Synthesis, crystal and magnetic structure of a novel brownmillerite-type compound Ca2Co1.6Ga0.4O5

The novel compound Ca₂Co_1.6Ga_0.4O₅ with brownmillerite (BM) structure has been prepared from citrates at 950 °C. The crystal structure of Ca₂Co_1.6Ga_0.4O₅ was refined, from neutron powder diffraction (NPD) data, in space group Pnma, , , , χ²=1.798, , R_wp=0.0378 and R_p=0.0292. On the basis of the NPD refinement the compound was found to be a G-type antiferromagnet (space group Pn^′m^′a) at room temperature, with the magnetic moments of cobalt atoms directed along chains of tetrahedra in the BM structure. Electron diffraction and electron microscopy studies revealed disorder in the crystallites, which can be interpreted as the presence of slabs with BM-type structure of Pnma and I2mb symmetry.     

Crystal growth, structural characterization and magnetic properties of Ca3CuRhO6, Ca3Co1.34Rh0.66O6 and Ca3FeRhO6

Single crystals of Ca₃CuRhO₆, Ca₃Co_1.34Rh_0.66O₆ and Ca₃FeRhO₆ were synthesized by high temperature flux growth in molten K₂CO₃ and structurally characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction. While Ca₃Co_1.34Rh_0.66O₆ and Ca₃FeRhO₆ crystallize with trigonal (rhombohedral) symmetry in the space group , Z=6: Ca₃Co_1.34Rh_0.66O₆a=9.161(1) Å, c=10.601(2) Å; Ca₃FeRhO₆a=9.1884(3) Å, c=10.7750(4) Å; Ca₃CuRhO₆ adopts a monoclinic distortion of the K₄CdCl₆ structure in the space group C2/c, Z=4: a=9.004(2) Å, b=9.218(2) Å, c=6.453(1) Å, β=91.672(5). All crystals of Ca₃CuRhO₆ examined were twinned by pseudo-merohedry. Ca₃CuRhO₆, Ca₃Co_1.34Rh_0.66O₆, and Ca₃FeRhO₆ are structurally related and contain infinite one-dimensional chains of alternating face-sharing RhO₆ octahedra and MO₆ trigonal prisms. In the monoclinic modification, the copper atoms are displaced from the center of the trigonal prism toward one of the rectangular faces adopting a pseudo-square planar configuration. The magnetic properties of Ca₃CuRhO₆, Ca₃Co_1.34Rh_0.66O₆, and Ca₃FeRhO₆ are discussed.     

Crystallographic and magnetic characterisation of the brownmillerite Sr2Co2O5

Sr₂Co₂O₅ with the perovskite-related brownmillerite structure has been synthesised via quenching, with the orthorhombic unit cell parameters a=5.4639(3) Å, b=15.6486(8) Å and c=5.5667(3) Å based on refinement of neutron powder diffraction data collected at 4 K. Electron microscopy revealed L-R-L-R-intralayer ordering of chain orientations, which require a doubling of the unit cell along the c-parameter, consistent with the assignment of the space group Pcmb. However, on the length scale pertinent to NPD, no long-range order is observed and the disordered space group Imma appears more appropriate. The magnetic structure corresponds to G-type order with a moment of 3.00(4) μ_B directed along [1 0 0].     

Ca6.3Mn3Ga4.4Al1.3O18—A novel complex oxide with 3D tetrahedral framework

A new Ca_6.3Mn₃Ga_4.4Al_1.3O₁₈ compound has been prepared by solid state reaction in a dynamic vacuum of 5×10⁻⁶ mbar at 1200 °C. The crystal structure of Ca_6.3Mn₃Ga_4.4Al_1.3O₁₈ was studied using X-ray powder diffraction (, SG F432, Z=8, R_I=0.031, R_P=0.068), electron diffraction and high resolution electron microscopy. The Ca_6.3Mn₃Ga_4.4Al_1.3O₁₈ structure can be described as a tetrahedral [(Ga_0.59Mn_0.24Al_0.17)₁₅O₃₀]^18.24− framework stabilized with embedded [(Ca_0.9Mn_0.1)₁₄MnO₆]^18.24+ polycations, which consists of an isolated MnO₆ octahedron surrounded by a capped cube of (Ca_0.9Mn_0.1) atoms. The Ca_6.3Mn₃Ga_4.4Al_1.3O₁₈ structure is related to the structure of Ca₇Zn₃Al₅O_17.5, but appears to be significantly disordered due to the presence of two orientations of oxygen tetrahedra around the cationic 0,0,0 and x,x,x () positions in a random way according to the F432 space symmetry. The analogy between the Ca_6.3Mn₃Ga_4.4Al_1.3O₁₈ crystal structure and the structure of the “fullerenoid” Sr₃₃Bi_24+δAl₄₈O_141+3δ/2 oxide is discussed. Ca_6.3Mn₃Ga_4.4Al_1.3O₁₈ adopts a Curie-Weiss behavior of χ(T) above with a Weiss temperature and per formula unit. At lower temperatures, the χ(T) deviates from the Curie-Weiss law indicating a strengthening of the ferromagnetic component of the exchange interaction.     

Structure and magnetism of rare-earth-substituted Ca3Co2O6

Yttrium- and rare-earth-substituted derivatives of Ca_3−vR_vCo₂O₆ (RY, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Yb, and Lu) have been synthesized and structurally characterized by powder X-ray and neutron diffraction. All phases adopt the K₄CdCl₆-type structure with space group R3¯c), in which the trivalent R³⁺ substituents randomly occupy the Ca²⁺ site. The homogeneity range of Ca_3−vR_vCo₂O₆ extends to v≈0.90 for the substituents concerned. A significant increase in the Co2-O distances within the trigonal-prismatic Co2O₆ co-ordination polyhedra upon introduction of R³⁺ confirms that extra electrons from the R³⁺-for-Ca²⁺ substitution exclusively enter the Co2 site of the quasi-one-dimensional Ca_3−vR_vCo₂O₆ structure, thereby formally reducing its oxidation state. This is furthermore supported by magnetic susceptibility and low-temperature neutron diffraction measurements. The long-range ferrimagnetic ordering temperature is reduced upon R substitution and appears to vanish for v>∼0.30.     

Crystal structure and magnetic properties of the solid-solution phase Ca3Co2-vMnvO6

The homogeneity range of the Ca₃Co_2-vMn_vO₆ solid-solution phase covers the entire composition interval from v=0 to 1. A systematic powder X-ray and neutron diffraction, magnetic susceptibility, and magnetization study has been carried out to investigate effects of the Mn-for-Co substitution on structural and magnetic properties. The Mn substitution concerns primarily only the octahedral Co1 site of the Ca₃Co1Co2O₆ crystal structure, whereas the trigonal-prismatic Co2 site structurally is left essentially unaffected. The Ca₃Co_2-vMn_vO₆ crystal structure belongs to space group with unit-cell dimensions (in hexagonal setting) 9.084?a?9.134 Å and 10.448?c?10.583 Å. A cut through the magnetic phase diagram at 10 K shows a ferrimagnetic domain for 0?v<∼0.3 and an antiferromagnetic domain for ∼0.50<v<∼1. The magnetic ordering temperatures are quite low (<∼25/18 K), and even so further magnetic transitions appear to take place at still lower temperature. The legitimity and reliability of the different indicators used to establish the magnetic transitions, their individual accuracy, and mutual consistency are briefly discussed. Variable parameters of the crystal and magnetic structures of Ca₃Co1_1-vMn_vCo2O₆ are determined and their variation with v is briefly discussed in relation to chemical bonding. The magnetic structure in the ferrimagnetic region is essentially the same as that of the pristine v=0 phase, but since the moments at the Co2 site decrease and those at the (Co1,Mn) site increase with increasing v; characteristic traits of ferrimagnetism in magnetic susceptibility and magnetization gradually disappear. The magnetic arrangement in the antiferromagnetic region is characterized by differently sized moments at the (Co1,Mn) and Co2 sites, moments at adjacent sites in each of these sublattices being oppositely oriented along [001].     

The effect of element substitution on high-temperature thermoelectric properties of Ca3Co2O6 compounds

Polycrystalline Ca₃Co_1.8M_0.2O₆ (M=Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu) and Ca_2.7Na_0.3Co₂O₆ were synthesized by solid-state reaction to evaluate the effect of substitution on the thermoelectric properties of Ca₃Co₂O₆. Substitution by Mn, Cu and Na appears to increase carrier density, given that electrical resistivity (ρ) and the Seebeck coefficient (S) were simultaneously reduced. Conversely, Fe substitution seems to reduce carrier density, resulting in a simultaneous increase in S and ρ. Cu and Na substitution resulted in a significant decrease in ρ due to enhancement of grain size and grain boundary connectivity, which could have a strong impact on ρ. Not only the intrinsic substitution effect on the electronic state but also this modification of the microstructure plays an important role in improvement of the thermoelectric power factor, particularly in the case of the Na-substituted sample.     

Cr3+在不同基质Y3Ga5O12或Ga2O3中的荧光特性

以Ga_2O_3、Y_2O_3、Cr(NO_3)_3·9H_2O为原料,柠檬酸为配位剂,通过溶胶-凝胶高温固相合成法制备出Ga_(2-2x)O_3∶2xCr~(3+)(Ga_2O_3∶xCr)与Y_3Ga_(5-5x)O_(12)∶5xCr~(3+)(YGG∶xCr)2种多晶粉体(x=0.01,0.03,0.05,0.07)。并采用X射线衍射(XRD)、红外光谱(IR)、扫描电镜(SEM)、荧光光谱(PL)对样品的结构、组成、形貌和荧光性能进行测试分析。XRD和IR分析结果显示在900℃煅烧后Ga_2O_3∶xCr和YGG∶xCr两种样品均成相。SEM照片显示Ga_2O_3∶xCr样品形貌为柱形多面体,YGG∶xCr为短棒状。PL结果显示Cr~(3+)在Ga_2O_3和YGG两种基质中的最强荧光发射峰分别位于742和740 nm,均属于Cr~(3+)的~2E-~4A_2跃迁,对比发现Cr~(3+)在YGG基质中的荧光发射强度更强,在远红光区的荧光性能更好,能满足温室照明中植物光合作用的需求。     

The crystal structure determinations and refinements of K2S2O7, KNaS2O7 and Na2S2O7 from X-ray powder and single crystal diffraction data

The crystal structures of K₂S₂O₇, KNaS₂O₇ and Na₂S₂O₇ have been solved and/or refined from X-ray synchrotron powder diffraction data and conventional single-crystal data. K₂S₂O₇: From powder diffraction data, monoclinic C2/c, Z=4, a=12.3653(2), b=7.3122(1), , β=93.0792(7)°, R_Bragg=0.096. KNaS₂O₇: From powder diffraction data; triclinic , Z=2, a=5.90476(9), b=7.2008(1), , α=101.7074(9), β=90.6960(7), γ=94.2403(9)°, R_Bragg=0.075. Na₂S₂O₇: From single-crystal data; triclinic , Z=2, a=6.7702(9), b=6.7975(10), , α=116.779(2), β=96.089(3), γ=84.000(3)°, R_F=0.033. The disulphate anions are essentially eclipsed. All three structures can be described as dichromate-like, where the alkali cations coordinate oxygens of the isolated disulphate groups in three-dimensional networks. The K-O and Na-O coordinations were determined from electron density topology and coordination geometry. The three structures have a cation-disulphate chain in common. In K₂S₂O₇ and Na₂S₂O₇ the neighbouring chains are antiparallel, while in KNaS₂O₇ the chains are parallel. The differences between the K₂S₂O₇ and Na₂S₂O₇ structures, with double-, respectively single-sided chain connections and straight, respectively, corrugated structural layers can be understood in terms of the differences in size and coordinating ability of the cations.     

Crystal and magnetic structures of the brownmillerite compound Ca2Fe1.039(8)Mn0.962(8)O5

The crystal and magnetic structures of the brownmillerite material, Ca₂Fe_1.039(8)Mn_0.962(8)O₅ were investigated using powder X-ray and neutron diffraction methods, the latter from 3.8 to 700 K. The compound crystallizes in Pnma space group with unit cell parameters of a=5.3055(5) Å, b=15.322(2) Å, c=5.4587(6) Å at 300 K. The neutron diffraction study revealed the occupancies of Fe³⁺ and Mn³⁺ ions in both octahedral and tetrahedral sites and showed some intersite mixing and a small, ∼4%, Fe excess. While bulk magnetization data were inconclusive, variable temperature neutron diffraction measurements showed the magnetic transition temperature to be 407(2) K below which a long range antiferromagnetic ordering of spins occurs with ordering wave vector k=(000). The spins of each ion are coupled antiferromagnetically with the nearest neighbors within the same layer and coupled antiparallel to the closest ions from the neighboring layer. This combination of intra- and inter-layer antiparallel arrangement of spins forms a G-type magnetic structure. The ordered moments on the octahedral and tetrahedral sites at 3.8 K are 3.64(16) and 4.23(16) μ_B, respectively.     

Crystal structure of Sr3Ir2O7 investigated by transmission electron microscopy

We report on the crystallographic structure of the layered perovskite iridate Sr₃Ir₂O₇, investigated using transmission electron microscopy. The space group was found to be Bbcb (, No. 68 in the International Tables for Crystallography) at 315 K. A very fine twin structure with 90° rotation with respect to the c-axis was observed. The crystal structure at temperatures lower than 285 K, where a phase transition from paramagnetism to weak ferromagnetism is known to occur, was also examined. There was no difference in the extinction rule for the diffraction patterns between the two phases. We conclude that there is no change in the space group for this magnetic transition. There still remains the possibility of a change in the rotation angle of IrO₆ octahedrons and a corresponding change in the interatomic distance between Ir and O, though.     

一维纳米Co_3O_4,Ag/Co_3O_4及CuO/Co_3O_4的合成与电催化性能(英文)

采用水热合成法制备了Co3O4及复合Ag/Co3O4、CuO/Co3O4一维纳米产品。用XRD,FE-SEM和TEM手段对产品进行了表征。采用循环伏安法研究了合成产品修饰的玻碳电极在碱性溶液中对对硝基苯酚的电催化还原性能。与裸玻碳电极相比,1mmol·L-1的对硝基苯酚在用Co3O4、特别是CuO/Co3O4修饰的玻碳电极上还原的峰电流明显增大,用Ag/Co3O4(Ag/Co原子比分别为1∶5和2∶5)修饰的玻碳电极催化还原对硝基苯酚时,尽管还原峰电流增大不是太大,但其峰电位明显降低(分别降低0.265和0.371V)。     

Synthesis, structure and physical properties of the new uranium ternary phase U3Co2Ge7

A new ternary compound, U₃Co₂Ge₇, has been synthesized from the corresponding elements by a high temperature reaction using molten tin flux. It crystallizes in the orthorhombic La₃Co₂Sn₇-type (Pearson's symbol oC24, space group Cmmm, No. 65) with lattice parameters determined from single-crystal X-ray diffraction as follows: a=4.145(2) Å; b=24.920(7); c=4.136(2) Å, V=427.2(3) Å³. Structure refinements confirm an ordered structure having two crystallographically inequivalent uranium atoms, occupying sites with dissimilar coordination. U₃Co₂Ge₇ orders ferromagnetically below 40 K and undergoes a consecutive magnetic transition at 20 K. These results have been obtained from temperature- and field-dependent magnetization, resistivity and heat-capacity measurements. The estimated Sommerfeld coefficient γ=87 mJ/mol-U K² suggests U₃Co₂Ge₇ to be a moderately heavy-fermion material.     

The magnetic structure of clinopyroxene-type LiFeGe2O6 and revised data on multiferroic LiFeSi2O6

The clinopyroxene compounds LiFeSi₂O₆ and LiFeGe₂O₆ have been investigated by constant wavelength neutron diffraction at low temperatures and by bulk magnetic measurements. Both compounds are monoclinic, space group P2₁/c and do not exhibit a change in nuclear symmetry down to 1.4 and 5 K respective. However, they transform to a magnetically ordered state below 20 K. LiFeSi₂O₆ shows a simple magnetic structure with no indication of an incommensurate modulation. The magnetic space group is P2₁/c′ and the structure is described by a ferromagnetic coupling of spins within the infinite M1 chains of edge-sharing octahedra, while the coupling between these M1 chains is antiferromagnetic. The magnetic phase transition is accompanied by magnetostriction of the lattice when passing through the magnetic phase transition. The magnetic structure of LiFeGe₂O₆ is different to the silicate: the space group is and the magnetic unit cell doubled along the a-direction. Within the M1 chains spins are coupled antiferromagnetically, while the chain to chain coupling is antiferromagnetic when coupling goes via the GeB tetrahedron and ferromagnetic when it goes via the GeA tetrahedron.     

Single-crystal synthesis and structure refinement of the LiCoO2-LiAlO2 solid-solution compounds: LiAl0.32Co0.68O2 and LiAl0.71Co0.29O2

Single crystals of the LiCoO₂-LiAlO₂ solid solution compounds LiAl_0.32Co_0.68O₂ and LiAl_0.71Co_0.29O₂ were synthesized by a flux method using alumina crucibles. A single-crystal X-ray diffraction study confirmed the trigonal space group and the lattice parameters a=2.8056(11) Å, c=14.1079(15) Å, and c/a=5.028 for LiAl_0.32Co_0.68O₂, and a=2.8023(7) Å, c=14.184(4) Å, and c/a=5.061 for LiAl_0.71Co_0.29O₂. The crystal structures have been refined to the conventional values R=3.2% and wR=2.4% for LiAl_0.32Co_0.68O₂, and R=3.6% and wR=3.5% for LiAl_0.71Co_0.29O₂. The evidence of the location of Al atoms in the pseudotetragonal coordination (6c site), reported previously in LiAl_0.2Co_0.8O₂, could not be observed in the present electron density distribution maps in both LiAl_0.32Co_0.68O₂ and LiAl_0.71Co_0.29O₂. The octahedral distortion analysis indicated that the Al-substitution strongly affected the distortion of the LiO₆ octahedron in this solid-solution compound system, but hardly affected that of the (Al.Co)O₆ octahedron.     

Crystal structure and magnetic properties of the solid-solution phase Ca3Co2−vScvO6

The two crystallographically non-equivalent Co atoms of the quasi-one-dimensional crystal structure of Ca₃Co₂O₆ form chains with alternating, face-sharing polyhedra of Co2O₆ trigonal prisms and Co1O₆ octahedra. This compound forms a substitutional solid-solution phase with Sc, in which the Sc atoms enter the Co2 sublattice exclusively. The homogeneity range of Ca₃Co_2−vSc_vO₆ (more specifically Ca₃Co1Co2_1−vSc_vO₆) extends up to v≈0.55. The crystal structure belongs to space group R3¯c with lattice parameters (in hexagonal setting): 9.0846(3)?a?9.1300(2) Å and 10.3885(4)?c?10.4677(4) Å. The magnetic moment decreases rapidly with increasing amount of the non-magnetic Sc solute in the lattice.     

Crystal structure of BaMg2Si2O7 and Eu luminescence

Crystal structure of BaMg₂Si₂O₇ was determined and refined by a combined powder X-ray and neutron Rietveld method (monoclinic, C2/c, no. 15, Z=8, a=7.24553(8) Å, b=12.71376(14) Å, c=13.74813(15) Å, β=90.2107(8)°, V=1266.44(2) Å³; R_p/R_wp=3.38%/4.77%). The structure contains a single crystallographic type of Ba atom coordinated to eight O atoms with C₁ (1) site symmetry. Under 325-nm excitation Ba_0.98Eu_0.02Mg₂Si₂O₇ exhibits an asymmetric emission band around 402 nm. The asymmetric shape of the emission band is likely associated with a small electron-phonon coupling in BaMg₂Si₂O₇. The integrated intensity of the emission band was observed to remain constant over the temperature range 4.2-300 K.     

Crystal structure of the monoclinic and cubic polymorphs of BiMn7O12

The complex perovskite BiMn₇O₁₂ occurs with two polymorphic structures, cubic and monoclinic. Currently their crystal structures are investigated with high-resolution synchrotron powder X-ray diffraction at room temperature. Rietveld analysis reveals unusual behavior for, respectively, the oxygen and bismuth atoms in the monoclinic and cubic phases. Bond valence calculations indicate that all the Mn atoms in both the phases are in trivalent state. Possible roles of the 6s² lone-pair electrons of Bi³⁺ in BiMn₇O₁₂ are discussed in comparison with the LaMn₇O₁₂ phase that is isomorphic to monoclinic BiMn₇O₁₂. Multiple roles of the lone-pair electrons are revealed, causing (i) A-site cation deficiency, (ii) octahedral tilting, (iii) A-site cation displacement, and (iv) Mn³⁺ Jahn-Teller (JT) distortion. Relationships between the monoclinic and cubic phases are discussed with emphasis on the MnO₂ and MnO₆ local structural aspects. All Mn atoms in the monoclinic polymorph have distorted coordination consistent with JT-active Mn(III) high spin, whereas for the cubic polymorph, the B-site Mn atoms show regular octahedral coordination.     

The synthesis and structural characterization of the new ternary nitrides: Ca4TiN4 and Ca5NbN5

The ternary nitrides, Ca₄TiN₄ and Ca₅NbN₅, were synthesized in sealed niobium tubes using lithium nitride as a flux at 900 and 1050 °C, respectively. The structures of both compounds were solved from single-crystal X-ray diffraction data. Ca₄TiN₄ is the first example of a calcium group IV nitride; it crystallizes in the triclinic space group (No. 2) with cell parameters a=5.9757(5) Å, b=6.0129(5) Å, c=6.0116(12) Å, α=71.565(4)°, β=79.471(4)°, γ=68.258(4)° and Z=2. Ca₄TiN₄ is isostructural with Na₄TiO₄ and contains tetrahedral TiN₄ units connected through edges and corners to CaN₄ tetrahedra and CaN₅ square pyramids. Ca₅NbN₅ crystallizes in the monoclinic space group C2/m (No. 12) with cell parameters a=11.922(7) Å, b=6.878(5) Å, c=8.936(7) Å, β=101.22(3)° and Z=4. Ca₅NbN₅ is isostructural with Ba₅NbN₅; the structure contains NbN₄ tetrahedra that share vertices with CaN₅ trigonal bipyramids.     

Structural studies of five layer Aurivillius oxides: A2Bi4Ti5O18 (A=Ca, Sr, Ba and Pb)

The room temperature structures of the five layer Aurivillius phases A₂Bi₄Ti₅O₁₈ (A=Ca, Sr, Ba and Pb) have been refined from powder neutron diffraction data using the Rietveld method. The structures consist of [Bi₂O₂]²⁺ layers interleaved with perovskite-like [A₂Bi₂Ti₅O₁₆]²⁻ blocks. The structures were refined in the orthorhombic space group B2eb (SG. No. 41), Z=4, and the unit cell parameters of the oxides are a=5.4251(2), b=5.4034(1), c=48.486(1); a=5.4650(2), b=5.4625(3), c=48.852(1); a=5.4988(3), b=5.4980(4), c=50.352(1); a=5.4701(2), b=5.4577(2), c=49.643(1) for A=Ca, Sr, Ba and Pb, respectively. The structural features of the compounds were found similar to n=2-4 layers bismuth oxides. The strain caused by mismatch of cell parameter requirements for the [Bi₂O₂]²⁺ layers and perovskite-like [A₂Bi₂Ti₅O₁₆]²⁻ blocks were relieved by tilting of the TiO₆ octahedra. Variable temperature synchrotron X-ray studies for Ca and Pb compounds showed that the orthorhombic structure persisted up to 675 and 475 K, respectively. Raman spectra of the compounds are also presented.