Thermal decomposition and structural reconstruction effect on Mg-Fe-based hydrotalcite compounds

The thermal decomposition and structural reconstruction of Mg-Fe-based hydrotalcites (HT) have been studied through thermogravimetric analyses, X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and Mössbauer spectroscopy. The destruction of the layered structure took place at about 300°C. The broad peaks observed in the X-ray diffractograms suggest that the resultant oxides constitute a solid solution. For samples treated at temperatures higher than 500°C, the formation of the MgO and MgFe₂O₄ spinel phases is observed. ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy was employed to monitor the Fe chemical environment for the samples annealed at different temperatures (100-900°C). In situ XRD experiments revealed that the HTs start an interlayer contraction at about 180°C. This phenomenon is identified as being due to a grafting process for which the interlamellar anions attach to the layers through a covalent bond. The reconstruction of the HTs was also investigated and its efficiency depends on the thermal annealing temperature and the Mg/Fe ratio. The structure of the reconstructed samples was found to be exactly the same as the parent structure.     

Reduction properties of phases in the system La0.5Sr0.5MO3 (M=Fe, Co)

Phases formed by the reduction of compounds of the type La_0.5Sr_0.5MO₃ (M=Fe, Co) have been characterized by means of temperature programmed reduction, X-ray powder diffraction, ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy and Fe K-, Co K-, Sr K-, and La L_III-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy. The results show that treatment of the material of composition La_0.5Sr_0.5FeO₃ (which contains 50% Fe⁴⁺ and 50% Fe³⁺) at 650 °C in a flowing 90% hydrogen/10% nitrogen atmosphere results in the formation of an oxygen-deficient perovskite-related phase containing only trivalent iron. Further heating in the gaseous reducing environment at 1150 °C results in the formation of the Fe³⁺-containing phase SrLaFeO₄, which has a K₂NiF₄-type structure, and metallic iron. The material of composition La_0.5Sr_0.5CoO₃ is more susceptible to reduction than the compound La_0.5Sr_0.5FeO₃ since, after heating at 520 °C in the hydrogen/nitrogen mixture, all the Co⁴⁺ and Co³⁺ are reduced to metallic cobalt with the concomitant formation of strontium- and lanthanum-oxides.     

Influence of the central metal on the crystal structures and electronic structures of biferrocene trinuclear complexes

Five metal-bridged biferrocene complexes of the Schiff-base ligand (HL = S-benzyl-N-(ferrocenyl-1-methyl-methylidene)dithiocarbazate) have been studied by single crystal X-ray diffraction and ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy. The crystal structures of the complexes show that the central metal ions are tetra-coordinated by two ligands in two modes: the central d⁸ transition metal ions (Ni²⁺, Pd²⁺, and Pt²⁺) are nearly square-planar coordinated and the d¹⁰ transition metal ions (Zn²⁺ and Cd²⁺) are tetrahedrally coordinated. Interestingly, the isomer shifts in ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy are also of two kinds: d⁸ transition metal ions (0.097-0.247 mm/s) and d¹⁰ transition metal ions (0.416-0.435 mm/s).     

Preparation and characterization of nanosize nickel-substituted cobalt ferrites (Co1−xNixFe2O4)

Nanosize nickel-substituted cobalt ferrites were prepared using aerosol route and characterized by TEM, XRD, magnetic and Mössbauer spectroscopy. The particle size of as obtained samples was found to be ∼10 nm which increases upto ∼80 nm on annealing at 1200 °C. The unit cell parameter ‘a’ decreases linearly with the nickel concentration due to smaller ionic radius of nickel. The saturation magnetization for all the samples after annealing at 1200 °C lies in the range 47.6-84.5 emu/g. Room temperature Mössbauer spectra of as obtained samples exhibit a broad doublet, suggesting super paramagnetic nature of the sample. The broad doublet is further resolved into two doublets corresponding to the iron atoms residing at the surface and internal regions of the particle. The samples annealed at 1200 °C showed broad sextet, which is resolved into two sextets, corresponding to tetrahedrally and octahedrally coordinated Fe cations. Cation distribution calculated using XRD and Mössbauer data indicates a decrease in Fe³⁺(oct.)/Fe³⁺(tet.) ratio with increasing nickel concentration.     

Structural investigations on diorgano- and triorganotin(IV) derivatives of [meso-tetra(4-sulfonatophenyl)porphine] metal chlorides

Several new complexes of organotin(IV) moieties with MCl_n[meso-tetra(4-sulfonatophenyl)porphine], (R₂Sn)₂MCl_n[meso-tetra(4-sulfonatophenyl)-porphinate]s and (R₃Sn)₄MCl_n [meso-tetra(4-sulfonatophenyl)porphinate]s, [M = Fe(III), Mn(III): n = 1, R = Me, n-Bu; Ph; M = Sn(IV): n = 2, R = Me, n-Bu] have been synthesized and their solid state configuration investigated by infrared (IR) and Mössbauer spectroscopy, and by ¹H and ¹³C NMR in D₂O.The electron density on the metal ion coordinated inside the porphyrin ring is not influenced by the organotin(IV) moieties bonded to the oxygen atoms of the side chain sulfonatophenyl groups, as it has been inferred on the basis of Mössbauer spectroscopy and, in particular, from the invariance of the isomer shift of the Fe(III) and Sn(IV) atoms coordinated into the porphyrin square plane of the newly synthesized complexes, with respect to the same atoms in the free ligand.As far as the coordination polyhedra around the peripheral tin atoms are concerned, infrared spectra and experimental Mössbauer data would suggest octahedral and trigonal bipyramidal environments around tin, in polymeric configurations obtained, respectively, in the diorganotin derivatives through chelating or bridging sulfonate groups coordinating in the square plane, and in triorganotin(IV) complexes through bridging sulfonate oxygen atoms in axial positions.The structures of the (Me₃Sn)₄Sn(IV)Cl₂[meso-tetra(4-sulfonatophenyl)porphinate] and of the two model systems, Me₃Sn(PS)(HPS) and Me₂Sn(PS)₂ [HPS = phenylsulfonic acid], have been studied by a two layer ONIOM method, using the hybrid DFT B3LYP functional for the higher layer, including the significant tin environment. This approach allowed us to support the structural hypotheses inferred by the IR and Mössbauer spectroscopy analysis and to obtain detailed geometrical information of the tin environment in the compounds investigated.¹H and ¹³C NMR data suggested retention of the geometry around the tin(IV) atom in D₂O solution.     

Synthesis and solid-state spectroscopic investigation of some novel diorganotin(IV) complexes of tetraazamacrocyclic ligands

The tetradendate macrocyclic ligands, [H₂L-1 = 5,12-dioxa-7,14-dimethyl-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradeca-1,8-diene] and [H₂L-2 = 6,14-dioxa-8,16-dimethyl-1,5,9,13-tetraazacyclohexadeca-1,9-diene] have been prepared by the condensation reaction of 1,2-diaminoethane and 1,3-diaminopropane, respectively, with ethyl acetoacetate in methanol at room temperature. The diorganotin(IV) complexes of general formula [R₂Sn(L-1)/R₂Sn(L-2)] (R = Me, n-Bu and Ph) have been synthesized by template condensation reaction of 1,2-diaminoethane or 1,3-diaminopropane and ethyl acetoacetate with R₂SnCl₂ (R = Me or Ph) or n-Bu₂SnO in 2:2:1 molar ratio at ambient temperature (35 ± 2 °C) in methanol. The solid-state characterization of resulting complexes have been carried out by elemental analysis, IR, recently developed DART-mass, solid-state ¹³C NMR, ^119mSn Mössbauer spectroscopic studies. These studies suggest that in all of the studied complexes, the macrocyclic ligands act as tetradentate coordinating through four nitrogen atoms giving a skew-trapezoidal bipyramidal environment around tin center. Since, the studied diorganotin(IV) macrocyclic complexes are insoluble in common organic solvents, hence good crystals could not be grown for single crystal X-ray crystallographic studies. Thermal studies of all of the studied complexes have also been carried out in the temperature range 0-1000 °C using TG, DTG and DTA techniques. The end product of pyrolysis is SnO₂ confirmed by XRD analysis.     

Synthesis and characterisation of a novel europium-based graphite intercalation compound

In the lithium-europium-graphite system, a novel ternary compound was synthesised by direct immersion of a pyrolytic graphite platelet in a molten lithium-based alloy with a well chosen Li/Eu ratio at 400 °C. The ternary compound exhibits poly-layered intercalated sheets mainly constituted of two europium planes. Its chemical formula can be written Li_xEuC₄, since the amount of lithium is still not determined. The ¹⁵¹Eu Mössbauer spectra clearly indicate a +II valence for europium. The magnetic susceptibility and the magnetisation versus temperature reveal a complex behaviour which is qualitatively described thanks to structural hypothesis and analogies with the magnetic properties of the binary EuC₆ compound. A first ferromagnetic transition occurring at 225 K is attributed to interactions between both intercalated europium planes. The lower temperature susceptibility behaviour can be interpreted by antiferromagnetic interactions between in-plane neighbours and ferromagnetic interactions along the c-axis.     

Structure and magnetic properties of the cubic oxide fluoride BaFeO2F

Fluorination of the parent oxide, BaFeO_3−δ, with polyvinylidine fluoride gives rise to a cubic compound with a=4.0603(4) Å at 298 K. ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer spectra confirmed that all the iron is present as Fe³⁺. Neutron diffraction data showed complete occupancy of the anion sites, indicating a composition BaFeO₂F, with a large displacement of the iron off-site. The magnetic ordering temperature was determined as T_N=645±5 K. Neutron diffraction data at 4.2 K established G-type antiferromagnetism with a magnetic moment per Fe³⁺ ion of 3.95 μ_B. However, magnetisation measurements indicated the presence of a weak ferromagnetic moment that is assigned to the canting of the antiferromagnetic structure. ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer spectra in the temperature range 10-300 K were fitted with a model of fluoride ion distribution that retains charge neutrality of the perovskite unit cell.     

Antimony and silicon environments in antimony silicate glasses

Antimony silicate glasses, of general formula xSb₂O₃·(1−x)SiO₂ (0.1≤x≤0.78), have been prepared by melt-quenching and their structures studied using ²⁹Si MAS NMR spectroscopy, ¹²¹Sb Mössbauer spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy. Oxidation during melting gives rise to Sb⁵⁺ in concentrations, which increase linearly with x to give a value of ∼10% when x=0.78. ¹²¹Sb Mössbauer spectra show Mössbauer shifts and quadrupole splittings consistent with Sb³⁺ in a [:SbO₃] trigonal pyramid, similar to that in crystalline Sb₂O₃. A broad band in the Raman spectrum at ∼410 cm⁻¹ is due to the vibrations of such a unit. The dependence of the silicon Qⁿ speciation on x can be interpreted by the formation of Sb-O-Sb links possibly to form rings of 4 [:SbO₃] units such as are found in valentinite.     

Acrylonitrile - alkyl acrylate copolymers containing ferric chloride: A Mössbauer study

Acrylonitrile (AN)-methyl acrylate (MA), acrylonitrile (AN)-ethyl acrylate (EA), acrylonitrile (AN)-butyl acrylate (BA) copolymers with and without doping with ferric chloride were prepared by free radical polymerization at 70°C. Mössbauer spectrum shows no reduction of ferric species to ferrous during the copolymerization. TGA studies show that the addition of ferric chloride changes the thermal decomposition pattern of the copolymer. TGA analysis shows that the inclusion of ferric chloride stabilizes the copolymers by 20–25°C. Mössbauer studies of the copolymers heated at 300°C and 500°C for 15 min showed that during the thermal degration, Fe³⁺ species was reduced to Fe²⁺ and then finally it formed -Fe₂O₃.     

Thermal decomposition of iron(VI) oxides, K2FeO4 and BaFeO4, in an inert atmosphere

The thermal decomposition of solid samples of iron(VI) oxides, K₂FeO₄·0.088 H₂O (1) and BaFeO₄·0.25H₂O (2) in inert atmosphere has been examined using simultaneous thermogravimetry and differential thermal analysis (TG/DTA), in combination with in situ analysis of the evolved gases by online coupled mass spectrometer (EGA-MS). The final decomposition products were characterized by ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy. Water molecules were released first, followed by a distinct decomposition step with endothermic DTA peak of 1 and 2 at 273 and 248 °C, respectively, corresponding to the evolution of molecular oxygen as confirmed by EGA-MS. The released amounts of O₂ were determined as 0.42 and 0.52 mol pro formula of 1 and 2, respectively. The decomposition product of K₂FeO₄ at 250 °C was determined as Fe(III) species in the form of KFeO₂. Formation of an amorphous mixture of superoxide, peroxide, and oxide of potassium may be other products of the thermal conversion of iron(VI) oxide 1 to account for less than expected released oxygen. The thermogravimetric and Mössbauer data suggest that barium iron perovskite with the intermediate valence state of iron (between III and IV) was the product of thermal decomposition of iron(VI) oxide 2.     

Mössbauer spectroscopy analysis of Fe-doped YBaCo4O7+δ: Effects of oxygen intercalation

Mössbauer spectroscopy of layered YBaCo_3.96Fe_0.04O_7+δ (δ=0.02 and 0.80), where 1% cobalt is substituted with ⁵⁷Fe isotope, revealed no evidence of charge ordering at 4-293 K. The predominant state of iron cations was found trivalent, irrespective of their coordination and oxygen stoichiometry variations determined by thermogravimetric analysis. The extremely slow kinetics of isothermal oxidation at 598 K in air, and the changes of Fe³⁺ fractions in the alternating triangular and Kagomé layers in oxidized YBaCo_3.96Fe_0.04O_7.80, may suggest that oxygen intercalation is accompanied with a substantial structural reconstruction stagnated due to sluggish cation diffusion. Decreasing temperature below 75-80 K leads to gradual freezing of the iron magnetic moments in inverse correlation with the content of extra oxygen. The formation of metal-oxygen octahedra and resultant structural distortions extend the temperature range where the paramagnetic and frozen states co-exist, down to 45-50 K.     

M?ssbauer study of transformation mechanism of Fe cations in olivine after thermal treatments in air

The transformation mechanism of Fe cations in natural olivine after thermal treatments in air has been studied using mainly⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy. -Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles appear as the primary Fe³⁺ phase in Mössbauer spectra of olivine samples heated at 600-900 °C. These nanoparticles are thermally unstable and they are transformed to -Fe₂O₃ with the increase of heating time. Another transformation mechanism of iron related with the complete decomposition of olivine structure has been observed at temperatures of 1000 °C and higher. The mixed oxide MgFe₂O₄ with the spinel structure and enstatite MgSiO₃ were identified as iron-bearing decomposition products.     

Thermal analysis of quinolinium tetrachloroferrate(III)

Thermal decomposition of a compound consisting of a tetrachloroferrate(III) anion and a quinolinium cation, of general formula [QH][FeCl₄], has been studied using TG-FTIR, TG-MS, DTA and DTG techniques. The measurements were carried out in an argon atmosphere over the temperature range 20-800 °C. The solid products of the thermal decomposition were identified by IR, FIR and Mössbauer spectroscopy.     

Synthesis and characterization of the reduction properties of cobalt-substituted lanthanum orthoferrites

Perovskite-related materials of composition LaFe_1−xCo_xO₃ have been prepared by conventional calcination methods. The temperature programmed reduction profiles indicate that the incorporation of cobalt renders the materials more susceptible to reduction when treated in a flowing mixture of hydrogen and nitrogen. The reduction processes have been examined by ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy and Fe K-edge-, Co K-edge- and La L_III-edge XANES and EXAFS. The results show that in iron-rich systems the limited reduction of iron and cobalt leads to the segregation of discrete metallic phases without destruction of the perovskite structure at temperatures up to 1200°C. In materials where x?ca.0.5 the reduction of Co³⁺ to Co⁰ precedes complete reduction of Fe³⁺ and the segregation of alloy and metal phases is accompanied by destruction of the perovskite structure.     

Organotin(IV) triazolates: Synthesis and their spectral characterization

Some organotin(IV) triazolates of general formula R_nSn(L)_4 − n (where R = Me, n-Bu and Ph for n = 2; R = Me, n-Pr and n-Bu for n = 3 and HL = 3-amino-5-mercapto-1,2,4-triazole) have been synthesized by the reaction of R₂SnCl₂/R₃SnCl with NaL in 1:2/1:1 molar ratio. Whereas, Oct₂SnL₂ has been synthesized azeotropically by the reaction of Oct₂SnO and HL in 1:2 molar ratio. As good single crystals were not obtained, a large number of experimental techniques, viz. UV/Vis, IR, far-IR, multinuclear (¹H, ¹³C and ¹¹⁹Sn) NMR and ¹¹⁹Sn Mössbauer spectroscopic studies, were used to accomplish a definitive characterization and determination of their most probable structures. In these compounds triazole acts as a monoanionic bidentate ligand, coordinating through S_exo and N(4). The IR and ¹¹⁹Sn Mössbauer spectroscopic studies allow us to deduce a highly distorted cis-trigonal-bipyramidal structure for R₃SnL and a distorted skew trapezoidal-bipyramidal structure for R₂SnL₂, in the solid state. However, ¹H, ¹³C and ¹¹⁹Sn NMR spectral studies revealed that weak bonding between tin and N(4) is further weakened in the solution leading to pseudo-tetrahedral/tetrahedral structure.     

Magnetic properties and Eu Mössbauer effects of mixed valence europium copper sulfide, Eu2CuS3

Ternary europium copper sulfide Eu₂CuS₃ have been investigated by X-ray diffraction, ¹⁵¹Eu Mössbauer spectroscopy, magnetic susceptibility, magnetization, and specific heat measurements. In this compound, Eu²⁺ and Eu³⁺ ions occupy two crystallographically independent sites. The ¹⁵¹Eu Mössbauer spectra indicate that the Eu²⁺ and Eu³⁺ ions exist in the molar ratio of 1:1, and the Debye temperatures of Eu²⁺ and Eu³⁺ are 180 and 220 K, respectively. In its magnetic susceptibility, the divergence between the zero-field cooled and field cooled susceptibilities appears below 3.4 K. The specific heat has a λ-type anomaly at the same temperature. From the field dependence of magnetization at 1.8 K, the Eu²⁺ ion was found to be in the ferromagnetic state with the saturation magnetization M_S=6.7 μ_B.     

Determination of the Lamb-Mössbauer factors of LiFePO4 and FePO4 for electrochemical in situ and operando measurements in Li-ion batteries

⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy is a powerful tool to investigate redox reactions during in electrochemical lithium insertion/extraction processes. Electrochemical oxidation of LiFe^IIPO₄ (triphylite) in Li-ion batteries results in Fe^IIIPO₄ (heterosite). LiFePO₄ was synthesized by solid state reaction at 800 °C under Ar flow from Li₂CO₃, FeC₂O₄·2H₂O and NH₄H₂PO₄ precursors in stoichiometric composition. FePO₄ was prepared from chemical oxidation of LiFePO₄ using bromine as oxidative agent. For both materials a complete ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer study as a function of the temperature has been carried out. The Debye temperatures are found to be θ_M=336 K for LiFePO₄ and θ_M=359 K for FePO₄, leading to Lamb-Mössbauer factors f_300 K=0.73 and 0.77, respectively. These data will be useful for a precise estimation of the relative amounts of each species in a mixture.     

Magnetic and calorimetric studies on rare-earth iron borates LnFe3(BO3)4 (Ln=Y, La-Nd, Sm-Ho)

A series of rare-earth iron borates having general formula LnFe₃(BO₃)₄ (Ln=Y, La-Nd, Sm-Ho) were prepared and their magnetic properties have been investigated by the magnetic susceptibility, specific heat, and ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer spectrum measurements. These borates show antiferromagnetic transitions at low temperatures and their magnetic transition temperatures increase with decreasing Ln³⁺ ionic radius from 22 K for LaFe₃(BO₃)₄ to 40 K for TbFe₃(BO₃)₄. In addition, X-ray diffraction, specific heat, and differential thermal analysis (DTA) measurements indicate that the phase transition occurs for the LnFe₃(BO₃)₄ compounds with Ln=Eu-Ho, Y, and its transition temperature increases remarkably with decreasing Ln³⁺ ionic radius from 88 K for Ln=Eu to 445 K for Ln=Y.     

Mössbauer spectroscopic studies of thermal decomposition of substituted pentacyanoferrate(II) complexes

The thermal behaviour of substituted pentacyanoferrates(II) of the type Na₃[Fe(CN₅)L]·xH₂O, whereL=n-, sec-, tert- oriso-butylamine,di-iso-butylamine ortri-n-butylamine, was investigated with the aid of Mössbauer spectroscopy, XRD and TG-DTG-DTA. The Mössbauer spectra of these complexes exhibit a quadrupole doublet with E _Q=0.70–0.83 mm s^–1 at room temperature. The isomer shift, =0.00±0.03 mm s^–1 suggests that the iron atom is in the +2 low-spin state. The complexes start to decompose at 50°C, yielding a residual mass of 5.8 –21.3% in the temperature range 900–950°C. The Mössbauer spectra recorded after heating at 150 and 300°C exhibit an asymmetric doublet, suggesting partial decomposition. The Mössbauer spectra at higher temperature are complex. At different stages of the thermal process, the presence of -Fe₂O₃, -Fe₂O₃, -Fe, Fe₃C and Fe₃O₄ was demonstrated.On leave from A. N. College, Anandwan-442 914, IndiaWe are grateful to the Monbusho (Ministry of Education, Science, Sports and Culture) for the award of a fellowship to RBL and for financial assistance for the research work. Thanks are also due to Dr. T. Nakamoto for valuable cooperation.