm{4+}}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>1</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}\text{□}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>1</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}\text{Cu}{}_3\text{](Ti}{}_4\text{)O}{}_{12}$ and $\text{[T}{}^{\mathrm{3+}}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>2</mtext><mtext>3</mtext>}}\text{□}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>1</mtext><mtext>3</mtext>}}\text{Cu}{}_3\text{](Ti}{}_4\text{O}{}_{12}\text{(T =}\text{rare earth}\text{)}$; on the contrary, if the charge is less than 2, then one has to compensate it by changing that of the B sites. This leads to compounds such as [□Cu₃](Ti₂M₂)O₁₂ (M = Ta, Nb, Sb).     

Crystal field parameters in USiO4 from temperature dependence of paramagnetic susceptibility

Based on the experimentally determined temperature dependence of the paramagnetic susceptibility of tetragonal USiO₄ within the temperature range 2–500°K, the crystal field parameters of D_2d symmetry have been estimated (in cm^?1): B⁰₂ = ?24, B⁰₄ = ?1.25, B⁴₄ = ?12.8, B⁰₆ = ?0.031, B⁴₆ = 0.51, and $\text{B}{}^4{}_4\text{B}{}^4{}_6\text{≈ ?25}$. The Γ₅ doublet with the approximate composition: 0.78|±1> + 0.63|?3> is the ground level of the U⁴⁺ ion. Singlet Γ₁ lying ca. 100 cm^?1 above is the first excited level. The total splitting of the ³H₄ term of the U⁴⁺ ion was estimated to be equal to ca. 7500 cm^?1.     

Synthèse et caractéristiques cristallographiques des phases solides de type fluorine des systèmes PbF2LnF3

A preliminary study of the PbF₂LnF₃ systems (Ln = lanthanides and Y) has allowed the characterisation of three phases: a disordered fluorite-like solid solution Pb_1?xLn_xF_2+x the domain of which increases with increasing temperature and dopant ion radius, and two anion-excess fluorite related superstructures: Pb₂YF₇ (tetragonal, space group I4 or $\text{I4}\text{m}\text{, a \#}\text{a}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>F</mtext>}}\text{√2}\text{, c \# 3a}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>F</mtext>}}$) and Pb₄Ln₃F₁₇ with Ln = SmLu (rhombohedral, space group $\text{R3, a}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>h</mtext>}}\text{\# (}\text{a}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>F</mtext>}}\text{√2}\text{)√7, c}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>h</mtext>}}\text{\# 2a}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>F</mtext>}}\text{√3}$). The crystallographic characteristics of the two ordered phases have been confirmed by electron diffraction.     

Thermodynamic properties of two metal-rich tantalum sulfides: Ta2S and Ta6S

The incongruent vaporization reactions of Ta₂S and Ta₆S have been investigated by mass-loss effusion in the temperature range 1576 to 1902 K. By extrapolation of P_S(obs) to equilibrium the enthalpies of the reactions $\text{3}\text{2}\text{Ta}{}_2\text{S(s)}\text{=}\text{1}\text{2}\text{Ta}{}_6\text{S(s) + S(g)}$ and Ta₆S = 6 Ta(s) + S(g) were found to be $\text{ΔH}{}^0{}_{298}\text{R}\text{= 53.0(0.3) · 10}{}^3\text{K}$ and $\text{ΔH}{}^0{}_{298}\text{R}\text{= 58.1(0.4) · 10}{}^3\text{K}$, respectively. Comparison between the above values, determined by a 2nd law treatment, and 3rd law values was used to derive fef (“free energy function”) values for Ta and S in the compounds. These postulated fef's, which apply only to the elements as present in the compounds measured, are compared to tabulated quantities for the pure solid elements to provide a criterion for 2nd and 3rd law evaluation.     

Diffusion of point defects participating in solid-phase chemical reactions (trap diffusion): Demonstration for the Ti3+ → Ti4+ transition in corundum

A problem of trap diffusion, that is diffusion of point defects in crystals participating in a solid-phase chemical reaction with motionless impurity ions, is solved. Time dependences of the reaction-front displacement, X_f, and its steepness, $\text{(}\text{?C}\text{?X}\text{)}{}_{\mathrm{f}}$ are determined analytically for N₀ ? C₀ and numerically for all relations of N₀ and C₀$\text{x}{}_{\mathrm{f}}{}^2\text{=2}\text{N}{}_0\text{C}{}_0\text{Dt; (}\text{ac}\text{ax}\text{)}{}_{\mathrm{f}}\text{=0.3C}{}_0{}^{\mathrm{<mtext>3</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}\text{(}\text{g}\text{D}\text{)}{}^{\mathrm{<mtext>1</mtext><mtext>2></mtext>}}$where C₀ and N₀ are the initial concentration of impurity and the eqilibrium defect concentration, respectively, D is a diffusion coefficient, and g is a chemical reaction constant. Dependence of X_f vs C₀ and t is confirmed for oxygen annealing of corundum crystals doped with titanium which, reacting with the point defects, changes its valency. The data are obtained for dependence of displacement X_f upon partial oxygen pressure and thermotreatment temperature as well as upon the sign of the constant electric field applied to the sample. From these data we conclude that the reaction of titanium impurity, changing from the three-valent to the tetravalent state at the activation energy of 80 ± 8.5 kcal/mole is due to anisotropic diffusion of charged aluminum vacancy and holes in the valence band. The diffusion coefficient for that process at 1500°C is estimated to be larger than 10^?5 cm²/sec. Using the trap-diffusion features, the concentration of optical centers of the 0.315-μm absorption band in ruby is also estimated.     

A study of magnetic interactions in M2EuRuO6 (M = Ca,Sr, Ba) by 151Eu Mössbauer spectroscopy

The series of compounds M₂EuRuO₆ (M = Ca, Sr, Ba) has been studied by ¹⁵¹Eu Mössbauer spectroscopy. X-Ray data show them to be structurally derived from the ABO₃ perovskite lattice, but only the Ba compound gives positive evidence to suggest ordering of the $\text{Eu}{}^{\mathrm{3+}}\text{Ru}{}^{\mathrm{5+}}$ cations. The ¹⁵¹Eu resonance shows magnetic hyperfine splitting at 4.2 K. The Ru⁵⁺OEu³⁺ORu⁵⁺ exchange takes place by admixture of low-lying excited states into the diamagnetic J = 0 ground-state of the Eu³⁺. The Curie temperatures are approximately 18, 31, and 42 K for the Ca, Sr, and Ba compounds. Detailed analysis shows that substantial disorder of cations occurs, being quite large for Ca, <8% for Sr, and <5% for Ba. However, it appears that considerable canting of the Ru⁵⁺ spins takes place in the Ba compound immediately below the Curie temperature as a result of the disorder and low anisotropy at the Ru sites. This effect is much reduced in the more distorted Sr compound.     

NMR study of hydrogen molybdenum bronzes: H1.71MoO3 and H0.36MoO3

Proton NMR relaxation times (T₂T₁, and T_1?) and absorption spectra are reported for the compounds H_1.71MoO₃ (red monoclinic) and H_0.36MoO₃ (blue orthorhombic) in the temperature range 77 K < T < 450 K. Rigid lattice dipolar spectra show that both compounds contain proton pairs, as OH₂ groups coordinated to Mo atoms in H_1.71MoO₃ and as pairs of OH groups in H_0.36MoO₃. The room temperature lineshape for H_1.71MoO₃ shows that the average chemical shielding tensor has a total anisotropy of 20.1 ppm. The relaxation measurements confirm that hydrogen diffusion occurs and give E_A = 22 kJ mole^?1 and $\text{τ}{}^0{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>C</mtext>}}\text{? 10}{}^{\mathrm{?13}}\text{sec}$ for H_1.71MoO₃ and E_A = 11 kJ mole^?1 and $\text{τ}{}^0{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>C</mtext>}}\text{? 3 × 10}{}^{\mathrm{?8}}\text{sec}$ for H_0.36MoO₃.     

Crystal structure,Mössbauer,and magnetic behavior of mixed valence compounds in the BaFeS system: Ba3(Ba1−xAlx)Fe2S6[S1−y(S2)y]

The compounds $\text{Ba}{}_4\text{Fe}{}_2\text{S}{}_6\text{[S}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>2</mtext><mtext>3</mtext>}}\text{(}\text{S}{}_2\text{)}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>1</mtext><mtext>3</mtext>}}\text{]}$ and Ba_3.6Al_0.4Fe₂S₆[S_0.6(S₂)_0.4], designated I and II, were prepared by reacting BaS, Fe, and S powders and Al foils in graphite containers sealed in evacuated quartz ampoules at approximately 1100°C. The crystal structure of I was determined using 1682 independent, nonzero X-ray reflections, while 3589 were used for II. They are triclinic, $\text{A}\text{l}$:

$\text{a=9.002(2)}\text{A}\text{?}\text{,b=6.7086(8)}\text{A}\text{?}\text{,c=24.658(4)}\text{A}\text{?}\text{α91.49(2)°,}$

$\text{β=105.10(2)°y=90.74(2)°,ψ}{}_{\mathrm{calc}}\text{=4.15g/cm}{}^3\text{,for I:}$

$\text{a=8.993(6)}\text{A}\text{?}\text{,b=6.708(7)}\text{A}\text{?}\text{,c=24.70(1)}\text{A}\text{?}\text{α91.11(6)°,}$

$\text{β=105.04(6)°y=90.90(9)°,ψ}{}_{\mathrm{calc}}\text{=3.90g/cm}{}^3\text{,for II:}$

BaS₆ trigonal prisms share edges to form distorted hexagonal rings which form one-dimensional chains leaving two free lateral edges. The chains link in a stairstep manner with the rings offset along the [301] direction. These stairsteps join in a complicated manner to form a three-dimensional network. Fe ions are in two sites forming isolated FeS₄ tetrahedra and isolated Fe₂S₆ dimers by edge-sharing tetrahedra. The Al substitution occurs in the trigonal prisms which have free edges with Al replacing Ba. Room-temperature Mössbauer isomer shifts are 0.20 mm/sec. for I and 0.30 mm/sec for II. These data indicate that upon Al substitution charge compensation occurs by reducing Fe³⁺. Valence calculations indicate that Fe in edge-sharing tetrahedra are reduced while the Fe in the isolated tetrahedron remains unchanged. The effective charge distribution in the Al substituted compound is approximately Fe³⁺, Fe^2.5+ with electron delocalization across the shared edge. Room temperature electrical resistivity is 10⁵ ohm/cm. The compositions of the crystals are best represented by the formulas $\text{[}\text{Ba}{}_4\text{Fe}{}_2\text{S}{}_7\text{]}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>2</mtext><mtext>3</mtext>}}\text{·[}\text{Ba}{}_4\text{Fe}{}_2\text{S}{}_6\text{(S}{}_2\text{)]}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>1</mtext><mtext>3</mtext>}}$ and [Ba₃AlFe₂S₇]_0.4·[Ba₄Fe₂S₇]_0.2·[Ba₄Fe₂S₆(S₂)]_0.4. The replacement of a sulfide by a disulfide ion is thought to be strongly dependent on the sulfur activity during the preparation.     

Structure,spectral properties and interconversions of bis-niobocenes and their dianions. The crystal and molecular structure of [(η5-C5H4SiMe2OSiMe2-η5 : η1-C5H3)2Nb2H2] [Na(OEt2)2]2

Electron-acceptor properties of bis-niobocenes (η⁵-C₅H₄Y)(H)$\text{Nb(η}{}^5\text{: η}{}^1\text{-C}{}_5\text{H}{}_3\text{X)}{}_2\text{N}$b(H)(η⁵-C₅H₄Y) with X  Y  H and XY  SiMe₂OSiMe₂have been investigated. Bis-niobocenes are shown to readily add two electrons forming stable salts of the corresponding dianions [(η⁵-C₅H₄Y)(H)Nb(η⁵ : η¹- C₅H₃X)₂Nb(H)(η⁵-C₅H₄Y)]^2-. The surplus electrons can be removed to give quantitative regeneration of initial neutral bis-niobocenes. The crystal and molecular structure of the title compound has been determined; R  0.044, interatomic distance are Nb…Nb 3.93, NbH 1.62, average NbC(π) 2.36, NbC(σ) 2.31 Å, other distances correspond to the usually observed values. Unlike the neutral bis-niobocenes, there is no direct metalmetal bond in the dianionic structures. This conclusion is supported by electronic spectra of neutral and dianionic species.     

Idle spin behavior of the shifted hexagonal tungsten bronze type compounds FeIIFeIII2F8(H2O)2 and MnFe2F8(H2O)2

Fe^IIFe^III₂F₈(H₂O)₂ and MnFe₂F₈(H₂O)₂, grown by hydrothermal synthesis ($\text{P ? 200}\text{MPa}\text{, T = 450}\text{or}\text{380°}\text{C}$), crystallize in the monoclinic system with cell dimensions (Å): a = 7.609(5), b = 7.514(6), c = 7.453(4), β = 118.21(3)°; and a = 7.589(6), b = 7.503(8), c = 7.449(5), β = 118.06(3)°, and space group $\text{C2}\text{m}\text{, Z = 2}$. The structure is related to that of $\text{WO}{}_3\text{·}\text{1}\text{3}\text{H}{}_2\text{O}$. It is described in terms of perovskite type layers of Fe³⁺ octahedra separated by Fe²⁺ or Mn²⁺ octahedra, or in terms of shifted hexagonal bronze type layers. Both compounds present a weak ferromagnetism below T_N (157 and 156 K, respectively). Mössbauer spectroscopy points to an “idle spin” behavior for Fe^IIFe^III₂F₈(H₂O)₂: only Fe³⁺ spins order at T_N, while the Fe²⁺ spins remain paramagnetic between 157 and 35 K. Below 35 K, the hyperfine magnetic field at the Fe²⁺ nuclei is very weak: H_hf = 47 kOe at T = 4.2 K. For MnFe₂F₈(H₂O)₂, Mn²⁺ spin disorder is expected at 4.2 K. This “idle spin” behavior is due to magnetic frustration.     

Über Ordnungs-Unordnungsphänomene bei Sauerstoff perowskiten vom Typ A2+3B2+M5+2O9

Perovskites of the type A²⁺₃B²⁺M⁵⁺₂O₉, where A²⁺ = Ba, Sr; B²⁺ = Mn, Co, Ni, Zn; M⁵⁺ = Nb, Ta, show order-disorder phenomena. At lower temperatures a thermodynamically unstable disordered cubic perovskite is formed ($\text{1}\text{3}$ formula unit—$\text{AB}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>1</mtext><mtext>3</mtext>}}\text{M}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>2</mtext><mtext>3</mtext>}}\text{O}{}_3$—in the cell), which transforms irreversibly into a 1: 2 ordered high-temperature form with 3L structure (sequence (c)₃). For A²⁺ = Ba this lattice is hexagonal (space group $\text{P}\text{3}\text{m1}$; one formula unit in the cell); with A²⁺ = Sr a triclinic distortion is observed. For Ba₃CoNb₂O₉ a second transformation into a cubic disordered perovskite takes place at 1500°C. This transition is reversible and of the order-disorder type. The vibrational and diffuse reflectance spectra are discussed.     

The crystal structure of Sc2Ru5B4

The crystal structure of Sc₂Ru₅B₄ has been determined by single-crystal X-ray analysis. Sc₂Ru₅B₄ crystallizes in the primitive monoclinic space group $\text{P2}\text{m}$ with a = 9.983(6), b = 8.486(4), c = 3.0001(3)Å, γ = 90.01(7)°, Z = 2. Deviations from the orthorhombic space group Pbam-D⁹_2h are small but significant. Intensity measurements were obtained from a four-circle diffractometer. The structure was solved by Patterson methods and refined by full matrix least-squares calculation. $\text{R =}\text{∑|ΔF|}\text{∑|F}{}_0\text{|}\text{= 0.036}$ for an asymmetric set of 863 independent reflections (|F₀|>2σ(F₀)). The crystal structure is characterized by two different types of boron atoms: (a) isolated borons B(1) and B(3) in distorted trigonal Ru-prisms with tetrakaidekahedral metal coordination: 6Ru + 3Sc, and (b) boron atoms B(2) and B(4) with a pronounced tendency to form boron pairs (B(2)-B(2) = 1.86 Å, B(4)-B(4) = 1.89 Å); the metal coordination of these boron atoms is 6Ru + 2Sc. Sc atoms have a coordination number of 17 consisting of 10Ru + 2Sc + 5B. The crystal structure of Sc₂Ru₅B₄ is a pentagon layer structure (Ru, B atoms) with a 4.3.4.3²-secondary layer of Sc atoms. The structure is furthermore related to the structure types of Ti₃Co₅B₂ and CeCo₃B₂. From powder photographs Sc₂Os₅B₄ is isotypic. No superconductivity was observed for Sc₂(Ru, Os)₅B₄ down to 1.5 K.