Zr1−xLnxW2O8−x/2 (Ln=Eu, Er, Yb): Solid solutions of negative thermal expansion-synthesis, characterization and limited solid solubility

Zr_1−xLn_xW₂O_8−x/2 solid solutions (Ln=Eu, Er, Yb) of different substitution fractions x have been synthesized. Their X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns have been indexed and lattice parameters calculated based on the α-ZrW₂O₈ structure. The coefficients of thermal expansion (CTEs) of these solid solutions were estimated to be −10.3×10⁻⁶ K⁻¹ in temperature range of 30-100 °C. The solubility of lanthanide ions in these solid solutions decreases linearly with the increase in the radius of substituted lanthanide ions. Based on the concentration dependence of phase transition temperatures, a novel method for determination of solubility of the lanthanide ions in Zr_1−xLn_xW₂O_8−x/2 solid solutions has been developed. This method seems to be more sensitive as compared with that based on XRD technique.     

Synthesis and characterization of metal substituted AlxCr1−x(acetylacetonate)3 single-source precursors for their application to MOCVD of thin films

A detailed study, involving the synthesis of a single-source precursor containing two metal ions sharing the same crystallographic site, has been undertaken to elucidate the use of such a single-source precursor in a CVD process for growing thin films of oxides comprising these two metals, ensuring a uniform composition and distribution of metal ions. The substituted complexes Cr_1−xAl_x(acac)₃, where acac = acetylacetonate, have been prepared by a co-synthesis method, and characterized using UV–Vis spectroscopy, TGA/DTA measurements, and single crystal X-ray diffraction at low temperature. All the studied compositions crystallize in the monoclinic space group P2₁/c with Z = 4 in the unit cell. It was observed that the ratio (Al:Cr) of the site occupancy for the metal ions, obtained from single crystal refinement, is in agreement with the results obtained from complexometric titrations. All the solid state structures have the metal in an octahedral environment forming six-membered chelate rings. M–O acac bond lengths and disorder in the terminal carbon have been studied in detail for these substituted metal–organic complexes. One composition among these was chosen to evaluate their suitability as a single-source precursor in a LPMOCVD process (low-pressure metal–organic chemical vapour deposition) for the deposition of a substituted binary metal oxide thin film. The resulting thin films were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and infrared spectroscopy.     

Synthesis, crystal structures, magnetic and electric transport properties of Eu11InSb9 and Yb11InSb9

Two new rare-earth metal containing Zintl phases, Eu₁₁InSb₉ and Yb₁₁InSb₉ have been synthesized by reactions of the corresponding elements in molten In metal to serve as a self-flux. Their crystal structures have been determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction—both compounds are isostructural and crystallize in the orthorhombic space group Iba2 (No. 45), Z=4 with unit cell parameters a=12.224(2) Å, b=12.874(2) Å, c=17.315(3) Å for Eu₁₁InSb₉, and a=11.7886(11) Å, b=12.4151(12) Å, c=16.6743(15) Å for Yb₁₁InSb₉, respectively (Ca₁₁InSb₉-type, Pearson's code oI84). Both structures can be rationalized using the classic Zintl rules, and are best described in terms of discrete In-centered tetrahedra of Sb, [InSb₄]⁹⁻, isolated Sb dimers, [Sb₂]⁴⁻, and isolated Sb anions, Sb³⁻. These anionic species are separated by Eu²⁺ and Yb²⁺ cations, which occupy the empty space between them and counterbalance the formal charges. Temperature-dependent magnetic susceptibility and resistivity measurements corroborate such analysis and indicate divalent Eu and Yb, as well as poorly metallic behavior for both Eu₁₁InSb₉ and Yb₁₁InSb₉. The close relationships between these structures and those of the monoclinic α-Ca₂₁Mn₄Sb₁₈ and Ca₂₁Mn₄Bi₁₈ are also discussed.     

Thermoelectric properties of polycrystalline La1−xSrxCoO3

Thermoelectric properties of polycrystalline La_1−xSr_xCoO₃, where Sr²⁺ is substituted in La³⁺ site in perovskite-type LaCoO₃, have been investigated. Sr-doping increases the electrical conductivity (σ) of La_1−xSr_xCoO₃, and also decreases the Seebeck coefficient (S) for 0.01?x?0.40. A Hall coefficient measurement reveals that the increase in electrical conductivity arises from increases in both carrier concentration and the Hall mobility. The decrease in the Seebeck coefficient is caused by a decrease in carrier effective mass as well as increase in carrier concentration. The highest power factor (σS²) is 3.7×10⁻⁴ W m⁻¹ K⁻² at 250 K for x=0.10. The thermal conductivity (κ) is about 2 W m⁻¹ K⁻¹ at 300 K for 0?x?0.04, and increases for x?0.05 because of an increase in heat transport by conductive carrier. The thermoelectric properties of La_1−xSr_xCoO₃ are improved by Sr-doping, and the figure of merit (Z=σS² κ⁻¹) reaches 1.6×10⁻⁴ K⁻¹ for x=0.06 at 300 K (ZT=0.048). For heavily Sr-doped samples, the thermoelectric properties diminish mainly because of the decrease in the Seebeck coefficient and the increase in thermal conductivity.     

Composition and structure of acid leached LiMn2−yTiyO4 (0.2≤y≤1.5) spinels

Lithium manganese titanium spinels, LiMn_2−yTi_yO₄, (0.2≤y≤1.5) have been synthesized by solid-state reaction between TiO₂ (anatase), Li₂CO₃ and MnCO₃. Li⁺ was leached from the powdered reaction products by treatment in excess of 0.2 N HCl at 85 °C for 6 h, under reflux. The elemental composition of the acidic solution and solid residues of leaching has been determined by complexometric titration, atomic absorption spectroscopy and X-ray fluorescence analysis. Powder X-ray diffraction was used for structural characterization of the crystalline fraction of the solid residues. It has been found that the amount of Li⁺ leached from LiMn_2−yTi_yO₄ decreases monotonically with increasing y in the interval 0.2≤y≤1.0 and abruptly drops to negligibly small values for y>1.0. The content of Mn and Li in the liquid phase and of Mn and Ti in the solid (amorphous plus crystalline) residue, were related to the composition and cation distribution in the pristine compounds. A new formal chemical equation describing the process of leaching and a mechanism of the structural transformation undergone by the initial solids as a result of Li⁺ removal has been proposed.     

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.     

Structure and conductivity of strontium-doped cerium orthovanadates Ce1−xSrxVO4 (0≤x≤0.175)

A-site substituted cerium orthovanadates, Ce_1−xSr_xVO₄, were synthesised by solid-state reactions. It was found that the solid solution limit in Ce_1−xSr_xVO₄ is at x=0.175. The crystal structure was analysed by X-ray diffraction and it exhibits a tetragonal zircon structure of space group I4₁/amd (1 4 1) with a=7.3670 (3) and c=6.4894 (1) Å for Ce_0.825Sr_0.175VO₄. The UV-vis absorption spectra indicated that the compounds have band gaps at room temperature in the range 4.5-4.6 eV. Conductivity measurements were performed for the first time up to the strontium solid solution limit in air and in dry 5% H₂/Ar with conductivity values at 600 °C ranging from 0.3 to 30 mS cm⁻¹ in air to 30-45 mS cm⁻¹ in reduced atmosphere. Sample Ce_0.825Sr_0.175VO₄ is redox stable at a temperature below 600 °C although the conductivity is not high enough to be used as an electrode for solid oxide fuel cells.     

Structural and magnetic characterization of BiFexMn2-xO5 oxides (x=0.5, 1.0)

The title compounds have been synthesized by a citrate technique followed by thermal treatments in air (BiFe_0.5Mn_1.5O₅) or under high oxygen pressure conditions (BiFeMnO₅), and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), neutron powder diffraction (NPD) and magnetization measurements. The crystal structures have been refined from NPD data in the space group Pbam at 295 K. These phases are isostructural with RMn₂O₅ oxides (R=rare earths) and contain infinite chains of Mn⁴⁺O₆ octahedra sharing edges, linked together by (Fe,Mn)³⁺O₅ pyramids and BiO₈ units. These units are strongly distorted with respect to those observed in other RFeMnO₅ compounds, due to the presence of the electronic lone pair on Bi³⁺. It is noteworthy the certain level of antisite disorder exhibited in both samples, where the octahedral positions are partially occupied by Fe cations, and vice versa. BiFe_xMn_2−xO₅ (x=0.5, 1.0) are short-range magnetically ordered below 20 K for x=0.5 and at 40 K for x=1.0. The main magnetic interactions seem to be antiferromagnetic (AFM); however, the presence of a small hysteresis in the magnetization cycles indicates the presence of some weak ferromagnetic (FM) interactions.     

Phase stability and ionic conductivity in substituted La2W2O9

Different substitutions, i.e. Sr²⁺, Ba²⁺, K⁺, Nb⁵⁺ and V⁵⁺, have been performed in the triclinic α-La₂W₂O₉ structure in order to stabilise the high temperature and better ionic conductor cubic β-phase. This approach has been used to try to obtain a new series of ionic conductors with LAMOX-type structure without molybdenum and presumably better redox stability compared to β-La₂Mo₂O₉. Nanocrystalline materials obtained by a freeze-drying precursor method at 600 °C exhibit mainly the β-La₂W₂O₉ structure, however, the triclinic α-form is stabilised as the firing temperature increases and the crystallite size grows. Only high levels of Ba²⁺ and V⁵⁺ substitutions retained the cubic form at room temperature after firing above 1100 °C. However, these phases are metastable above 700 °C, exhibiting an irreversible transformation to the low temperature triclinic α-phase. The synthesis, structure, phase stability, kinetic of phase transformation and electrical conductivity of these materials have been studied in the present report.     

Metal-organic chains constructed from pre-organized N2S2 donor ligands

Three new N₂S₂ donor ligands 1,1′-((2-(2-(phenylthio)phenylthio)phenyl)methylene)bis(3,5-R-1H-pyrazole), R = H (L^H), R = Me (L^Me), R = i-Pr (L^i-Pr) have been prepared and characterized. These bifunctional ligands incorporate two distinct chelate donor systems, by virtue of the presence of bispyrazole and bisthioether functions. The preferred conformation of these ligands is such that the N₂ and S₂ donor moieties may be oriented in opposite directions, thus favoring the formation of molecular chains when treated with AgBF₄. The X-ray structures of Ag(I) complexes show that, depending on the steric hindrance present on the pyrazole rings, these ligands behave as κ⁴-SSNN-μ bridging tetradentate (when R = H), or κ³-SNN-μ bridging tridentate (when R = Me, i-Pr). Interestingly, [Ag(L^H)]BF₄ crystallizes in the chiral space group P4₁, with the molecular chain that is folded around the 4₁ screw axis.     

Preparation and photoluminescence properties of RE:Na3La9O3(BO3)8 (RE=Er, Yb) crystals

Using Na₂CO₃-H₃BO₃-NaF as fluxes, transparent RE:Na₃La₉O₃(BO₃)₈ (abbr. RE:NLBO, RE=Er, Yb) crystals have been grown by the top seed solution growth (TSSG) method. The X-ray powder diffraction analysis shows that the RE:NLBO crystals have the same structure with NLBO. The element contents were determined by molar to be 0.64% Er³⁺ in Er:NLBO, 2.70% Yb³⁺ in Yb:NLBO, respectively. The polarized absorption spectra of RE:NLBO have been measured at room temperature and show that both Er:NLBO and Yb:NLBO have a strong absorption bands near 980 nm with wide FWHM (Full Wave at Half Maximum) (21 nm for Er:NLBO and 25 nm for Yb:NLBO). Fluorescence spectra have been recorded. Yb:NLBO has the emission peaks at 985 nm, 1028 nm and 1079 nm and the emission peak of Er:NLBO is at 1536 nm. Spectral parameters have been calculated by the Judd-Ofelt theory for Er:NLBO and the reciprocity method for Yb:NLBO, respectively. The calculated values show that Er:NLBO is a candidate of 1.55 μm laser crystals and Yb:NLBO is a candidate for self-frequency doubling crystal.     

Thermochemistry of Li1+xMn2−xO4 (0?x?1/3) spinel

Lithium substituted Li_1+xMn_2−xO₄ spinel samples in the entire solid solution range (0?x?1/3) were synthesized by solid-state reaction. The samples with x<0.25 are stoichiometric and those with x?0.25 are oxygen deficient. High-temperature oxide melt solution calorimetry in molten 3Na₂O·4MoO₃ at 974 K was performed to determine their enthalpies of formation from constituent binary oxides at 298 K. The cubic lattice parameter was determined from least-squares fitting of powder XRD data. The variations of the enthalpy of formation from oxides and the lattice parameter with x follow similar trends. The enthalpy of formation from oxides becomes more exothermic with x for stoichiometric compounds (x<0.25) and deviates endothermically from this trend for oxygen-deficient samples (x?0.25). This energetic trend is related to two competing substitution mechanisms of lithium for manganese (oxidation of Mn³⁺ to Mn⁴⁺ versus formation of oxygen vacancies). For stoichiometric spinels, the oxidation of Mn³⁺ to Mn⁴⁺ is dominant, whereas for oxygen-deficient compounds both mechanisms are operative. The endothermic deviation is ascribed to the large endothermic enthalpy of reduction.     

Synthesis and structural characterization of Al7C3N3-homeotypic aluminum silicon oxycarbonitride, (Al7−xSix)(OyCzN6−y−z) (x∼1.2, y∼1.0 and z∼3.5)

A new aluminum silicon oxycarbonitride, (Al_5.8Si_1.2)(O_1.0C_3.5N_1.5), has been synthesized and characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS). The title compound is hexagonal with space group P6₃/mmc and unit-cell dimensions a=0.322508(4) nm, c=3.17193(4) nm and V=0.285717(6) nm³. The atom ratios of Al:Si and those of O:C:N were, respectively, determined by EDX and EELS. The initial structural model was successfully derived from the XRPD data by the direct methods and further refined by the Rietveld method. The crystal is most probably composed of four types of domains with nearly the same fraction, each of which is isotypic to Al₇C₃N₃ with space group P6₃mc. The existence of another new oxycarbonitride (Al_6.6Si_1.4)(O_0.7C_4.3N_2.0), which must be homeotypic to Al₈C₃N₄, has been also demonstrated by XRPD and TEM.     

Mg2MTaO6 (M=Nd or La): a group of new pyrochlore oxides

Preparation of two novel mixed metal oxide ceramic materials, namely magnesium neodymium tantalum oxide (Mg₂NdTaO₆) and magnesium lanthanum tantalum oxide (Mg₂LaTaO₆) by conventional solid-state reaction method is reported in this paper. The crystal structure of these new compounds, were studied by indexing the X-ray diffraction patterns, powder pattern calculation and profile fitting. They were found to have a defective cubic pyrochlore structure, with the A site being randomly occupied by Mg and La/Nd, while, Ta and Mg are randomly distributed at the B site. The formula assigned were (MgNd)(MgTa)O₆ and (MgLa)(MgTa)O₆. The variation of dielectric constant, dielectric loss and conductivity of sintered pellets of these materials with applied frequencies in the range of 30 Hz-1 MHz were studied at room temperature. These room temperature studies at 1 MHz gave dielectric constant values of 24.8 and 25.35; conductivity values of 7.75×10⁻⁶ and 8.27×10⁻⁶ S/m as well as dielectric loss values of 0.0055 and 0.006 for Mg₂NdTaO₆ and Mg₂LaTaO₆, respectively. These new pyrochlore compounds were found to have dielectric constant, dielectric loss and conductivity values in the range suitable for possible electronic ceramic applications.     

The non-centrosymmetric borate oxides, MBi2B2O7 (M=Ca, Sr)

Two novel noncentrosymmetric borates oxides, MBi₂B₂O₇ or MBi₂O(BO₃)₂ (MCa, Sr), have been synthesized by solid-state reactions in air at temperatures in the 600-700 °C range. Their crystal structures have been determined ab initio and refined using powder neutron diffraction data. CaBi₂B₂O₇ crystallizes in the orthorhombic Pna2₁ space group with a=8.9371(5) Å, b=5.4771(3) Å, c=12.5912(7) Å, Z=4, R_wp=0.118, χ²=2.30. SrBi₂B₂O₇ crystallizes in the hexagonal P6₃ space group with a=9.1404(4) Å, c=13.0808(6) Å, Z=6, R_wp=0.115, χ²=4.15. Large displacement parameters suggest the presence of disorder in SrBi₂B₂O₇ as also revealed by diffuse 2×a superstructure reflections in electron diffraction patterns. Both structures are built of identical (001) neutral layers of corner-sharing BO₃ triangles and MO₆ trigonal prisms forming six-membered rings in which Bi₂O groups are located. Adjacent layers are stacked in a staggered configuration and connected through weak Bi-O bonds. A moderate efficiency for second harmonic generation (SHG) has been measured for a powder sample of CaBi₂B₂O₇ (d_eff=2d_eff(KDP)).     

High-pressure transitions in MgAl2O4 and a new high-pressure phase of Mg2Al2O5

Phase transitions in MgAl₂O₄ were examined at 21-27 GPa and 1400-2500 °C using a multianvil apparatus. A mixture of MgO and Al₂O₃ corundum that are high-pressure dissociation products of MgAl₂O₄ spinel combines into calcium-ferrite type MgAl₂O₄ at 26-27 GPa and 1400-2000 °C. At temperature above 2000 °C at pressure below 25.5 GPa, a mixture of Al₂O₃ corundum and a new phase with Mg₂Al₂O₅ composition is stable. The transition boundary between the two fields has a strongly negative pressure-temperature slope. Structure analysis and Rietveld refinement on the basis of the powder X-ray diffraction profile of the Mg₂Al₂O₅ phase indicated that the phase represented a new structure type with orthorhombic symmetry (Pbam), and the lattice parameters were determined as a=9.3710(6) Å, b=12.1952(6) Å, c=2.7916(2) Å, V=319.03(3) Å³, Z=4. The structure consists of edge-sharing and corner-sharing (Mg, Al)O₆ octahedra, and contains chains of edge-sharing octahedra running along the c-axis. A part of Mg atoms are accommodated in six-coordinated trigonal prism sites in tunnels surrounded by the chains of edge-sharing (Mg, Al)O₆ octahedra. The structure is related with that of ludwigite (Mg, Fe²⁺)₂(Fe³⁺, Al)(BO₃)O₂. The molar volume of the Mg₂Al₂O₅ phase is smaller by 0.18% than sum of molar volumes of 2MgO and Al₂O₃ corundum. High-pressure dissociation to the mixture of corundum-type phase and the phase with ludwigite-related structure has been found only in MgAl₂O₄ among various A²⁺B³⁺₂O₄ compounds.     

Synthesis of layered cathode material Li[CoxMn1−x]O2 from layered double hydroxides precursors

Cathode materials Li[Co_xMn_1−x]O₂ for lithium secondary batteries have been prepared by a new route—precursor method of layered double hydroxides (LDHs). In situ high-temperature X-ray diffraction (HT-XRD) and thermogravimetric analysis coupled with mass spectrometry (TG-MS) were used to monitor the structural transformation during the reaction of CoMn LDHs and LiOH·H₂O: firstly the layered structure of LDHs transformed to an intermediate phase with spinel structure; then the distortion of the structure occurred with the intercalation of Li⁺ into the lattice, resulting in the formation of layered Li[Co_xMn_1−x]O₂ with α-NaFeO₂ structure. Extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) data showed that the Co-O bonding length and the coordination number of Co were close to those of Mn in Li[Co_xMn_1−x]O₂, which indicates that the local environments of the transitional metals are rather similar. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) was used to measure the oxidation state of Co and Mn. The influences of Co/Mn ratio on both the structure and electrochemical property of Li[Co_xMn_1−x]O₂ have been investigated by XRD and electrochemical tests. It has been found that the products synthesized by the precursor method demonstrated a rather stable cycling behavior, with a reversible capacity of 122.5 mAh g⁻¹ for the layered material Li[Co_0.80Mn_0.20]O₂.     

Rietveld refinement and photoluminescent properties of a new blue-emitting material: Eu activated SrZnP2O7

A new efficient blue phosphor, Eu²⁺ activated SrZnP₂O₇, has been synthesized at 1000 °C under reduced atmosphere and the crystal structure and photoluminescence properties have been investigated. The crystal structure of SrZnP₂O₇ was obtained via Rietveld refinement of powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern. It was found that SrZnP₂O₇ crystallizes in space group of P2₁/n (no. 14), Z=4, and the unit cell dimensions are: a=5.30906(2) Å, b=8.21392(3) Å, c=12.73595(5) Å, β=90.1573(3)°, and V=555.390(3) Å³. Under ultraviolet excitation (200-400 nm), efficient Eu²⁺ emission peaked at 420 nm was observed, of which the luminescent efficiency at the optimal concentration of Eu²⁺ (4 mol%) was estimated to be 96% as that of BaMgAl₁₀O₁₇:Eu²⁺. Hence, the SrZnP₂O₇:Eu²⁺ exhibit great potential as a phosphor in different applications, such as ultraviolet light emitting diode and photo-therapy lamps.     

Phase transitions in A-site substituted perovskite compounds: The (Ca1-2xNaxLax)TiO3 (0?x?0.5) solid solution

The (Ca_1-2xNa_xLa_x)TiO₃ (0?x?0.5) A-site substituted perovskite compounds have been synthesized and characterized by XRD and Raman spectroscopy at room temperature. The XRD powder diffraction study suggests that the end-member Na_1/2La_1/2TiO₃ crystallizes in the tetragonal space group I4/mcm. The phase transition from Pbnm to I4/mcm is located between x=0.34 and 0.39 and is driven by the variation of ionic radii at the A-site. The observed Raman modes are in agreement with group theory analysis, and the relationships between the behavior of structural parameters (e.g. Ti-O-Ti bond angle), indicated by long-range order, and the corresponding Raman frequency shifts and intensity evolution, indicated by short-range order, are established and discussed in terms of the radius effect and the mass effect.     

Non-centrosymmetric Ba3Ti3O6(BO3)2

The compound previously reported as Ba₂Ti₂B₂O₉ has been reformulated as Ba₃Ti₃B₂O₁₂, or Ba₃Ti₃O₆(BO₃)₂, a new barium titanium oxoborate. Small single crystals have been recovered from a melt with a composition of BaTiO₃:BaTiB₂O₆ (molar ratio) cooled between 1100°C and 850°C. The crystal structure has been determined by X-ray diffraction: hexagonal system, non-centrosymmetric space group, a=8.7377(11) Å, c=3.9147(8) Å, Z=1, wR(F²)=0.039 for 504 unique reflections. Ba₃Ti₃O₆(BO₃)₂ is isostructural with K₃Ta₃O₆(BO₃)₂. Preliminary measurements of nonlinear optical properties on microcrystalline samples show that the second harmonic generation efficiency of Ba₃Ti₃O₆(BO₃)₂ is equal to 95% of that of LiNbO₃.