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.     

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.     

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.     

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.     

Etude par diffraction de neutrons de la phase Sr0,5La1,5Li0,5Fe0,5O4

A neutron diffraction study has been carried out on Sr_0.5La_1.5Li_0.5Fe_0.5O₄ of K₂NiF₄-type derived structure and it has shown that iron in the tetravalent state has a high spin configuration (t³_2ge¹_g) and that the material has some stacking defects. At room temperature this compound shows an ordering between iron and lithium atoms leading to a nuclear cell a₀√2, a₀√2, c₀ (a₀ and c₀ are the parameters of the K₂NiF₄-type cell). At low temperature ($\text{T <}\text{T}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>N</mtext>}}\text{2}$) the magnetic structure can be described as antiferromagnetic, corresponding likely to a colinear pattern with a propagation vector of 0.5 ($\text{2π}\text{a}{}_0$) along the [110] axis. At higher temperature ($\text{T}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>N</mtext>}}\text{2}\text{< T < T}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>N</mtext>}}$) helimagnetic structure is consistent with a propagation vector of 0.47 ($\text{2π}\text{a}{}_0$) [110].     

KxP2W2O16: A bronze with a tunnel structure built up from PO4 tetrahedra and WO6 octahedra

The structure of a $\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{x}}\text{P}{}_2\text{W}{}_4\text{O}{}_{16}\text{(x ? 0.4)}$ crystal was established by X-ray analysis. The solution in the cell of symmetry $\text{P2}{}_1\text{m}$, with a = 6.6702(5), b = 5.3228(8), c = 8.9091(8) Å, β = 100.546(7)°, Z = 1, has led to R = 0.033 and R_w = 0.036 for 2155 reflections with $\text{σ(I)}\text{I}\text{≤ 0.333}$. This structure can be described as two octahedra-wide ReO₃-type slabs connected through “planes” of PO₄ tetrahedra. A new structural family K_xP₂W_2nO_6n+4 can be foreseen which is closely related to the orthorhombic P₄W₈O₃₂ and the monoclinic Rb_xP₈W_8nO_24n+16 series.     

Cryogenic luminescence studies of Eu3+ in LiEuCl4

The luminescence associated with the Eu³⁺ ion in LiEuCl₄ 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 D₄ site symmetry for the emitting Eu³⁺ species, even though the europium polyhedron was found to be that of a bisdisphenoid.     

Electrical conductivity in calcium titanate

The electrical conductivity of polycrystalline CaTiO₃ was measured over the temperature range 800–1100°C while in thermodynamic equilibrium with oxygen partial pressures from 10^?22 to 10⁰ atm. The data were found to be proportional to the $\text{?}\text{1}\text{6}\text{th}$ power of the oxygen partial pressure for the oxygen pressure range 10^?16 – 10^?22 atm, proportional to for the oxygen pressure range 10^?8 – 10^?15 atm, and proportional to for the oxygen pressure range greater than 10^?4 atm. The region of linearity where the electrical conductivity varies as $\text{?}\text{1}\text{4}\text{th}$ power of P_O2 increased as the temperature was decreased. The observed data are consistent with the presence of small amounts of acceptor impurities in CaTiO₃. The band-gap energy (extrapolated to zero temperature) was estimated to be 3.46 eV.     

Electrical conductivity and defect structure of Nd2O3+x

The electrical conductivity and departure from the stoichiometry of Nd₂O₃ have been measured over the temperature range of 900° to 1100°C and oxygen partial pressure of 1 to 10^?16 atm. The hole conductivity of Nd₂O₃ is found to be proportional to , where n are 4.6, 4.9, and 5.1 at 900°, 1000°, and 1100°C, respectively. From the oxygen partial pressure dependence of the hole conductivity, it is shown that the predominant point defects in nonstoichiometric NdO_1·+x are fully ionized and partially doubly ionized metal vacancies. From the thermogravimetric measurements, the departure from stoichiometry, x in NdO_1·5+x, is 2.0 × 10^?3 at 1000°C and 1 atm. By combining the electrical conductivity and weight change data, it is shown that the hole mobility is 6.3 × 10^?4 (cm²/V·sec) at 1000°C and 1 atm.     

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.     

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.     

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).     

Oxygen defect K2NiF4-type oxides: The compounds La2−xSrxCuO4−x2+δ

Oxygen defect K₂NiF₄-type oxides $\text{La}{}_{\mathrm{2?x}}\text{Sr}{}_{\mathrm{x}}\text{CuO}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>4?</mtext><mtext>x</mtext><mtext>2</mtext><mtext>+\delta </mtext>}}$ have been synthesized for a wide composition range: 0 ≤ x ≤ 1.34. From the X-ray and electron diffraction study three domains have been characterized: orthorhombic compounds with La₂CuO₄ structure for 0 ≤ x < 0.10, tetragonal oxides similar to LaSrCuO₄ for 0.10 ≤ x < 1 and several superstructures derived from the tetragonal cell ( with n = 3, 4, 4.5, 5, 6) for 1 ≤ x ≤ 1.34. The compounds corresponding to 0 < x < 1 differ from the other oxides in that they are characterized by the presence of copper with two oxidation states: + 2 and + 3. A model structure for La_0.8Sr_1.2CuλO_3.4, in which copper has only the + 2 oxidation state, and for which the actual cell is tegragonal—a = 18.80₄ Å and c = 12.94 Å—has been established. The particular structural evolution of these compounds is discussed in terms of a competition between the capability of Cu(II) to be oxidized to Cu(III) and the ordering of oxygen vacancies.     

Electrical conductivity in strontium titanate with nonideal cationic ratio

The electrical conductivity of polycrystalline strontium titanate with ($\text{Sr}\text{Ti}\text{= 0.996, 0.99,}\text{and}\text{0.98}$ was determined for the oxygen partial pressure range of 10⁰ to 10^?22 atm and the temperature range of 850–1050°C. These data were found to be similar to that obtained for the sample with ideal cationic ratio. The observed data were proportional to the $\text{?}\text{1}\text{6}$ power of oxygen partial pressure for P_O2 < 10^?15atm, proportional to for the pressure range 10^?8–10^?15 atm, and proportional to for P_O2 > 10^?4atm. The deviation from the ideal Sr-to-Ti ratio was found to be accommodated by neutral vacancy pairs, (V″_Sr V″₀. The results indicate that the single-phase field of strontium titanate extends beyond 50.505 mole% TiO₂ at elevated temperatures.     

Tracer diffusion coefficient of oxide ions in LaCoO3 single crystal

The tracer diffusion coefficient, $\text{D1}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>O</mtext>}}$, of oxide ions in LaCoO₃ single crystal was determined over the temperature range of 700–1000°C by a gas-solid isotopic exchange technique using ¹⁸O tracer. For the determination, two methods, the gas phase analysis and the depth profile measurement, were employed. Under an oxygen pressure of 34 Torr, the temperature dependence of $\text{D1}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>O</mtext>}}$ in LaCoO₃ was expressed by

$\text{D1}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>O</mtext>}}\text{(}\text{cm}{}^2\text{·}\text{sec}{}^{\mathrm{?1}}\text{) = 3.63 × 10}{}^4\text{exp}\text{?}\text{(74 ± 5)}\text{kcal}\text{·}\text{mole}{}^{\mathrm{?1}}\text{RT}$

$\text{D1}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>O</mtext>}}$ at 950°C was found to be proportional to P^?0.35_O2. The diffusion of oxide ions occurs through a vacancy mechanism. The activation energy for the migration of oxide ion vacancies was estimated as 18 kcal · mole^?1.     

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.     

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.     

Studies of spinels. VII. Order-disorder transition in the inverse germanate spinels Zn2−x(Co,Ni)xGeO4(x ⋍ 1)

A series of germanate spinels Zn_2?x(Ni, Co)_xGeO₄ has been synthesized and investigated by X-ray diffractometry and infrared spectroscopy. Synthesis at 1200°C leads to cubic phases characterized by an inverse, disordered distribution of Ge and bivalent cations (essentially Ni or Co) over the octahedral sites; however, the presence of some short-range order is suggested by the infrared spectrum. Tempering at an appropriate temperature (between 800 and 900°C, depending on the $\text{Co}\text{Ni}$ ratio) leads to tetragonal spinel phases, corresponding to the 1:1 order between Ge and bivalent cation on octahedral sites. The transformation is sluggish and proceeds at a significant rate only in a narrow temperature range, just below the transition temperature. A comparison with the behavior of known inverse, ordered titanate spinels shows that, within the family of inverse II–IV spinels M₂^IIM^IVO₄, the ratio of the octahedral cationic radii is one of the factors determining the order-disorder transition temperature, and the importance of the tetragonal distortion.     

Peroxo salts as initiators of vinyl polymerization—2. Kinetics of polymerization of acrylic acid and sodium-acrylate by peroxodisulphate in aqueous solution—effect of pH and Ag+ catalysis

Results on the rate of polymerization of acrylic acid by S₂O^2?₈ ion in alkaline and acid conditions are presented. R_p depended upon $\text{[S}{}_2\text{O}{}^{\mathrm{2?}}{}_8\text{]}{}^{\mathrm{<mtext>1</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}$ and $\text{[monomer]}{}^{\mathrm{<mtext>3</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}$ both in acid and alkaline solutions. The influence of ionic strength, the effect of pH on R_p and the catalytic effect of Ag⁺ and Cu²⁺ on the system have been discussed. Suitable mechanisms are proposed.     

The preparation of hot-pressed chalcogenide spinels. II. Stoichiometry and optical transparency in CdCr2S4 and CoCr2S4

The compounds CdCr₂S₄ and CoCr₂S₄ have been hot pressed into disks that are highly transparent in the infrared. Stoichiometry has been altered by varying the $\text{Cr}{}^{\mathrm{3+}}\text{M}{}^{\mathrm{2+}}$ ratio, where M²⁺ is Cd²⁺ or Co²⁺. The effects of nonstoichiometry on optical transmission were determined. Excess M²⁺ attenuates the transmission much more than excess Cr³⁺.