Structures and properties of layered barium borates Ba0.975[B6O9(OH)(O0.975Br0.025) · B2O(OH)3], Ba2[B5O8(OH)2](OH), Na2Ba2[B20O34(OH)4], and Ba5[B20O33(OH)4]H2O

A new hexaborate, Ba_0.975[B₆O₉(OH)(O_0.975Br_0.025) · B₂O(OH)₃], was synthesized under hydrothermal conditions. This compound is structurally similar to tunnelite and the synthetic borates Pb[B₆O₁₀(OH) · B₂O(OH)₃], Pr[B₆O₁₀(OH) · B₂O(OH)₄], and Nd[B₆O₁₀ · B₃O₃(OH)₄] · H₂O studied earlier. In the new hexaborate and the refined pentaborate Ba₂[B₅O₈(OH)₂]OH, in which the polyanions adopt an orientation in layers unusual for pentaborates, thermal vibrations of the terminal groups were revealed. This fact reflects the real crystal structure. The nonlinear optical properties of the crystals of the polar pentaborate Na₄Ba₄[B₂₀O₃₄(OH)₄] were determined. The crystal structure of the related pentaborate Ba₅[B₂₀O₃₃(OH)₄]H₂O was considered. The factors most likely responsible for the difference in the second-harmonic generation signal for this pair were revealed.     

Optical absorption of cobalt (II) in binary thallium borate glasses

The optical absorption spectra of cobalt (II) in Tl₂OB₂O₃ glasses have been studied and compared with those in binary alkali borate glasses. In thallium borate glasses cobalt (II) may be present in octahedral and/or in tetrahedral symmetry depending upon the composition of the glass. In low thallium borate glasses cobalt (II) is octahedral while the concentration of tetrahedral cobalt (II) increases with increasing Tl₂O content of the glass; the formation of tetrahedral cobalt (II) becomes noticeable when the concentration of Tl₂O reaches above the critical concentration of about 19 mol %. The ligand field parameters: 10Dq and B have been calculated from the absorption spectra of cobalt (II) in different glasses and it has been found that the Racah parameter, B, is more in Tl₂OB₂O₃ glasses than those in Na₂OB₂O₃ or K₂OB₂O₃ glasses of corresponding molar composition. This indicates that the donor capacity of the BO₄ group in thallium borate glasses is lower than that in alkali borate glasses; this is consistent with the NMR results in Tl₂OB₂O₃ glasses containing less than 20 mol % Tl₂O where three BO₄ groups have been found to form with each Tl₂O unit added.     

Crystal Growth,Thermal and Linear Optical Properties of the Non‐Centrosymmetric Hydrated Tetraborates Na2[B4O5(OH)4] . 3H2O (Tincalconite) and K2[B4O5(OH)4] . 2H2O

Large single crystals of the non‐centrosymmetric hydrated tetraborates Na₂[B₄O₅(OH)₄] . 3H₂O (Tincalconite) (point group 32) and K₂[B₄O₅(OH)₄] . 2H₂O(point group 222) were grown from aqueous solutions and the linear optical properties (refractive indices between 365 nm and 1530 nm and unpolarized absorption spectra) as a basis for nonlinear optical investigations were determined. The uniaxial positive sodium salt is not phase matchable; in the orthorhombic potassium compound type I phase matching is possible in the near infrared region. Thermal investigations indicate a phase transition at ≈285 K for Na₂[B₄O₅(OH)₄] . 3H₂O.     

Partitioning of gadolinium and its induced phase separation in sodium-aluminoborosilicate glasses

Phase separation in sodium-aluminoborosilicate glasses was systematically studied as a function of Gd₂O₃ concentration with transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) methods. Gadolinium-induced phase separation in the glasses can be consistently explained by proposing that Gd cations partition to the borate-rich environments and subsequent agglomeration of the Gd-borate moieties, or short-range ordered structural groups, in the glass. Agglomeration of the Gd-borate rich environments is further discussed within the context of excess metal oxides, [Na₂O]_ex or [Al₂O₃]_ex=|Na₂O-Al₂O₃|, and excess B₂O₃, [B₂O₃]_ex, available for incorporating Gd cations. Results showed that agglomeration of the Gd-borate rich environments occurred at a much lower Gd₂O₃ concentration in the glass without [Na₂O]_ex or [Al₂O₃]_ex and at a significantly higher Gd₂O₃ concentration in the glass with either [Na₂O]_ex or [Al₂O₃]_ex. Assuming 1BO₄:1Gd:2BO₃ (based on literature-reported Gd-metaborate structure) as a local Gd-borate environment in glass, we introduced the saturation index of boron, SI_[B]=Gd₂O₃/(1/3[B₂O₃]_ex), to examine the glass susceptibility to Gd-induced phase separation for all three alkali-aluminoborosilicate systems. While our results have provided some insight to the glass structure, they also provide insight to the mechanism by which the metal oxide is dissolved into the melt. This appears to occur predominately through boron complexation of the metal oxide.     

A new nonlinear optical borate, Na0.5Pb2[B5O9](OH)1.5 · 0.5H2O, from the orthorhombic hilgardite family

A new polar representative of the hilgardite structural family, Na_0.5Pb₂[B₅O₉](OH)_1.5 · 0.5H₂O (space group Pnn2), is synthesized under hydrothermal conditions. The crystal structure of the compound synthesized is similar to the structure of the previously studied polar compound Na_0.5Pb₂[B₅O₉]Cl(OH)_0.5 and is intermediate between the latter compound and the centrosymmetric hydrate Pb₂[B₅O₉](OH) · 0.5H₂O. The additional peak revealed in the electron density in the vicinity of the Pb(1) atom is attributed to the stereochemically active lone electron pair of this atom. The lone electron pair is oriented toward the two most distant oxygen atoms involved in the Pb(1) coordination environment, namely, O(7) and O(2), which are located in a boron-oxygen framework layer in the ac plane, not toward the (00_z) channel occupied by water molecules. The nonequivalence in the stereochemical activity of two lead atoms [Pb(1) > Pb(2)] is similar to that observed in the nonlinear optical borate Pb₂[B₄O₅(OH)₄](OH)₂ · H₂O related to BiB₃O₆.     

Phase equilibria in the Ba2Na3[B3O6]2F-BaF2 system

The phase equilibria in the Ba₂Na₃[B₃O₆]₂F-BaF₂ section, which belongs to the ternary mutual Ba, Na//BO₂,F system, have been studied by the methods of solid-phase synthesis, visual polythermal analysis, and differential-thermal analyses. It is shown that this section can be used to grow bulk Ba₂Na₃[B₃O₆]₂F crystals.     

Crystal structure of the lead bromo-borate Pb<Subscript>2</Subscript>[B<Subscript>5</Subscript>O<Subscript>9</Subscript>]Br from precision single-crystal X-ray diffraction data and the problem of optical nonlinearity of hilgardites

The structural features responsible for the high nonlinear optical activity of crystals of the hilgardite-like anhydrous bromo-borate Pb₂[B₅O₉]Br (space group Pnn2) are analyzed with the use of data obtained from two (precision and conventional) single-crystal X-ray diffraction experiments. The electron-density peaks associated with the stereochemically active lone electron pair are located in free space at two equally probable positions in the vicinity of the Pb(2) atom on the side of the two most distant atoms, Br(1) and Br(2). The stereochemical activity of two nonequivalent lead atoms in the crystal structure increases upon changing over from the Pb(1) atom to the Pb(2) atom. This is in agreement with the behavior of the lone electron pairs in the hilgardite-like hydrated borate Na_0.5Pb₂[B₅O₉](OH)_1.5 · 0.5H₂O and another nonlinear optical borate, namely, Pb₂[B₄O₅(OH)₄](OH)₂ · H₂O, which is related to the compound BiB₃O₆. The most pronounced nonlinear optical properties of the lead bromo-borate Pb₂[B₅O₉]Br as compared to other orthorhombic hilgardites and lead borates are associated with the presence of highly polarized Pb-Br bonds. In this case, the electron density of the lone electron pair of the Pb(2) atom enhances the polarization effect.     

11B and 27Al NMR studies of glasses in the system Na2OB2O3Al2O3 (“NABAL”)

¹¹B and ²⁷Al nuclear magnetic resonances (NMR) in glasses of the NABAL system Na₂OB₂O₃Al₂O₃ have been studied as a function of composition. From the boron data, the fraction of four-coordinated BO₄ units has been determined via computer analysis of the NMR spectra; the method is similar to that employed previously for binary and other ternary borate glasses. The ²⁷Al NMR indicates no abrupt change in the average aluminum environment. Certain linear relationships have been found which yield detailed information on the competing processes of BO₃, BO₄ and AlO₄ formation, and the formation of triclusters consisting of three tetrahedra having one oxygen in common. Furthermore, it is concluded that the oxygen available for the formation of various aluminum-containing species is a function of the soda concentration only and that the conversion to AlO₄ is favored as compared with BO₄.     

IR and Raman investigation on the structure of (100-x)[0.33B2O3–0.67ZnO]–xV2O5 glasses

Glasses with molar composition of (100-x)[0.33B₂O₃–0.67ZnO]–xV₂O₅, x = 0, 5, 10, 15 and 20, were prepared, and the effect of V₂O₅ on the structure of the glass was investigated by IR and Raman spectroscopy, TEM and DTA. This investigation shows that [BO₃], [BO₄] and [VO₄] structural units are the predominant coordination polyhedra in the borovanadate glass. From the vanadium-free zinc borate glass, meta-, di-, pyro- and orthoborate groups were observed. Adding V₂O₅ leads to the random substitution of [BO₃] or [BO₄] units in these borate groups by the [VO₄] units, forming corresponding borovanadate groups. With increasing V₂O₅ content, the transition temperature of the glass decreases, that comes from the decrease of the interconnection of the structure units and the substitution of O–B–O by weaker O–V–O linkages.     

Short range order and glass transition in AgIAg2OB2O3 vitreous electrolytes

Several experimental techniques are used to study the short range order, the dynamics and the glass transition in AgIAg₂B₂O₃ compounds. Addition of Ag₂O to B₂O₃, up to [Ag₂O]/[B₂O₃] ?0.5 modifies the borate network by creating a BO₄ unit for each silver added. Addition of AgI decreases the glass transition temperature (T_g) but has only minor effects on the short range structure of the borate network. Silver iodide is partially accomodated in the interstices of the glass network. The relationship among a tentative structural picture, the ion transport phenomena and the low temperature dynamics are discussed.An investigation of the dynamics in the AgI·Ag₂O·2B₂O₃ glass near and above T_g is presented. With NMR techniques, we monitor the onset of tumbling of the borate units and the dynamical effects of crystallization and/or aging of the glass. Hysteresis effects in the ionic conductivity (σ) temperature dependence and the non-Arrhenian behavior of σT near T_g are interpreted in terms of structural modifications occurring at elevated temperatures in the glass.     

Nuclear magnetic resonance studies of the glasses in the system Na2OB2O3SiO2

The ¹¹B NMR spectra have been used to study the structure of glasses in the system Na₂OB₂O₃SiO₂. The fraction of BO₄ units, and the fraction of BO₃ units with one or two nonbridging oxygens, are measured and analyzed according to a structural model. The results indicate that: (1) for a sodium oxide to boron oxide ratio of 0.5 or less, the Na⁺¹ ions are attracted primarily by the borate network; therefore, the ternary glasses can be viewed as binary sodium borate glasses diluted by SiO₂; (2) when the sodium oxide to boron oxide ratio exceeds 0.5, the additional Na₂O results in the formation of [BSi₄O₁₀]^?1 units at the expense of diborate and SiO₄ units. In this process, Na⁺¹ ions are still taken up only by the borate network. After all the available SiO₄ units are consumed to form [BSi₄O₁₀]^?1 units, additional Na⁺¹ ions are proportionally shared between the borate and silicate networks.     

Crystal structure of a new polar borate Na<Subscript>2</Subscript>Ce<Subscript>2</Subscript>[BO<Subscript>2</Subscript>(OH)][BO<Subscript>3</Subscript>]<Subscript>2</Subscript> · H<Subscript>2</Subscript>O with isolated boron triangles

Crystals of a new polar borate Na₂Ce₂[BO₂(OH)][BO₃]₂ · H₂O were prepared by hydrothermal synthesis. The crystals are orthorhombic, a = 7.2295(7) Å, b = 11.2523(8) Å, c = 5.1285(6) Å, Z = 2, sp. gr. C2mm (Amm2), R = 0.0253. The formula of the compound was derived from the structure determination. The Ce and Na atoms are coordinated by nine and six O atoms, respectively. The Ce position is split, and a small amount of Ce is incorporated into the Na1 site with the isomorphous substitution for Na. The anionic moieties exist as isolated BO₃ and BO₂(OH) triangles. The planes of the BO₂(OH) triangles with mm2 symmetry are parallel to the ab plane. The planes of the BO₃ triangles with m symmetry are perpendicular to the ab plane and are rotated in a diagonal way. The splitting of the Ce positions and the polar arrangement of the BO₂(OH) triangles, water molecules, and Na atoms are observed along the polar a axis. The new structure is most similar to the new borate NaCa₄[BO₃]₃ (sp. gr. Ama2), in which triangles of one type are arranged in a polar fashion along the c axis. Weak nonlinear-optical properties of both polar borates are attributed to the quenching of the second-harmonic generation due to the mutually opposite orientation of two-thirds of B triangles in the unit cell.     

New Ln[B6O9(OH)3] borates (Ln = Sm-Lu): Structure, properties, and structural relation to cationic Li4[B7O12]Cl conductors (Li-Boracites)

Crystals of new rare earth borates of the composition Ln[B₆O₉ (OH)₃] (Ln = Sm-Lu), sp. gr. R3c are synthesized under hydrothermal conditions. Their crystal structures are determined on single crystals with Ln = Ho, Gd without preliminary determination of their chemical formulas. The polar anionic framework of the crystals consists of BO₃ triangles and BO₄ tetrahedra and has wide channels along the threefold axis of the structure, which are similar to the channels along the a, b, and c axes in cubic Li₄[B₇O₁₂]Cl boracite with Li conductivity. Rare earth atoms are arranged in the structure over the cubic F pseudolattice, whereas the analogous positions in Li boracites are filled with Cl anions. The squared optical nonlinearity of the new crystals is comparable with the nonlinearity of quartz, whereas the electrical conductivity in borates at 300°C exceeds 10⁻⁶ S/cm. __________ Translated from Kristallografiya, Vol. 49, No. 4, 2004, pp. 681–691. Original Russian Text Copyright ? 2004 by Belokoneva, Ivanova, Stefanovich, Dimitrova, Kurazhkovskaya.     

Electronic structure and properties of oxide glasses (II) Basicity measured by copper(II) ion probe in Na2OP2O5, K2OB2O3 and K2SO4ZnSO4 glasses

The correlation between the basicity of oxygens measured by the Cu(II) ion probe and the non-bonding electron density on oxygens in alkali borate glasses was considered. The basicity was measured for K₂OB₂O₃, Na₂OP₂O₅ and K₂SO₄ZnSO₄ glasses and categorized into two types, δ and π, according to the symmetry property of the bonding between a Cu(II) ion and oxygen. The π basicity for borate and phosphate glasses showed an abrupt increase in the vicinity of 17 and 50 mol% alkali oxide, respectively. The values of π-type basicity varied with the composition of glass, being larger in the order: sulfate < phosphate ? borate, whereas δ basicity was constant irrespective of the glass composition. Such a change of the basicity with the composition of glass was interpreted in terms of behavior of non-bonding levels of the ligand oxygens in a glass network.     

New boron-oxygen layer in the structure of barium hydrodecaborate Ba5[B20O33(OH)4] ⋅ H2O

The crystal structure of the new synthetic compound Ba₅[B₂₀O₃₃(OH)₄] ? H₂O was established by the methods of X-ray diffraction (a Stoe IPDS diffractometer, λMoK _α?, 1860 independent reflections, anisotropic refinement, R = 1.95%, localization of hydrogen atoms): a = 9.495(2) Å, b = 6.713(1) Å, c = 11.709(2) Å, β = 95.09(1)°, sp. gr. P2, Z = 1. The structure is based on double pseudohexagonal layers consisting of BO₄-tetrahedra and BO₃ triangles linked into three-membered rings in two mutually perpendicular directions. The double layers adjacent along the [100] direction are linked together through the Ba-polyhedra and hydrogen bonds with the participation of the OH-groups occupying the “end” vertices of two B-triangles. The interlayer space is also filled with a sheet of Ba-polyhedra. The structure of the compound is compared to the structures of topologically similar Ba and Ca borates and hydroborates.     

Observations of the behaviour of some thin film cathodes in the scanning electron microscope

The tope electrodes of silver or copper from which electron emission occurs, are studied for M-I-M structures of AgSiO/B[₂]O₃Cu and AgSiO/B₂O₃Ag while the specimens are contained in the chamber of a scanning electron microscope and subjected to bias voltages. Electroforming of the samples and their subsequent operation as negative resistance and electron-emitting devices lead to characteristic disturbances of the top electrodes which are consistent with the idea of filamentary conduction processes.     

Scattering losses in binary borate glasses

The purpose of this paper is to examine the potential of three binary borate glasses; namely PbOB₂O₃, K₂OB₂O₃ and Li₂OB₂O₃ as candidates for fabrication of low optical loss and low cost fiber-glass wave-guides.The importance of ultrasonic measurements as the first step in a systematic search for a glass with low optical loss, is discussed. Results of ultrasonic measurements of PbOB₂O₃ system are then presented. Using these results and the published results for the K₂OB₂O₃ and Li₂OB₂O₃ systems, estimates of the magnitude of density fluctuations as a function of composition have been made for each system. Comparison with the previously published results on the K₂OSiO₂ system suggests that out of the three systems chosen, only 50 mole % Li₂O50 mole % B₂O₃ glass is a likely candidate for the production of low optical loss glass fibers.     

Crystal structure of a new synthetic Ca,Li pentaborate: CaLi<Subscript>4</Subscript>[B<Subscript>5</Subscript>O<Subscript>8</Subscript>(OH)<Subscript>2</Subscript>]<Subscript>2</Subscript>

When studying the phase formation in the CaO-Li₂O-B₂O₃-H₂O system, a new Ca,Li pentaborate was synthesized under hydrothermal conditions. The structure of a new compound with the crystallochemical formula CaLi₄[B₅O₈(OH)₂]₂ (sp. gr. Pb2n, a = 8.807(7), b = 9.372(7), c = 8.265(6) Å, V = 682.2(9) ų, Z = 2, d_calcd = 2.43 g/cm³, automated SYNTEX-\(P\bar 1\) diffractometer, 2690 reflections, 2θ/θ scan, λMo) is refined up to R_hkl = 0.0557 in the anisotropic approximation of atomic thermal vibrations with allowance for the localized H atoms. The structure of the Ca,Li pentaborate is formed by (010) open boron—oxygen layers formed by two independent [B₅O₈(OH)₂]^3? pentagroups, with each of them being formed by three B tetrahedra and two B triangles. The structure framework consists of the above boron—oxygen layers bound by isolated Li tetrahedra. The Ca cations are localized in the centers of eight-vertex polyhedra located in the [001] channels of the Li,B,O framework. Comparative crystallochemical analysis of the new Ca,Li pentaborate and Li pentaborate of the composition Li₃[B₅O₈(OH)₂]-II showed that the anionic matrices of both compounds are completely identical, whereas some of the cationic positions are different.     

Crystal structure of the new barium borate Ba5(BO3)2(B2O5)

The crystal structure of the new barium borate Ba₅(BO₃)₂(B₂O₅) is established (R = 0.0436). Single crystals were grown by spontaneous crystallization in the BaO-B₂O₃-Na₂O system using the flux method. This compound crystallizes in the orthorhombic system, sp. gr. P2₁2₁2₁; the unit-cell parameters are a = 9.590(2) Å, b = 16.659(3) Å, c = 22.919(6) Å, and Z = 12. The structure consists of coordination polyhedra of barium cations and the anionic groups [BO₃] (planar triangles) and [B₂O₅] (vertex-sharing double [BO₃] triangles), which form a pseudohexagonal framework. Melting of barium borate occurs by a peritectic reaction at 1170 ± 10°C.     

Phase equilibria and growth of β-BaB2O4 crystals in the BaB2O4-Ba2Na3[B3O6]2F system

A complex investigation of the BaB₂O₄-Ba₂Na₃[B₃O₆]₂F cut, which belongs to the ternary mutual Ba, Na//BO₂, F (BaB₂O₄-(NaBO₂)₂-(NaF)₂-BaF2) system, has been performed. The cut is quasibinary, with the following eutectics coordinates: 810 ± 5°C, 85 mol % Ba₂Na₃[B₃O₆]₂F, 15 mol % BaB₂O₄. It is shown that this system can be used to grow bulk β-BaB₂O₄ crystals.