Investigation of the EPR parameters of the rhombic Cu2+ center in (NH4)2Mg(SO4)2·6H2O single crystal

The electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) parameters (g factors g_x, g_y, g_z and hyperfine structure constants A_x, A_y, A_z) for Cu²⁺ in (NH₄)₂Mg(SO₄)₂·6H₂O (DHMS) crystal are theoretically investigated using the high-order perturbation formulas of these parameters. In the calculations, the ligand orbital and spin–orbit coupling for the impurity Cu²⁺ are taken into account; the required crystal-field parameters are estimated from the superposition model which enables correlation of the crystal-field parameters and hence the EPR parameters with the local structure of the impurity center. The ligand orbital and the spin–orbit coupling contributions are included on the basis of the cluster approach. Based on the calculation, the theoretical EPR parameters show good agreement with the observed values. The results are discussed.     

Cu-EPR in YBa2Cu3O6+δ single crystals

We report on the observation of Cu-EPR signals in single crystalline material of YBa₂Cu₃O₆₊ in the narrow oxygen concentration range 0.7<<0.9 and for temperatures 80 K<T<200 K. We provide evidence that the signal results from Cu²⁺ ions located in Cu(1)OCu(1) chain fragments.     

Effect of hydrostatic pressure and temperature on the EPR spectrum of the Mn2+ ion in Zn(BF4)2 · 6H2O

A study of the effect of hydrostatic pressure and temperature on the EPR spectrum of the Mn²⁺ ion in Zn(BF₄)₂ · 6H₂O is reported. The break in the temperature dependence of the b ₂ ⁰ parameter at 196 K is evidence of the existence of a phase transition accompanied by a change in the thermal expansion coefficient. It is shown that pressure considerably affects the spectral parameters by reducing the axial parameter b ₂ ⁰ and increasing the cubic one, b ₄ ⁰ . At 9 kbar, the b ₂ ⁰ parameter is temperature independent. A comparison of the pressure dependences of the spectra of Zn(BF₄)₂ · 6H₂O, ZnSiF₆ · 6H₂O, ZnTiF₆ · 6H₂O, and MgSiF₂ · 6H₂O crystals suggests equal hydrogen-bond lengths in these compounds. A ligand hyperfine structure has been detected, which originates from the Zeeman interaction with the proton nuclei surrounding Mn²⁺ and manifests itself in the formation of satellites at each EPR line, their separation being proportional to the magnetic field. The nonlinear pressure dependence of the linewidth is related to the structural features of the crystal under study.     

Electron paramagnetic resonance of Gd3+ in Nd2(SO4)3 · 8H2O single crystal

Electron paramagnetic resonance study has been carried out in Gd3+ doped single crystals of Nd₂(SO₄)₃·8H₂0 at three different temperatures. Two magnetic complexes exhibiting orthorhombic or lower symmetry are found and the results have been fitted to a suitable spin-Hamiltonian. The ten “best fit” parameters are obtained from two computer programs. Zero-field splittings of Gd3+ have been deduced from spin-Hamiltonian parameters and are compared with those observed directly by Bogle and Symmons. Fine forbidden transitions ∥ΔM_s∥ I > 1 are analyzed using numerical solution of the Hamiltonian matrix.     

Low-temperature x-ray diffraction studies of the crystallographic parameters and thermal expansion of (CH3)2NH2Al(SO4)2 · 6H2O crystals

The a, b, c, and β crystallographic parameters of the (CH₃)₂NH₂Al(SO₄)₂ · 6H₂O crystal (DMAAS) have been measured by x-ray diffraction in the 90–300-K temperature range. The thermal expansion coefficients along the principal crystallographic axes α_a, α_b, and α_c have been determined. It was shown that, as the temperature is increased, the parameter α decreases and b increases, whereas c decreases for T<T _c (where T _c is the transition temperature) and increases for T>T _c, so that one observes a minimum in the c=f(T) curve in the region of the phase transition (PT) temperature T _c ～ 152 K. The thermal expansion coefficients α_a, α_b, and α_c vary in a complicated manner with increasing temperature, more specifically, α_a and α_c assume negative values at low temperatures, and the α_a=f(T), α_b=f(T), and α_c=f(T) curves exhibit anomalies at the PT point. The crystal has been found to be substantially anisotropic in thermal expansion.     

Phase transition studies in CoSiF6·6H2O and Co1−xZnxSiF6·6H2O by Mn(II) EPR

Phase transition studies on single crystals of CoSiF₆·6H₂O and Co_1−xZn_xSiF₆·6H₂O (x = 0.082, 0.182, 0.248) using Mn(II) EPR at X-band were carried out in the temperature range 10–300 K. Phase transitions with considerable thermal hysteresis have been detected in CoSiF₆·6H₂O and Co_1−xZn_xSiF₆·OH₂O (x = 0.082, 0.182). In CoSiF₆·6H₂O, the transition temperatures during cooling (T^c_c) and during heating (T^h_c) were found to be considerably less than those obtained previously from magnetic anisotropy experiments, i.e. 230 and 246 K as against 246 and 259 K. These characteristic temperatures for the dilute crystals having x = 0.082 and 0.182 were 205, 218 K and 175, 185 K, respectively. It is thus evident that magnetic dilution with zinc causes a progressive reduction in the transition temperatures as well as in the thermal hysteresis. The phase transition manifests itself in a large discontinuous increase in the Mn(II) zero-field splitting parameter (D), i.e. from −187 ± 1 G to −290 ± 1 G, in these crystals. The hyperfine coefficient (A) also increases discontinuously from 99 ± 1 G to 102 ± 1 G at T_c. In the dilute crystal with x = 0.248 a very slow continuous decrease in D and practically no change in A have been detected with a lowering of the temperature. A small temperature independent positive g-shift (g = 2.020 ± 0.005) has been observed in all the crystals studied. The spin-lattice relaxation time (T₁) of the Co(II) ion in CoSiF₆·6H₂O at different temperatures, both above and below T_c, has been estimated from the observed Mn(II) hyperfine linewidth. A discontinuous change in T₁ at T_c has been observed. Analysis of the temperature dependence of the linewidth has further revealed that a two-level Orbach process describes well the thermal behaviour of the spin-lattice relaxation of the Co(II) ions in these crystals. The location of the first excited level in CoSiF₆·6H₂O determined from such studies at temperatures both above and below T_c has been examined in the light of the ligand field energy scheme of the Co(II) ion in an octahedral field. It is concluded that the phase transition in this crystal is probably accompanied by a change in sign of the axial field parameter (Δ).     

The crystal structure of tetrammine copper sulphate Cu(NH3)4SO4·H2O

The crystal structure of tetrammine copper sulphate was determined. The orthorhombic unit cell with dimensions a=12.12, b=10.66, c==7.07 Åcontains four molecules of Cu(NH ₃)₄ SO ₄.H ₂ O, the space group is Pbnm (D _2h ¹⁶ ).The atomic coordinates were determined from the projections of the Patterson function and the electron density onto the (001) and (010) planes. The complex cation Cu(NH ₃)₄ ⁺⁺ is approximately planar, the groups of NH ₃ are linked by co-valent bonds to the central Cu atom. The average distance of the groups of NH ₃,which are approximately at the corners of a square surrounding the central Cu atom, is 2.90 Å, the distance Cu-NH ₃,corresponding to the co-valent bond, is 2.05 Å.     

Synthesis of single crystalline (NH4)2V6O16·1.5H2O nest-like structures

Novel nest-like (NH₄)₂V₆O₁₆·1.5H₂O structures made of nanobelts have been synthesized by a facile hydrothermal approach. The powder X-ray diffraction pattern of the sample reveals the monoclinic crystalline phase of (NH₄)₂V₆O₁₆·1.5H₂O. The scanning electron microscopy images of the sample obtained at 130 °C for 3 days exhibit nest-like morphology. The transmission electron microscopy result reveals that the nanobelts have a smooth surface. The selected area electron diffraction pattern of the nanobelts indicates single crystalline nature. The two major weight losses occur in thermogravimetric analysis which correspond to the removal of water and ammonia molecules. Further, calcination of the (NH₄)₂V₆O₁₆·1.5H₂O product results in the formation of orthorhombic phase of shcherbianite V₂O₅.     

EPR study of gamma-irradiated 2-Bromo-4′-methoxyacetophenone single crystals

The gamma-irradiated single crystals of 2-Bromo-4′-methoxyaceto-phenone (2B4MA) were investigated using electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) technique. Density-functional theory calculations were employed to investigate and identify the radicals that have been assumed to be formed upon irradiation of 2B4MA single crystals. The EPR spectra of 2B4MA were recorded at different orientations in the magnetic field at room temperature. Taking into account the chemical structure and experimental spectra of irradiated single crystal of 2B4MA, it was assumed that at least two different radicals were produced in the sample. Following this assumption, six possible radicals were modeled and EPR parameters were calculated by using the DFT, B3LYP/6-311+G(d), for the modeled radicals individually. The calculated hyperfine coupling constants and g-tensors were used as initial values for simulation studies. The three crystallographic axes on the simulated spectra were well matched with experimental spectra for the two modeled radicals. Thus, we identified the R1 type radical and R4 type radical as paramagnetic species produced in gamma-irradiated 2B4MA.     

Ultrasonic Studies of (CH3)2NH2Al(SO4)2 · 6H2O crystals irradiated by γ quanta and electrons

The temperature dependence of the longitudinal-ultrasound velocities in (CH₃)₂NH₂Al(SO₄)₂ · 6H₂O crystals was studied using the echo-pulse technique in the 90–300 K range. The measurements were carried out along mutually perpendicular crystallographic directions X, Y, Z on samples both unirradiated and irradiated to various doses by γ quanta and an electron beam. The ultrasound velocity V in this crystal was shown to be anisotropic, with V _YY >V _XX >V _ZZ . The V _XX =f(T), V _YY =f(T), and V _ZZ =f(T) curves exhibit anomalies in the form of breaks at the ferroelectric phase transition (PT) at T _c1=152 K, as well as in the region of T _c2=218 K. It was established that as the irradiation dose increases, the PT temperature T _c1 decreases and the anomalies in the temperature dependences of the ultrasound velocities are smeared.     

Electron paramagnetic resonance and spinlattice relaxation of Cu2+ ions in ZnSeO4·6H2O

In this paper, we present detailed studies of the EPR spectra of Cu²⁺ ions in single crystals of ZnSeO₄·6H₂O. We describe the spectrum with a rhombic spin Hamiltonian with the following parameters: g_z=2.427; g_y=2.095; g_x=2.097; A _z ⁶⁵ =138.4·10^?4 cm^?1; A _x ⁶⁵ =22.3·10^?4 cm^?1. We studied spin-lattice relaxation in the temperature range 4–300 K at the frequency v≈9.3 GHz. The measured spin-lattice relaxation rate for the orientation H∥L₄ is described well at T<5 K by a linear dependence, while at T>5 K it is described by the sum of three exponentials: $$T_1^{ - 1} = 0.27T + 3.3 \cdot 10^{\text{s}} \exp \left( {\frac{{ - 69.5}}{T}} \right) + 2.6 \cdot 10^7 \exp \left( {\frac{{ - 140}}{T}} \right) + 1.36 \cdot 10^{10} \exp \left( {\frac{{ - 735.6}}{T}} \right){\text{ sec}}^{{\text{ - 1}}} $$ .We discuss possible reasons for the exponential dependence of T ₁ ^?1 for the Raman process.     

Second-order electroelastic tensor of cubic KAl(SO4)2·12H2O

The second-order electroelastic tensor {Z_ijklmn}, which describes the variation of the elasticity tensor under the influence of an electric field in centrosymmetric crystals, has been completely determined on cubic KAl(SO₄)₂·12H₂O by measuring the electric-field-induced shift of ultrasonic resonance frequencies. The state of resonance was detected by diffraction of light through the standing ultrasonic grating formed in the state of resonance. The necessary resolution of 10^-9 for the relative frequency change was achieved employing a phase-sensitive amplification of the modulated part of the diffracted light.All main components of the second-order electroelastic tensor possess values of about -15·10^-10 NV^-2. The negative sign indicates a general weakening of the elastic bonds by an electric field. A distinct anisotropy is observed in accordance with point symmetry m3.     

The structural transformation of monoclinic [(R)-C5H14N2][Cu(SO4)2(H2O)4]·2H2O into orthorhombic [(R)-C5H14N2]2[Cu(H2O)6](SO4)3: crystal structures and thermal behavior

Single crystals of [(R)-C₅H₁₄N₂][Cu(SO₄)₂(H₂O)₄]·2H₂O (1) were grown through the slow evaporation of a solution containing H₂SO₄, (R)-C₅H₁₂N₂ and CuSO₄·5H₂O. These crystals spontaneously transform to [(R)-C₅H₁₄N₂]₂[Cu(H₂O)₆](SO₄)₃ (2) over the course of four days at room temperature. The same single crystal on the same mounting was used for the determination of the structure of (1) and the unit cell determination of (2). A second single crystal of the transformed batch has served for the structural determination of (2). Compound 1 crystallizes in the noncentrosymmetric space group P2₁ (No. 4) and consists of trimeric [Cu(SO₄)₂(H₂O)₄]^2? anions, [(R)-C₅H₁₄N₂]²⁺ cations and occluded water molecules. Compound 2 crystallizes in P2₁2₁2 (No. 18) and contains [Cu(H₂O)₆]²⁺ cations, [SO₄]^2? anions and occluded water molecules. The thermal decompositions of compounds 1 and 2 were studied by thermogravimetric analyses and temperature-dependent X-ray diffraction.     

Deflected light structure in NaNH4SeO4·2H2O crystals

Deflection of light studies in function of temperature in NaNH₄SeO₄·H₂O crystal is presented. At 180?K, this compound undergoes a para-ferroelectric/ferroelastic phase transition of the second order. It changes the symmetry from the orthorhombic symmetry class 222 (space group P2₁2₁2₁) to the monoclinic symmetry class 2 (space group P2₁). A distinct deflection pattern, resulting from the ferroelastic domain structure, occurs in the low temperature phase. The intensity of deflected beams varies considerably with temperature. Detailed studies revealed the structure of deflected spots during cooling–heating cycle. These spots change intensity, become more dispersed and finally split with decreasing temperature. Moreover, a variation of deflection angles was observed. A possible explanation of these phenomena is given in a framework of crystals optics.     

Superconducting energy gap in Bi2Sr2Ca2Cu3O10+δ (Bi2223) single crystals

Current-voltage characteristics of S-I-S tunnel break junctions fabricated from pure undoped Bi2223 single crystals (T _c =110 K) were measured. High quality of the crystals enabled production of good tunnel junctions with a low or almost zero leakage current and well developed gap structure in the tunneling spectra. The peak-to-peak energy gap values 2Δ_p-p in different crystals and the tunnel junctions ranged from 80 to 105 meV. The tunneling conductance in the superconducting state was normalized to that in the normal state and compared to a smeared BCS density of states. A simple fit of the data gave the average value of Δ=38.5 meV and reduced gap 2Δ/kT _c ?8, consistent with a very strong coupling mechanism.