Layered perovskite-related ruthenium oxychlorides: crystal structure of two new compounds Ba5Ru2Cl2O9 and Ba6Ru3Cl2O12

Single crystals of the title compounds were prepared using a BaCl₂ flux and investigated by X-ray diffraction methods using MoKα radiation and a charge coupled device (CCD) detector. The crystal structures of these two new compounds were solved and refined in the hexagonal symmetry with space group P6₃/mmc, a=5.851(1) Å, c=25.009(5) Å, ρ_cal=4.94 g cm⁻³, Z=2 to a final R₁=0.069 for 20 parameters with 312 reflections for Ba₅Ru₂Cl₂O₉ and space group , a=5.815(1) Å, c=14.915(3) Å, ρ_cal=5.28 g cm⁻³, Z=1 to a final R₁=0.039 for 24 parameters with 300 reflections for Ba₆Ru₃Cl₂O₁₂. The structure of Ba₅Ru₂Cl₂O₉ is formed by the periodic stacking along [001] of three hexagonal close-packed BaO₃ layers separated by a double layer of composition Ba₂Cl₂. The BaO₃ stacking creates binuclear face-sharing octahedra units Ru₂O₉ containing Ru(V). The structure of Ba₆Ru₃Cl₂O₁₂ is built up by the periodic stacking along [001] of four hexagonal close-packed BaO₃ layers separated by a double layer of composition Ba₂Cl₂. The ruthenium ions with a mean oxidation degree +4.67 occupy the octahedral interstices formed by the four layers hexagonal perovskite slab and then constitute isolated trinuclear Ru₃O₁₂ units. These two new oxychlorides belong to the family of compounds formulated as [Ba₂Cl₂][Ba_n+1Ru_nO_3n+3], where n represents the thickness of the octahedral string in hexagonal perovskite slabs.     

The six-layer structure of BaSn0.9Fe5.47O11

The crystal structure of BaSn_0.9Fe_5.47O₁₁ was determined using neutron powder diffraction data and the profile refinement method. The hexagonal compound, space group , has hcc-stacked BaO₃ and O₄ layers. A new building unit for this type of structure is introduced, the Q block with formula Ba₂M₇O₁₄, consisting of two c-stacked BaO₃ layers and two O₄ layers. Between the BaO₃ and O₄ layers one tetrahedral and one octahedral site is occupied; between the BaO₃ layers there are no other cations. BaSn_0.9Fe_5.47O₁₁ shows a magnetic behavior with an ordering temperature T_c of 420 K. Starting models for the structure determination were derived from the known structures of hexagonal ferrites and related compounds. Several isomorphs with formula Ba₂Sn₂M²⁺Fe₁₀O₂₂ could be prepared, in which a partial substitution of Fe by Ga is possible. The nonstoichiometry of BaSn_0.9Fe_5.47O₁₁ can be explained by the surplus of positive charge if the available tetrahedral and octahedral sites of the structure are completely occupied with Sn⁴⁺ and Fe³⁺. To achieve charge compensation either the occupation rates of Sn⁴⁺ and Fe³⁺ have to be lowered or a divalent ion has to be introduced, as is effected in the isomorphs.     

New Ba5M5−xPtxClO13 (M=Fe, Co) oxychlorides with layered perovskite-related structure

Crystals of Ba₅Fe_5−xPt_xClO₁₃ and Ba₅Co_5−yPt_yClO₁₃ were prepared for x=1.31, 1.51, 1.57, 1.59 and y=0, 0.97 and 1.08 in a BaCl₂ flux and investigated by X-ray diffraction methods. These compounds adopt a 10H perovskite structure built from the stacking of BaO₃ and BaOCl layers in the sequence (BaO₃)₄(BaOCl) with space group P6₃/mmc. The cation sites within the trimeric unit of face-sharing octahedra are occupied by Co or Fe and Pt ions, while the tetrahedral sites formed between BaO₃ and BaOCl layers are only occupied by Fe or Co. Moreover, oxygen stoichiometry indicates an average oxidation state for Co and Fe higher than +III, indicating the stabilization of Co⁴⁺ and Fe⁴⁺.     

Synthesis and structure of Ba6Co6ClO16, a new cobalt oxychloride with a layered perovskite-related structure

Well-developed single crystals of the title compound were prepared using a BaCl₂ flux and investigated by X-ray diffraction methods using Mo(Kα) radiation and a Charge Coupled Device (CCD) detector. The crystal structure was solved and refined in the hexagonal symmetry with space group, a=5.6698(2) Å and c=14.4654(5) Å to a final R₁=0.022 for 44 parameters with 1418 individual reflections. The structure of Ba₆Co₆ClO₁₆, which is related to the 6H-perovkite-type structure of BaMnO_2.88, is formed by the periodic stacking along [001] of five [BaO₃] layers separated by a [BaOCl] with a (hhhchc) stacking sequence. The [BaO₃] stacking creates tetranuclear face sharing octahedra units Co₄O₁₅ containing Co(III) connected by dimers of corner-sharing CoO₄ tetrahedra. This new oxychloride belongs to the family of compounds formulated as [BaOCl]M′₂[Ba_n+1M_nO_3n+3] where n represents the thickness of the octahedral string in hexagonal perovskite slabs.     

Synthesis, crystal structure, and magnetic properties of new layered hexagonal perovskite Ba8Ta4Ru8/3Co2/3O24

A new hexagonal perovskite-type oxide Ba₈Ta₄Ru_8/3Co_2/3O₂₄ was synthesized by the solid-state method at 1573 K and characterized by electron diffraction (ED), time-of-flight (TOF) neutron powder diffraction, and magnetic susceptibility. Structure parameters of Ba₈Ta₄Ru_8/3Co_2/3O₂₄ were refined by the Rietveld method from the TOF neutron powder diffraction data on the basis of space group P6₃/mcm and lattice parameters a=10.0075(1) Å and c=18.9248(2) Å as obtained from the ED data (Z=3). The crystal structure of Ba₈Ta₄Ru_8/3Co_2/3O₂₄ consists of 8-layered (cchc)₂ close-packed stacking of BaO₃ layers along the c-axis. Corner-shared octahedra are filled by Ta only and face-shared octahedra are statistically occupied by Ru, Co, and vacancies. Similar compounds Ba₈Ta₄Ru_8/3M_2/3O₂₄ with M=Ni and Zn were also prepared. Magnetic susceptibility measurements showed no magnetic ordering down to 5 K.     

Preparation of the ordered perovskite-like compounds Ba4M3LiO12 (M = Ta,Nb): A powder neutron diffraction determination of the structure of Ba4Ta3LiO12

The hexagonal ordered perovskite-like compounds Ba₄Ta₃LiO₁₂ and Ba₄Nb₃LiO₁₂ have been prepared. The structure of Ba₄Ta₃LiO₁₂ has been determined by profile analysis of a powder neutron diffraction pattern. The structure is based on an eight layer (ccch) stacking sequence of the BaO₃ layers (space group $\text{P6}{}_3\text{mmc}$) with the lithium atoms confined to the face-shared octahedral sites. The relationship of this structure to that of Ba₅Ta₄O₁₅ is discussed.     

The preparation and crystal structure of a BaRhO3 polytype

Barium rhodium oxide, BaRhO₃, was prepared at 1175°C and 60–65 kbar by the reaction of BaO₂ and RhO₂. A hexagonal black platelet obtained in the reaction product was found to possess a four-layer stacking sequence in space group $\text{P6}{}_3\text{mmc}$ having hexagonal unit cell parameters a = 5.744(1), c = 9.642(1) Å. The structure was detemined from 707 independent reflections of which 224 were considered observed. Averaging equivalent reflections yielded 132 unique observed reflections. Refinement of the structure by least-squares methods gave a conventional R value of 4.4%. The structure consists of a four-layer stacking sequence of close-packed BaO₃ layers containing tetravalent rhodium in all the octahedral oxygen interstices. The compound was found to be isostructural with previously reported BaMO₃ phases. This is the first single-crystal refinement of the 4H polytype using a four-circle diffractometer.     

Pb2.85Ba2.15Fe4SnO13: A new member of the AnBnO3n−2 anion-deficient perovskite-based homologous series

Pb_2.85Ba_2.15Fe₄SnO₁₃, a new n=5 member of the anion-deficient perovskite based A_nB_nO_3n−2 (A=Pb, Ba, B=Fe, Sn) homologous series, was synthesized by the solid state method. The crystal structure of Pb_2.85Ba_2.15Fe₄SnO₁₃ was investigated using a combination of neutron powder diffraction, electron diffraction, high angle annular dark field scanning transmission electron microscopy and Mössbauer spectroscopy. It crystallizes in the Ammm space group with unit cell parameters a=5.7990(1) Å, b=4.04293(7) Å and c=26.9561(5) Å. The Pb_2.85Ba_2.15Fe₄SnO₁₃ structure consists of quasi two-dimensional perovskite blocks separated by 1/2[110](1?01)_p crystallographic shear (CS) planes. The corner-sharing FeO₆ octahedra at the CS planes are transformed into edge-sharing FeO₅ distorted tetragonal pyramids. The octahedral positions in the perovskite blocks between the CS planes are jointly taken up by Fe and Sn, with a preference of Sn towards the position at the center of the perovskite block. The chains of FeO₅ pyramids and (Fe,Sn)O₆ octahedra of the perovskite blocks delimit six-sided tunnels at the CS planes occupied by double chains of Pb atoms. The compound is antiferromagnetically ordered below T_N=368±15 K.     

Détermination de la structure cristalline du ferrite de baryum Ba2Fe6O11

The crystal structure of dibarium triferrite Ba₂Fe₆O₁₁ has been solved by direct methods, using intensity data collected by means of an automated diffractometer (MoKα radiation) and corrected for absorption. It crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group Pnnm: a = 23.024(10)Å, b = 5.181(3) Å, c = 8.900(4) Å, Z = 4. Program MULTAN was successfully used for locating Ba²⁺ and most of the Fe³⁺ ions. The structure was further refined by conventional Fourier and least-squares methods (full-matrix program) to a final R value of 0.045 for 1448 observed reflections. Fe³⁺ ions occur in both octahedral (FeO mean distance: 2.02 Å) and tetrahedral (FeO mean distance: 1.865 Å) coordination. Two types of Ba²⁺ ions are found, with six and seven neighboring oxygen atoms. The structure consists of sheets of edge-shared FeO₆ octahedra which are connected by means of corner-shared tetrahedra.     

Crystal chemistry of lithium in octahedrally coordinated structures. I. Synthesis of Ba8(Me6Li2)O24 (Me = Nb or Ta) and Ba10(W6Li4)O30. II. The tetragonal bronze phase in the system BaONb2O5Li2O

The preparation, single crystal growth, and crystallographic properties of a close-packed, eight-layer, hexagonal (a = 5.803 Å, c = 19.076 Å) modification having the stoichiometry Ba₈Nb₆Li₂O₂₄ and of a close-packed, ten-layer, hexagonal (a = 5.760 Å, c = 23.742 Å) phase with Ba₁₀W₆Li₄O₃₀ stoichiometry are discussed. The isostructural Ba₈Ta₆Li₄O₂₄ form of the eight-layer phase was also prepared (a = 5.802 Å, c = 19.085 Å). Proposed crystal structures involve the pairing of lithium and metal (Nb, Ta, or W) octahedra to yield face-sharing units. The relationship of this phenomenon to other known close-packed phases containing Li is demonstrated. An investigation of the Ba₈Nb₆Li₂O₂₄Ba₁₀W₆Li₄O₃₀ system is reported.A tetragonal bronze phase homogeneity region was delimited at 1200°C in the BaONb₂O₅Li₂O system. A new orthorhombic phase (a = 10.197 Å, b = 14.882 Å, c = 7.942 Å) was prepared with the stoichiometry Ba₄Li₂Nb₁₀O₃₀.     

Refinements of the six-layer structures of the R-type hexagonal ferrites BaTi2Fe4O11 and BaSn2Fe4O11

The structures of BaTi₂Fe₄O₁₁ and BaSn₂Fe₄O₁₁ have been determined from neutron powder diffraction data collected at 300 K using the Rietveld profile refinement. The compounds were found to be isostructural, space group $\text{P6}{}_3\text{mmc}$. BaTi₂Fe₄O₁₁: a = 5.8470(2) Å, c = 13.6116(9) Å, V = 403.01(5) ų, M = 632.6, Z = 2, D_calc. = 3.09 Mg m^?3, final R-factor = 3.77. BaSn₂Fe₄O₁₁: a = 5.9624(5) Å, c = 13.7468(14) Å, V = 423.23(10) ų, M = 774.2, Z = 2. D_calc. = 3.66 Mg m^?3, final R-factor = 2.41. The structure consists of h-stacked BaO₃ and O₄ layers in the ratio 1:2. The BaO₃ layers contain a mirror plane. Between the O₄ layers three octahedral sites are occupied, and between the BaO₃ and O₄ layers an octahedral site and a tetrahedral site are occupied. Because of the mirror plane in the BaO₃ plane the latter sites both share faces in the BaO₃ plane. The octahedral sites are occupied by Fe and Ti or Sn, the pair of tetrahedral sites is occupied by one Fe atom. This Fe atom may hop between these two tetrahedral sites. The structure is considered to be constructed by two R-blocks of the BaFe₁₂O₁₉ (M) structure. Unit-cell dimensions are given of a number of isostructural compounds of general formula A^IIB^IV₂C^III₃O₁₁. Mössbauer experiments on some of these compounds were focused on the tetrahedral positions that show an unusual quadrupole splitting. A brief review is given of the observed magnetic properties of some compounds with the R-structure.     

Crystal and Magnetic Structures of Ba4Mn3O10

A polycrystalline sample of Ba₄Mn₃O₁₀ has been prepared and characterized by X-ray diffraction (290 K), neutron diffraction (290, 80, 5 K) and magnetometry (5≤T(K)≤1000). At 290 K the compound is paramagnetic and isostructural with Ba₄Ti₂PtO₁₀. Mn₃O₁₂ trimers, built up from MnO₆ octahedra, are linked through common vertices to form corrugated sheets perpendicular to the y-axis of the orthorhombic unit cell (Space group Cmca, a=5.6850(1), b=13.1284(1), c=12.7327(1) Å); Ba atoms occupy the space between the layers. On cooling, the magnetic susceptibility shows a broad maximum at ∼130 K, and a sharp transition at 40 K. Neutron diffraction has shown that long-range antiferromagnetic order is present at 5 K but not at 80 K, although magnetometry at 5 K has revealed a remanent magnetization (0.002 μ_B per Mn) which is below the detection limit of the neutron experiment.     

Layered ruthenium hexagonal perovskites: The new series [Ba2Br2−2x(CO3)x][Ban+1RunO3n+3] with n=2, 3, 4, 5

Single crystals of the title compounds were prepared by solid state reactions from barium carbonate and ruthenium metal using a BaBr₂ flux and investigated by X-ray diffraction method using Mo(Kα) radiation and a Charge Coupled Device (CCD) detector. A structural model for the term n=2, Ba₅Ru₂Br₂O₉ (1) was established in the hexagonal symmetry, space group P6₃/mmc, a=5.8344(2) Å, c=25.637(2) Å, Z=2. Combined refinement and maximum-entropy method (MEM) unambiguously show the presence of CO₃²⁻ ions in the three other compounds (2, 3, 4). Their crystal structures were solved and refined in the trigonal symmetry, space group , a=5.8381(1) Å, c=15.3083(6) Å for the term n=3, Ba₆Ru₃Br_1.54(CO₃)_0.23O₁₂ (2), and space group , a=5.7992(1) Å, c=52.866(2) Å and a=5.7900(1) Å, c=59.819(2) Å for the terms n=4, Ba₇Ru₄Br_1.46(CO₃)_0.27O₁₅ (3), and n=5, Ba₈Ru₅Br_1.64(CO₃)_0.18O₁₈ (4), respectively. The structures are formed by the periodic stacking along [0 0 1] of (n+1) hexagonal close-packed [BaO₃] layers separated by a double layer of composition [Ba₂Br_2−2x(CO₃)_x]. The ruthenium atoms occupy the n octahedral interstices created in the hexagonal perovskite slabs and constitute isolated dimers Ru₂O₉ of face-shared octahedra (FSO) in 1 and isolated trimers Ru₃O₁₂ of FSO in 2. In 3 and 4, the Ru₂O₉ units are connected by corners either directly (3) or through a slab of isolated RuO₆ octahedra (4) to form a bidimensional arrangement of RuO₆ octahedra. These four oxybromocarbonates belong to the family of compounds formulated [Ba₂Br_2−2x(CO₃)_x][Ba_n+1Ru_nO_3n+3] where n represents the thickness of the octahedral string in hexagonal perovskite slabs. These compounds are compared to the oxychloride series.     

Structural and magnetic properties of the quaternary oxides Ba6Ln2Fe4O15 (Ln=Pr and Nd)

The crystal structures and magnetic properties of the quaternary lanthanide oxides Ba₆Ln₂Fe₄O₁₅ (Ln=Pr and Nd) are reported. They crystallize in a hexagonal structure with space group P6₃mc and have the “Fe₄O₁₅ cluster” consisting of one FeO₆ octahedron and three FeO₄ tetrahedra. Measurements of the magnetic susceptibility, specific heat, and powder neutron diffraction reveal that this cluster behaves as a spin tetramer with a ferrimagnetic ground state of S_T=5 even at room temperature. The cluster moments show a long-range antiferromagnetic ordering at 23.2 K (Ln=Pr) and 17.8 K (Nd), and the magnetic moments of the Ln³⁺ ions also order cooperatively. By applying the magnetic field (∼2 T), this antiferromagnetic ordering of the clusters changes to a ferromagnetic one. This result indicates that there exists a competition in the magnetic interaction between the clusters.     

Crystal structure of the 6H BaCrO3 polytype

A product from the reaction between CrO₂ and Ba₂CrO₄ at 900°C under 60–65 kbar was found to be the six-layer polytype of BaCrO₃ from powder diffraction studies. A hexagonal black crystal obtained from this reaction was isolated for single crystal studies and structure determination. The crystal was found to possess a six-layer stacking sequence of BaO₃ layers with space group $\text{P6}{}_3\text{mmc}$ and had unit cell parameters a = 5.629(2), c = 13.698(6)Å, and Z = 6. The structure was determined from 936 independent reflections of which 693 were considered observed. Averaging equivalent reflections yielded 163 unique, observed reflections. Refinement of the structure by least-squares methods gave a conventional R value of 4.8% (R_w = 6.2%). The structure consists of a six-layer stacking sequence of close-packed BaO₃ layers containing tetravalent chromium in all the octahedral oxygen interstices. The compound was found to be isostructural with previously reported BaMO₃ phases.     

A structural study of a new lithium oxyfluorotungstate,LiW3O9F

The structure of LiW₃O₉F was determined from 972 single crystal reflections and refined by least squares to anRfactor of 0.065. It has orthorhombic symmetry with space groupFdd2 and parametersa = 12.716(2)A?,b = 15.230(2)A?,c = 7.288(1)A?, andZ = 8. The structure is related to the HTB structure and can be described as a complex stacking of HTB layers perpendicular to theb axis. The lithium atoms are found in the hexagonal cavities of the HTB layers.     

A New Structure Type of the Ternary Sulfide Eu1.3Nb1.9S5

The structure model for the Eu_1.3Nb_1.9S₅ compound is determined based on high-resolution electron microscopy evidence. This compound crystallizes in a hexagonal unit cell with a=8.8732(8) Å and c=23.45(1) Å. Its structure is built up as an alternating sequence of trigonal-prismatic NbS₂ layers of formula [Nb₇S₁₄] and [Nb(Eu₃S₄)₂] slabs along the c-direction. In the [Nb(Eu₃S₄)₂] block the stacking of two close-packed (Eu₃S₄) layers creates octahedral interstices formed by S atoms; these cavities are occupied by Nb cations. The model is compared with structures of other Eu-containing niobium sulfides, such as Eu_0.167NbS₂ and the misfit compound [(EuS)_1.5]_1.15NbS₂.     

K2Fe2B2O7: A transparent nonlinear optical crystal with frustrated magnetism

A new noncentrosymmetric ferroborate crystal, K₂Fe₂B₂O₇, has been grown from high temperature melt. Structure solution from single crystal X-ray diffraction shows that the title compound crystallizes in a trigonal space group P321 with cell dimensions of a=8.7475(12) Å and c=8.5124(17) Å. In the structure, FeO₄ tetrahedron shares its three basal oxygen atoms with BO₃ triangles forming a two-dimensional layer in the ab plane and the layers are connected by the apical Fe-O bonds along the c direction. The crystal is transparent in the visible and near infrared region from 500 to 2000 nm with three pronounced absorption bands ascribed to d-d transitions of tetrahedrally coordinated Fe³⁺ ions. Though, structurally analog to K₂Al₂B₂O₇, the further twisting of the BO₃ groups between adjacent layers reduces its optical nonlinearity to a second-harmonic generation intensity of about 0.4 times that of KDP. Spin-glass behavior is observed at 20 K which is probably due to geometrically magnetic frustration of the triangular Fe net in the ab plane.     

Contrasting oxide crystal chemistry of Nb and Ta:: The structures of the hexagonal bronzes BaTa2O6 and Ba0.93Nb2.03O6

The high-temperature hexagonal forms of BaTa₂O₆ and Ba_0.93Nb_2.03O₆ have P6/mmm symmetry with unit-cell parameters a=21.116(1) Å, c=3.9157(2) Å and a=21.0174(3) Å, c=3.9732(1) Å, respectively. Single crystal X-ray structure refinements for both phases are generally consistent with a previously proposed model, except for displacements of some Ba atoms from high-symmetry positions. The structures are based on a framework of corner- and edge-connected Nb/Ta-centred octahedra, with barium atoms occupying sites in four different types of [0 0 1] channels with hexagonal, triangular, rectangular and pentagonal cross-sections. The refinements showed that the non-stoichiometry in the niobate phase is due to barium atom vacancies in the pentagonal channels and to extra niobium atoms occupying interstitial sites with tri-capped trigonal prismatic coordination. The origin of the non-stoichiometry is attributed to minimisation of non-bonded Ba-Ba repulsions. The hexagonal structure is related to the structures of the low-temperature forms of BaNb₂O₆ and BaTa₂O₆, through a 30° rotation of the hexagonal rings of octahedra centred at the origin.