Crystal growth, characterization and physical properties of PrNiSb3, NdNiSb3 and SmNiSb3

The crystal structures of three new intermetallic ternary compounds in the LnNiSb₃ (Ln=Pr, Nd and Sm) family have been characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction. PrNiSb₃, NdNiSb₃ and SmNiSb₃ all crystallize in an orthorhombic space group, Pbcm (No. 57), Z=12, with , , , and ; , , , and ; and , , , and , for Ln=Pr, Nd and Sm, respectively. These compounds consist of rare-earth atoms located above and below layers of nearly square, buckled Sb nets, along with layers of highly distorted edge- and face-sharing NiSb₆ octahedra. Resistivity data indicate metallic behavior for all three compounds. Magnetization measurements show antiferromagnetic behavior with (PrNiSb₃), 4.6 K (NdNiSb₃), and 2.9 K (SmNiSb₃). Effective moments of 3.62 μ_B, 3.90 μ_B and 0.80 μ_B are found for PrNiSb₃, NdNiSb₃ and SmNiSb₃, respectively, and are consistent with Pr³⁺ (f ²), Nd³⁺ (f ³), and Sm³⁺ (f ⁴).     

The disordered structures and low temperature dielectric relaxation properties of two misplaced-displacive cubic pyrochlores found in the Bi2O3-MO-Nb2O5 (M=Mg, Ni) systems

The disordered structures and low temperature dielectric relaxation properties of Bi_1.667Mg_0.70Nb_1.52O₇ (BMN) and Bi_1.67Ni_0.75Nb_1.50O₇ (BNN) misplaced-displacive cubic pyrochlores found in the Bi₂O₃-M^IIO-Nb₂O₅ (M=Mg, Ni) systems are reported. As for other recently reported Bi-pyrochlores, the metal ion vacancies are found to be confined to the pyrochlore A site. The B₂O₆ octahedral sub-structure is found to be fully occupied and well-ordered. Considerable displacive disorder, however, is found associated with the O′A₂ tetrahedral sub-structure in both cases. The A-site ions were displaced from Wyckoff position 16d (, , ) to 96 h (, , ) while the O′ oxygen was shifted from position 8b (, , ) to Wyckoff position 32e (, , ). The refined displacement magnitudes off the 16d and 8b sites for the A and O′ sites were 0.408 Å/0.423 Å and 0.350 Å/0.369 Å for BMN/BNN, respectively.     

Synthesis and characterization of the rare-earth dicyanamides Ln[N(CN)2]3 with Ln=La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, and Eu

The rare-earth dicyanamides Ln[N(CN)₂]₃ (Ln=La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu) were obtained via ion exchange in aqueous medium and subsequent drying: The crystal structures were solved and refined based on X-ray powder diffraction data and they were found to be isotypic: Ln[N(CN)₂]₃; Cmcm (no. 63), Z=4, Ln=La: , , ; Ce: , , ; Pr: , , ; Nd: , , ; Sm: , , ; Eu: , , ). The compounds represent the first dicyanamides with trivalent cations. The Ln³⁺ ions are coordinated by three bridging N atoms and six terminal N atoms of the dicyanamide ions forming a three capped trigonal prism. The structure type is related to that of PuBr₃. The novel compounds Ln[N(CN)₂]₃ have been characterized by IR and Raman spectroscopy (Ln=La) and the thermal behavior has been monitored by differential scanning calorimetry (Ln=Ce, Nd, Eu).     

Structures of the reduced niobium oxides Nb12O29 and Nb22O54

The crystal structure of Nb₂₂O₅₄ is reported for the first time, and the structure of orthorhombic Nb₁₂O₂₉ is reexamined, resolving previous ambiguities. Single crystal X-ray and electron diffraction were employed. These compounds were found to crystallize in the space groups P2/m (, , , β=102.029(3)^°) and Cmcm (, , ), respectively and share a common structural unit, a 4×3 block of corner sharing NbO₆ octahedra. Despite different constraints imposed by symmetry these blocks are very similar in both compounds. Within a block, it is found that the niobium atoms are not located in the centers of the oxygen octahedra, but rather are displaced inward toward the center of the block forming an apparent antiferroelectric state. Bond valence sums and bond lengths do not show the presence of charge ordering, suggesting that all 4d electrons are delocalized in these compounds at the temperature studied, T=200 K.     

Synthesis, crystal structure, and electronic structure of RbVSe2

RbVSe₂ has been synthesized at 773 K through the reaction of V and Se with a Rb₂Se₃ reactive flux. The compound crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group D_2h²⁴-Fddd with 16 formula units in a cell of dimensions , , and at . The structure possesses infinite one-dimensional chains of edge-sharing VSe₄ tetrahedra separated from the Rb⁺ ions. These chains distort slightly to chains. The V-V distance within these chains is 2.8362(4) Å. First-principles total energy calculations indicate that a non-magnetic configuration for the V³⁺ cations is the most stable.     

Crystal growth, transport, and magnetic properties of Ln3Co4Sn13 (Ln=La, Ce) with a perovskite-like structure

Ln₃Co₄Sn₁₃ (Ln=La, Ce) have been synthesized by flux growth and characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction. These compounds adopt the Yb₃Rh₄Sn₁₃-type structure and crystallize in the cubic space group (No. 223) with Z=2. Lattice parameters at 298 K are , , and , for the La and Ce analogues, respectively. The crystal structure consists of an Sn-centered icosahedron at the origin of the unit cell, which shares faces with eight Co trigonal prisms and 12 Ln-centered cuboctahedra. Magnetization data at 0.1 T show paramagnetic behavior down to 1.8 K for Ce₃Co₄Sn₁₃, with per Ce³⁺, while conventional type II superconductivity appears below 2.85 K in the La compound. Electrical resistivity and specific heat data for the La compound show a corresponding sharp superconducting transition at T_c∼2.85 K. The entropy and resistivity data for Ce₃Co₄Sn₁₃ show the existence of the Kondo effect with a complicated semiconducting-like behavior in the resistivity data. In addition, a large enhanced specific heat coefficient at low T with a low magnetic transition temperature suggests a heavy-fermionic character for the Ce compound. Herein, the structure and physical properties of Ln₃Co₄Sn₁₃ (Ln=La, Ce) are discussed.     

Syntheses, crystal and electronic structure, and some optical and transport properties of LnCuOTe (Ln=La, Ce, Nd)

Three new compounds, LaCuOTe, CeCuOTe, and NdCuOTe, have been synthesized from the respective rare-earth elements, CuO, and a KI flux at 1023 K. The compounds, which have the ZrSiCuAs structure type, are isostructural to LaCuOS, and crystallize in space group P4/nmm of the tetragonal system with two formula units in cells of dimensions at 153 K of , , for LaCuOTe; , , for CeCuOTe; and , , for NdCuOTe. The structure of LnCuOTe (Ln=La, Ce, Nd) is composed of alternating PbO-like [Ln₂O₂] and anti-PbO-like [Cu₂Te₂] layers stacked perpendicular to [0 0 1]. The experimental optical band gaps of LaCuOTe and NdCuOTe are 2.31 and 2.26 eV, respectively. At 298 K the electrical conductivity of LaCuOTe is 1.65 S/cm and the Hall mobility is +80.6 cm² V⁻¹ s⁻¹. The positive values of the Seebeck and Hall coefficients indicate p-type electrical conduction. First-principles theoretical calculations were performed on LaCuOQ (Q=S, Se, Te). In LaCuOTe, Cu 3d and Te 5p orbitals dominate the states near the valence band maximum; the states near the conduction band minimum are composed of Cu 4s, Te 5p, and La 5d orbitals. The larger dispersion of Cu 3d orbitals and the presence of Te 5p orbitals near the valence band maximum are responsible for the larger hole mobility of LaCuOTe compared to LaCuOS and LaCuOSe.     

Preparation, structures, and band gaps of RbInS2 and RbInSe2

The two compounds RbInS₂ and RbInSe₂ have been synthesized at 773 K by means of the reactive flux method. These isostructural compounds crystallize in space group C2/c of the monoclinic system with 16 formula units in a cell at 153 K of dimensions , , , and β=100.244(1)° for RbInS₂, and , , , and β=100.16(2)° for RbInSe₂. The In atoms are four-coordinated. The structure consists of two-dimensional (Q=S, Se) layers perpendicular to [001] separated from the Rb⁺ cations. Adamantane-like In₄Q₁₀ units are connected by common corners to form the layers. Band structure calculations indicate that these compounds are direct band-gap semiconductors with the smallest band gap at the Γ point. The calculated band gaps are 2.8 eV for RbInS₂ and 2.0 eV for RbInSe₂, values that are consistent with the colors of the compounds.     

Synthesis and single crystal structures of ternary phosphides Li4SrP2 and AAeP (A=Li, Na; Ae=Sr, Ba)

Two new (NaSrP, Li₄SrP₂) and two known (LiSrP, LiBaP) ternary phosphides have been synthesized and characterized using single crystal X-ray diffraction studies. NaSrP crystallizes in the non-centrosymmetric hexagonal space group (#189, a=7.6357(3) Å, c=4.4698(3) Å, V=225.69(2) Å³, Z=3, and R/wR=0.0173/0.0268). NaSrP adopts an ordered Fe₂P structure type. PSr₆ trigonal prisms share trigonal (pinacoid) faces to form 1D chains. Those chains define large channels along the [001] direction through edge-sharing. The channels are filled by chains of PNa₆ face-sharing trigonal prisms. Li₄SrP₂ crystallizes in the rhombohedral space group (#166, a=4.2813(2) Å, c=23.437(2) Å, V=372.04(4) Å³, Z=3, and R/wR=0.0142/0.0222). In contrast to previous reports, LiSrP and LiBaP crystallize in the centrosymmetric hexagonal space group P6₃/mmc (#194, a=4.3674(3) Å, c=7.9802(11) Å, V=131.82(2) Å³, Z=2, and R/wR=0.0099/0.0217 for LiSrP; a=4.5003(2) Å, c=8.6049(7) Å, V=150.92(2) Å³, Z=2, and R/wR=0.0098/0.0210 for LiBaP). Li₄SrP₂, LiSrP, and LiBaP can be described as Li₃P derivatives. Li atoms and P atoms make a graphite-like hexagonal layer, . In LiSrP and LiBaP, Sr or Ba atoms reside between layers to substitute for two Li atoms of Li₃P, while in Li₄SrP₂, Sr substitutes only between every other layer.     

Structural characterization and ferroelectric ordering in (C3N2H5)5Sb2Br11

A ferroelectric crystal (C₃N₂H₅)₅Sb₂Br₁₁ has been synthesized. The single crystal X-ray diffraction studies (at 300, 155, 138 and 121 K) show that it is built up of discrete corner-sharing bioctahedra and highly disordered imidazolium cations. The room temperature crystal structure has been determined as monoclinic, space group, P2₁/n with: , and and β=96.19^°. The crystal undergoes three solid-solid phase transitions: ) discontinuous, continuous and discontinuous. The dielectric and pyroelectric measurements allow us to characterize the low temperature phases III and IV as ferroelectric with the Curie point at 145 K and the saturated spontaneous polarization value of the order of along the a-axis (135 K). The ferroelectric phase transition mechanism at 145 K is due to the dynamics of imidazolium cations.     

Unit-cell intergrowth of pyrochlore and hexagonal tungsten bronze structures in secondary tungsten minerals

Structural relations between secondary tungsten minerals with general composition A_x[(W,Fe)(O,OH)₃]_·yH₂O are described. Phyllotungstite (A=predominantly Ca) is hexagonal, , , space group P6₃/mmc. Pittongite, a new secondary tungsten mineral from a wolframite deposit near Pittong in Victoria, southeastern Australia (A=predominantly Na) is hexagonal, , , space group P-6m2. The structures of both minerals can be described as unit-cell scale intergrowths of (111)_py pyrochlore slabs with pairs of hexagonal tungsten bronze (HTB) layers. In phyllotungstite, the (111)_py blocks have the same thickness, 6 Å, whereas pittongite contains pyrochlore blocks of two different thicknesses, 6 and 12 Å. The structures can alternatively be described in terms of chemical twinning of the pyrochlore structure on (111)_py oxygen planes. At the chemical twin planes, pairs of HTB layers are corner connected as in hexagonal WO₃.     

Synthesis and crystal structures of the layered uranyl tellurites A2[(UO2)3(TeO3)2O2] (A=K, Rb, Cs)

The reactions of UO₃ and TeO₃ with KCl, RbCl, or CsCl at 800 °C for 5 d yield single crystals of A₂[(UO₂)₃(TeO₃)₂O₂] (A=K (1), Rb (2), and Cs (3)). These compounds are isostructural with one another, and their structures consist of two-dimensional sheets arranged in a stair-like topology separated by alkali metal cations. These sheets are comprised of zigzagging uranium(VI) oxide chains bridged by corner-sharing trigonal pyramidal TeO₃²⁻ anions. The chains are composed of dimeric, edge-sharing, pentagonal bipyramidal UO₇ moieties joined by edge-sharing tetragonal bipyramidal UO₆ units. The lone-pair of electrons from the TeO₃ groups are oriented in opposite directions with respect to one another on each side of the sheets rendering each individual sheet non-polar. The alkali metal cations form contacts with nearby tellurite oxygen atoms as well as with oxygen atoms from the uranyl moieties. Crystallographic data (193 K, MoKα, ): 1, triclinic, space group , , , , α=101.852(1)°, β=102.974(1)°, γ=100.081(1)°, , Z=2, R(F)=2.70% for 98 parameters and 1697 reflections with I>2σ(I); 2, triclinic, space group , , , , α=105.590(2)°, β=101.760(2)°, γ=99.456(2)°, , Z=2, R(F)=2.36% for 98 parameters and 1817 reflections with I>2σ(I); 3, triclinic, space group , , , , α=109.301(1)°, β=100.573(1)°, γ=99.504(1)°, , Z=2, R(F)=2.61% for 98 parameters and 1965 reflections with I>2σ(I).     

Synthesis, structure, and magnetism of a new heavy-fermion antiferromagnet, CePdGa6

A new compound, CePdGa₆, and its isostructural analog, LaPdGa₆ have been synthesized by flux growth and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The compounds adopt a tetragonal structure with P4/mmm space group, Z=1. The lattice parameters for CePdGa₆ are and and and for LaPdGa₆. Magnetic and thermal measurement have revealed that CePdGa₆ is a heavy-fermion with the specific heat coefficient and Ce f moments order antiferromagnetically along c-axis at . Reconfiguration of spin occurs at to induce a ferromagnetic component only in the a-b plane. This strong anisotropy in the magnetism might be related to its unique layered structure.     

Hetero dimer from tetrakisammonium cavitand and tetratopic crown ether cavitand

Hetero dimer between tetrakis(m-ammonium)cavitand and tetrakis(dibenzo-25-crown-8)cavitand 5 was formed in CDCl₃ at room temperature. The effects of solvent polarity and temperature on the stability of were studied and the thermodynamic parameters for the formation of are , ΔH⁰ = −67.4 kcal mol⁻¹ and ΔS⁰ = −201.6 cal mol⁻¹ K⁻¹.     

Enthalpies of dilution of aqueous Li2B4O7 solutions at 298.15 K and application of ion-interaction model

The enthalpies of dilution have been measured for aqueous Li₂B₄O₇ solutions from 0.0212 to 2.1530 mol kg⁻¹ at 298.15 K. The relative apparent molar enthalpies, L_?, and relative partial molar enthalpies of the solvent and solute, and were calculated. The thermodynamic properties of the complex aqueous solutions were represented with a modified Pitzer ion-interaction model.     

Synthesis and crystal structure of MgB12

Single crystals of MgB₁₂ were synthesized from the elements in a Mg/Cu melt at 1600 °C. MgB₁₂ crystallizes orthorhombic in space group Pnma with , and . The crystal structure (Z=30, 5796 reflections, 510 variables, R₁(F)=0.049, wR₂(I)=0.134) consists of a three dimensional net of B₁₂ icosahedra and B₂₁ units in a ratio 2:1. The B₂₁ units are observed for the first time in a solid compound. Mg is on positions with partial occupation. The summation reveals the composition MgB_12.35 or Mg_0.97B₁₂ , respectively. This is in good agreement with the value of MgB_11.25 as expected by electronic reasons to stabilize the boron polyhedra and .     

Solvothermal synthesis and removal capacity for hydrogen chloride gas of Zn(OH)(NO3) with a rare (10,3)-d net

A basic zinc nitrate, [Zn(OH)(NO₃)]_n with a novel framework reported herein is prepared by solvothermal synthesis, and holds a rare three-dimensional (10,3)-d net called by Wells. It crystallizes in orthorhombic, space group, Pna2₁ (No. 33), , , , Z=4, , , , 3.49<θ<27.51, , R₁=0.029, wR₂=0.0773 for 697 (I>2σ(I)) of 1728 [R_(int)=0.0246] unique reflections and 59 parameters. GOF=1.073. Interestingly this basic zinc nitrate, [Zn(OH)(NO₃)]_n behaves well at removal capacity for hydrogen chloride gas, 20.3 g HCl/100 g, and its framework is not destroyed yet. This adsorption character may be useful for the removal of toxic gases in the environment.