Structure types – a review

Structures of binary inorganic A_xB_y compounds with A and B on two Wyckoff positions are characterized by the self‐coordination numbers T_i, i = 1–3, of A and B atoms. The T₁ = 0–12 values of 122 structure types can be correlated with different topologies, A–A interactions and densities. High T₁ values like T₁ = 12 are obtained for fcc or hcp sphere packing with maximum density of A atoms and interstitial B atoms. Hexagonal or tetragonal layered compounds are recognized by the T_i values 6 6 6 or 4 4 4. The T₁ = 2 values are found for chains, T₁= 1 for ordered molecules like N₂ or Br₂. The A and B atoms of few compounds like NaCl or CsCl form a pc or bcc sphere packing. The T₁ = 0 values of Na or Cs atoms indicate repulsive Na–Na or Cs–Cs interactions. Distorted structures of a structure type are recognized, if atoms with slightly different A–A or B–B distances are included in the proper coordination shells. (© 2004 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

The crystal structure of α‐SrGaBO4

A new compound α‐SrGaBO₄ has been synthesized by solid state reaction at high temperatures, and its structure has been solved by direct methods from powder X‐ray diffraction. α‐SrGaBO₄ has an orthorhombic system, Pccn space group, with lattice parameters a = 15.3154(7) Å, b = 8.9186(4) Å, c = 5.8130(3) Å, and Z = 8. The structure consists of infinite chains run parallel to the c axis and built up of GaO₄ tetrahedral and BO₃ triangles. The basic unit of these chains is a six ‐ membered Ga₂BO₈ ring formed by two GaO₄ tetrahedra and one BO₃ triangles. The Sr atom is bonded to eight oxygen atoms. The strontium atoms serve to hold the chains together through co‐ordination with oxygen atoms. DTA curve of noncrystalline glassy SrGaBO₄ was discussed. The XRD results show no phase transition occurs between ‐173 °C and 127 °C. (© 2004 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Structural studies of crystalline oligosaccharides VI: Crystal structure and conformation of benzyl‐4,6‐O‐benzylidene‐3‐O‐benzoyl‐β‐D‐galactoside

Monsaccharides are the building blocks of polysaccharides and hence are the simplest sugar molecules to study the conformation and molecular structures of sugars. Benzyl‐4,6‐O‐benzylidene‐3‐O‐benzoyl‐β‐D‐galactoside is a key intermediate in the synthesis of polysaccharides. Crystal structural investigation of the title compound was undertaken to establish their chemical structure as well as to study their solid state conformation. Crystals of the title compound, obtained from water/methanol, are orthorhombic, space group P2₁2₁2₁, with cell dimensions a=11.290 (4), b=9.941 (1), c= 21.442(2)Å, V= 2406ų, Z=4, D_obs= 1.42 gm/cm³, D_calc=1.423 g/cm³, 2886 reflections were collected on a CAD‐4 diffractometer. The structure was solved by direct methods and refined to a final reliability index of 4.7%. The galactoside sugar has the chair conformation with C2' and C5' deviating from the mean plane of the other atoms of the sugar. The 4,6‐O‐benzylidene ring also has a chair conformation with the benzoyl group proximal to O6'. The crystal structure is stabilized by O‐H…O hydrogen bonds involving O2' as donor and three C‐H…O hydrogen bond interactions. (© 2006 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Thermal “order‐disorder” behaviour in (Na1‐xKx)4B8O14 solid solutions investigated by X‐ray powder diffraction

In the potassium‐rich part of the binary system Na₄B₈O₁₄‐K₄B₈O₁₄ solid solutions have been found that can be described with the formula (Na_1‐xK_x)₄B₈O₁₄ with 0.45 ≤ x < 1.0. The crystal structures of (Na_0.25K_0.75)₄B₈O₁₄ and (Na_0.45K_0.55)₄B₈O₁₄ were refined at room temperature by the Rietveld method. The solid solutions crystallize like K₄B₈O₁₄ in the triclinic crystal system, space group P ‐1, with K partially substituted for Na. An ordered distribution of the alkali atoms over the four cation sites at room temperature has been discovered. The structure of (Na_0.25K_0.75)₄B₈O₁₄ was also refined for data collected at 300 and 500 °C. The refinements show that sodium and potassium atoms are less ordered at higher temperatures. (© 2008 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Synthesis and structure of the three‐dimensional coordination polymer [Ag3hmt3(μ3 ‐btc)]·5H2O

A new coordination polymer, [Ag₃hmt₃(μ₃ ‐btc)]·5H₂O (1) (hmt = hexamethylenetetramine, btc=1,3,5‐benzenetricarboxlic), has been successfully synthesized. Crystal data: P2₁/a, a = 11.9906(2) Å, b = 17.3689(2) Å, c = 16.96100(10) Å, β = 101.9820(14)°, V = 3455.40(7) ų, Z = 4, Dc = 2.002 Mg/m³. In the hexagonal structure of Ag‐hmt unit, each Ag‐hmt unit comprises three Ag atoms and three hmt ligands. The μ₃ ‐btc ligands bridge adjacent two‐dimensional honeycomb‐like Ag‐hmt layers to form three‐dimensional networks. Structure analysis show that hydrogen bonds play a key role for the stable structure in the compounds. (© 2005 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Spherulitic crystallization of β‐In2Te3 by physical vapour deposition

Different morphologies of indium telluride (In₂Te₃) including novel spherulites were crystallized using the physical vapour deposition (PVD) method, by varying the difference in the growth and source zone temperature (ΔT) of a dual zone horizontal furnace assembled indigenously. Whiskers and kinked needles of In₂Te₃were grown at ΔT = 250 K and 300 K respectively, maintaining the growth zone at 500 °C. At high supersaturation (Δ T = 400 K), spherulitic crystals were obtained. The stoichiometric composition of these crystals has been confirmed using energy dispersive analysis by x‐rays (EDAX). The structure of β‐In₂Te₃ spherulitic crystals is identified as zinc blende with lattice parameter a = 6.159 Å, from x‐ray diffraction (XRD) studies. The scanning electron microscope (SEM) images revealed the radial structure of the grown spherulites. The growth mechanism for the spherulitic crystallization of β‐In₂Te₃ crystals has been discussed based on the theoretical models. (© 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

XRD,IR, and Raman investigations of structural properties of Dy2‐xHox O3 prepared by sol gel procedure

The Rare earth mixed oxides Dy_2‐xHo_x O₃ (0.0 ≤ x ≤ 2.0) solid solution was synthesized by a sol–gel process. X‐ray diffraction (XRD) data were collected and crystal structure and microstructure analyses were performed applying Rietveld refinement method. Infrared and Raman spectroscopy were used to define the microstructure and to locally probe the structure of the samples. The cationic distribution over the two non‐equivalent sites 8b and 24d of the space group Ia3 is found to be randomly. The crystallite size and microstrain as well as Raman modes positions are influenced by Ho³⁺ concentration. The apparent size is isotropic but significant anisotropy is found for the microstrain with its largest value along the crystallographic direction [h00]. Inspite the single phase solid solution confirmed by Rietveld analysis for all samples, Raman spectra detected the coexistence of two phases; cubic and distorted monoclinic of too small amount or highly disordered, i.e. amorphous like, to be detected by XRD. The result indicates the ability of Raman spectroscopy to detect minor phases in solid solutions. (© 2012 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Synthesis and crystal structure determination of 6,7‐dihydro‐2‐methoxy‐4‐(substituted)‐5H ‐benzo[6,7]cyclohepta[1,2‐b ]pyridine‐3‐carbonitrile

The compounds 6,7‐dihydro‐2‐methoxy‐4‐(4‐methylphenyl)‐5H ‐benzo[6.7]cyclohepta[1,2‐b ]pyridine‐3‐carbonitrile (compound IIIa) and 4‐(4‐chlorophenyl)‐6,7‐dihydro‐2‐methoxy‐5H ‐benzo[6,7]cyclohepta[1,2‐b ]pyridine‐3‐carbonitrile (compound IIIb) were synthesized and their structures have been determined from three dimensional X‐ray data using direct method and refined by full matrix least squares with anisotropic thermal parameters for non‐hydrogen atoms to conventional R(gt) of 0.036 and 0.038 for the two compounds respectively. For compound (IIIa) the crystals are monoclinic, space group C_c, with a=11.2909 (5) Å, b=17.7755(8) Å, c=9.1437(4) Å and β=95.428(3)°, while the crystals of the second compound (IIIb) are triclinic, space group P1, with a=8.7465(3)Å, b=10.3958(3)Å, c=10.9011(4)Å, α= 108.3870(10)°, β=101.3741(12)°, γ=97.9594(12)°. The molecular structure of the two compounds have nearly the same configuration, where the cyclohepta ring takes the boat shape and the methoxy and the carbonitrile groups are attached at the same position C₂ and C₈. The difference occurs only at the position C₄, where the substituent is methylphenyl for compound (IIIa) and chlorophenyl for the other. The bond lengths, valency angles and the hydrogen bonding were calculated and fully discussed. (© 2007 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Crystallization of MIGe2(PO4)3 (MI – Na,K, Ag) from molten phosphate media

A number of NASICON‐related M^IGe₂(PO₄)₃ (M^I – Na, K, Ag) have been prepared using a high‐temperature solution method in the molten system M^I‐Ge‐P‐O (M^I – Na, K) based on the solubility data for GeO₂ at 1123 K for the Na‐P‐O system and 1173 K for the K‐P‐O one. The single crystals of AgGe₂(PO₄)₃ were obtained after crystallization of a melt with Ag/P = 1.4. It crystallizes in the trigonal system, space group R‐3, cell parameters a = 8.06340(1) Å, c = 21.8385(4) Å, Z = 6. The framework is built up from two GeO₆ units that are isolated from each other by PO₄ tetrahedra to form the main building block of the structure [Ge₂(PO₄)₃]⁻. Two types of silver cations M1 and M2 are found to have different coordination requirements shown by the bond valence sum calculations.     

Crystal structure of N‐(2‐methoxyphenyl)‐3,6‐diphenyl‐1,4‐dihydro‐1,2,4,5‐tetrazine‐1‐carbonamide

The title compound, C₂₂H₁₉N₅O₂, was prepared and its structure was determined by X‐ray diffraction [CCDC 216074]. The compound crystallizes from ethanol in the orthorhombic system, space group P2₁2₁2₁, with unit cell parameters: a =10.048(1) Å, b = 13.935 (2) Å, c =14.607(2) Å, Z =4, and V=2045.3(5) ų. The crystal structure was solved by direct methods and refined by full‐matrix least‐squares to a final R‐value of 0.0516 with 3621 unique reflections. The central six‐membered ring of the compound has a boat conformation and is not homoaromatic, in which adjacent atoms N1 and N4 deviate from the plane of the ring by 0.4546(33) Å and 0.3786(33) Å, respectively. (© 2005 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Low temperature powder diffraction and DFT solid state computational study of hydrogen bonding in NH4VO3

The crystal structure of NH₄VO₃ was refined by the geometry optimization done by total energy minimization in solid state using DFT/plane waves approach. The lattice parameters were derived by the Le Bail technique from the low temperature X‐ray (40‐293 K) and synchrotron (100‐293 K) powder diffraction data. The structure is formed by the infinite chains of irregular VO₄ tetrahedra running approximately parallel to the c‐axis, which are interlinked by the ammonium ions placed between them. The ammonium ions link to the [VO₄]_∞ chains through one linear, one bifurcated and two trifurcated N‐H…O hydrogen bonds. Considering their stability there are six distinct N‐H…O hydrogen bonds: two strong with the N‐H…O bond angles close to the straight, two medium with the bond angles of 123° and 148° and two very bent (105° and 107°) and hence weak hydrogen bonds. There is a reasonable agreement between the energies of the stretching ν(NH) modes estimated using the optimised N…O contact distances and those obtained experimentally. (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Crystal structure refinement of CuxAg1‐xInTe2 bulk material determined from X‐ray powder diffraction data using the Rietveld method

The influence of the Cu‐content in the quaternary compounds Cu_xAg_1‐xInTe₂ (0 ≤ x ≤1) on the structural properties of the bulk material was discussed. Bulk ingot materials of Cu_xAg_1‐xInTe₂ solid solutions (x = 0.0, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75 and 1.0) have been synthesized by fusion of the constituent elements in the stoichiometric ratios in vacuum‐sealed silica tubes. The materials compositions were confirmed by using energy dispersive analysis of X‐rays (EDAX). X‐ray powder diffraction measurements were performed for all the prepared samples at 300 K in step scanning mode. The analysis of X‐ray data has indicated that the crystal structure of the prepared materials with different compositions is single‐phase polycrystalline materials corresponding to the tetragonal chalcopyrite structure with space group I 2d. The crystal structural parameters were refined by Rietveld method using the Full Prof program. The refined lattice constants (a and c), anion positional parameter, u, and the determined bond distances and angles were found to vary with composition, x, attaining zero tetragonal distortion at x ≈ 0.75, which corresponds to an ideal tetragonal unit cell. (© 2004 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Crystal structure,thermal and compositional deformations of β‐CsB5O8

The crystal structure of β‐CsB₅O₈ has been determined from X‐ray powder diffraction data using synchrotron radiation: Pbca, a = 7.8131(3) Å, b = 12.0652(4) Å, c = 14.9582(4) Å, Z = 8, ρ_calc = 2.967 g/cm³, R‐p = 0.076, R‐wp = 0.094. β‐CsB₅O₈ was found to be isostructural with β‐KB₅O₈ and β‐RbB₅O₈. The crystal structure consists of a double interlocking framework built up from B‐O pentaborate groups. The crystal structure exhibits a highly anisotropic thermal expansion: α_a = 53, α_b = 16, α_c = 14 · 10^‐6/K; the anisotropy may be caused by partial straightening of the screw chains of the pentaborate groups. The similarity of the thermal and compositional (Cs‐Rb‐K substitution) deformations of CsB₅O₈ is revealed: increasing the radius of the metal by 0.01 Å leads to the same deformations of the crystal structure as increasing the temperature by 35°C. (© 2007 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Polymeric metal‐organic octupolar NLO materials: lithium(I) and sodium(I) 3,5‐dinitrobenzoates

Lithium 3,5‐dinitrobenzoate (Li(dnb)) exhibits a 1D propeller chain structure of D ₃ point symmetry and the chains are trigonally assembled in the crystal under the chiral space group P 3₁21. Sodium 3,5‐dinitrobenzoate (Na(dnb)) also crystallizes in space group P 3₁21 and exhibits a 3D structure. The structure of Na(dnb) could be regarded to be similar to that of Li(dnb) if the weaker Na‐O(nitro) bonds were to be ignored. These two compounds represent rare examples of octupoles arranged in an octupolar environment and show modest powder SHG effects. (© 2007 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Crystal structure of 3‐hydroxy methyl 4,6‐dimethoxy‐9‐phenylsulfonyl‐carbazole

The crystal structure of 3‐Hydroxy methyl 4,6‐dimethoxy‐9‐phenylsulfonyl‐carbazole. (C₂₁H₁₉NO₅S) has been determined [CCDC 194425]. The compound crystallizes from methanol in the monoclinic system, space group I2/c, with unit cell parameters: a = 20.498(2), b = 9.258(2), c = 21.866(3)Å, β = 116.450(10)°, Z = 8, V = 3715.2(10)ų. The crystal structure was solved by direct methods and refined by full‐matrix least squares to a final R‐value of 0.050 with 3508 unique reflections. The planar carbazole ring fragment is inclined at an angle of 79.9(1)° to the phenylsulfonyl group. The sum of the angle about N is 351.6(2)°. The atoms linked to the central hexavalent S atom are arranged in a tetrahedral configuration with the larger deviations in the O‐SO angles [O1‐S‐O2 = 119.7(2)°] and the O1‐S‐N and O2‐S‐N angles [106.1(2) and 106.9(1)°, respectively].     

Crystal structure of N‐[(1Z)‐1‐(3‐methyl‐3‐phenylcyclobutyl)‐2‐thiomorpholin‐4‐ylethylidene] thiourea

The crystal structure of N‐[(1Z)‐1‐(3‐methyl‐3‐phenylcyclobutyl)‐2‐thiomorpholin‐4‐ylethylidene] thiourea (C₁₈H₂₆N₄S₂) has been determined by X‐ray crystallographic techniques. The compound crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group Pbca, with unit cell parameters: a = 15.692(3), b = 20.803(8), c = 11.979(6)Å, Z = 8, V = 3911(7)ų. The crystal structure was solved by direct methods and refined by full‐matrix least squares to a final R‐value of 0.084 for 1447 observed reflections [I > 2σ ( I ) ]. In the thiosemicarbazide moiety, the S = C bond length is 1.656(6), N‐C‐N angle is 115.6(5)°. The crystal structure is stabilized by the intermolecular N‐H...S hydrogen bonds. (© 2005 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Crystal structure of an ammonium thiocyanate complex of 18–crown–6

The title compound (C₁₃H₃₀N₂O₇S) has been determined from three‐dimensional X‐ray diffraction data. The crystals are monoclinic, a = 22.654(8) Å, b = 8.652(4) Å, c = 23.925(9) Å, β = 123.880(9)°, V = 3893(3) ų, Z = 8, D_calc = 1.192 g/cm³, space group C2/c. The structure was solved by direct methods and refined by full‐matrix least squares method (R = 0.051). The ammonium cation is displaced by 1.08 Å from the mean plane of the ligand causing hydrogen bonding with the macrocyclic O atoms in a perching arrangement. The thiocyanate anion forms an extended hydrogen bonded chain with the cation via the occluded water molecule. (© 2004 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Crystal and molecular structure of 1‐allyl‐5‐(4‐methylbenzoyl)‐4‐(4‐methylphenyl)pyrimidine‐2(1H)‐thione

The crystal structure of 1‐allyl‐5‐(4‐methylbenzoyl)‐4‐(4‐methylphenyl)pyrimidine‐2(1H)‐thione (C₂₂H₂₀N₂OS) has been determined from three dimensional single crystal X‐ray diffraction data. The title compound crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P 2₁/c, with a = 10.6674(13), b = 10.1077(7), c = 17.9467(19) Å, β = 98.460(9)°, V = 1914.0(3) ų, D_calc = 1.251 g cm^–3, Z = 4. In the title compound, the allyl group shows positional disorder. Molecules are linked by C‐H···O, C‐H···N and C‐H···S intermolecular interactions forming two‐dimensional network. (© 2006 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Crystal and molecular structure of 3‐phenyl‐4‐(p‐chlorobenzylamino)‐4,5‐dihydro‐1‐H‐1,2,4‐triazol‐5‐on

The structure of the title compound, C₁₅H₁₃N₄OCl was determined by single crystal X‐ray diffraction technique. The structure consists of a p‐chlorobenzylamino moiety and triazol and phenyl rings. The title compound crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2₁/c with a = 14.368(3), b = 6.255(3), c = 17.631(3) Å, β = 113.24(3)°, Z = 4, V = 1455.8(8) ų and D_x = 1.372 gcm^‐3. The structure was solved by direct methods and refined by full‐matrix least‐squares method (R=0.0477). The dihedral angle between the triazole moiety and the phenyl ring is 28.8(3)°. The molecular packing is stabilized by N‐H…N and N‐H…O types of inter molecular hydrogen bonds. (© 2004 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Optoelectronical properties of polycrystalline β ‐GaSe thin films

Polycrystalline β ‐GaSe thin films were obtained by the thermal evaporation of GaSe crystals onto glass substrates kept at 300 °C under a pressure of 10^–5 Torr. The transmittance and reflectance of these films was measured in the incident photon energy range of 1.1–3.70 eV. The absorption coefficient spectral analysis in the sharp absorption region revealed a direct allowed transitions band gap of 1.83 eV. The data analysis allowed the identification of the dispersive optical parameters by calculating the refractive index in the wavelength region of 620–1100 nm. In addition, the photocurrent of the samples was studied as function of incident illumination‐intensity and temperature. The photocurrent is found to exhibit sublinear and supralinear character above and below 270 K, respectively. The temperature dependent photocurrent data analysis allowed the calculation of photocurrent activation energies as 603, 119 and 45 meV being dominant in the temperature regions of 250–300 K, 180–240 K and 80‐160 K, respectively. (© 2006 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)