Crystal structure of Bi1−xTbxFeO3 from high-resolution neutron diffraction

Samples of Bi_1−xTb_xFeO₃, with x=0.05, 0.10, 0.15, 0.20 and 0.25, have been synthesised by solid state reaction. The crystal structures of the perovskite phases, characterised via Rietveld analysis of high resolution powder neutron diffraction data, reveal a structural transition from the R3c symmetry of the parent phase BiFeO₃ to orthorhombic Pnma symmetry, which is complete for x=0.20. The x=0.10 and 0.15 samples are bi-phasic. The transition from a rhombohedral to orthorhombic unit cell is suggested to be driven by the dilution of the stereochemistry of the Bi³⁺ lone pair at the A-site. The G-type antiferromagnetic spin structure, the size of the ordered magnetic moment (∼3.8 μ_B) and the T_N (∼375 °C) are relatively insensitive to increasing Tb concentrations at the A-site.     

Structural evolution of (Ca0.35Sr0.65)TiO3 perovskite at high pressures

Lattice parameters of a synthetic powder sample of Ca_0.35Sr_0.65TiO₃ perovskite have been determined by the method of Le Bail refinement, using synchrotron X-ray diffraction patterns collected at pressures up to 15.5 GPa with a membrane-driven diamond anvil cell. At ambient conditions, diffraction data were consistent with the I4/mcm structure reported previously in the literature for the same composition. Diffraction data collected at high pressures were consistent with tetragonal (or, at least, pseudo-tetragonal) lattice geometry, and no evidence was found for the development of any of the orthorhombic structures identified in other studies of (Ca, Sr)TiO₃ perovskites. Additional weak reflections, which could not be accounted for by the normal I4/mcm perovskite structure, were detected in diffraction patterns collected at pressures of 0.9-2.5 GPa, and above ∼13.5 GPa, however. Small anomalies in the evolution of unit cell volume and tetragonal strain were observed near 3 GPa, coinciding approximately with breaks in slope with increasing pressure of bulk and shear moduli for a sample with the same composition which had previously been reported. The anomalies could be due either to new tetragonal↔tetragonal/pseudo-tetragonal phase transitions or to subtle changes in compression mechanism of the tetragonal perovskite structure.     

碱土元素掺杂的BaFeO3钙钛矿型催化剂的NOx储存性能

采用溶胶-凝胶法制备了Ba_1-xM_xFeO₃ (M=Mg, Ca, Sr; x=0, 0.1, 0.2)系列钙钛矿型NO_x储存还原(NSR)催化剂, 考察碱金属元素Mg、Ca 和Sr 的掺杂对BaFeO₃ 钙钛矿NO_x 储存和氧化性能的影响. 结果表明, 在250-400 ℃范围内Mg的掺杂提高了BaFeO₃钙钛矿的NO_x储存性能, 其中以Ba_0.8Mg_0.2FeO₃样品的NO_x储存性能最佳, 在温度350 ℃时NO_x储存量高达1200 μmol·g^-1以上, NO→NO₂转化率为53.4%. 与BaFeO₃比较,Ba_0.8Mg_0.2FeO₃样品在250 ℃进行NO_x储存时就出现了单齿硝酸盐, 并随储存温度的变化而变化, 它的数量与NO_x储存量有相同的变化趋势. 傅里叶变换红外(FTIR)光谱结果表明, 与BaFeO₃相比, Ba_0.8Mg_0.2FeO₃样品NO_x储存量增大的原因在于: 一方面, 形成了具有A位缺陷的钙钛矿结构, 产生大量能够用于储存NO_x的氧空位; 另一方面, 未进入钙钛矿晶格的Mg元素可能以碱性氧化物的形式与NO_x作用形成了单齿硝酸盐.     

GdAlO3 perovskite

Flux‐grown gadolinium aluminate perovskite, GdAlO₃, was examined using single‐crystal 0.7 Å‐wavelength synchrotron X‐ray diffraction. In the context of other well categorized rare earth aluminate (RAlO₃) perovskite phases, the orthorhombic Pnma symmetry determined for the current compound is unsurprising. Corner‐linked AlO₆ octahedra form the structural backbone of RAlO₃ perovskites and distort to accommodate the various rare earth ions in the structural voids. For GdAlO₃, the octahedral distortion, characterized by tilting of the octahedra about the shortest R—Al—R vectors, and octahedral deformation, characterized by strain of the octahedra along those axes, are in accordance with trends in the RAlO₃ series.     

Crystal structure and thermal expansion of PrGaO3 in the temperature range 12-1253 K

Crystal structure and thermal expansion of PrGaO₃ single crystal, obtained by the Czochralsky method, have been investigated by means of single crystal and high-resolution powder diffraction techniques applying synchrotron radiation in a wide temperature range 12-1253 K. It was shown that PrGaO₃ adopts an orthorhombically distorted variant of perovskite structure (GdFeO₃ type of structure, space group Pbnm, Z=4) throughout the entire temperature range. Temperature dependence of lattice parameters and respective unit cell volume display anisotropic and nonlinear behavior. Lattice contraction in [010]- and [100]-directions is observed in temperature ranges 12-180 and 12-50 K, respectively. In total PrGaO₃ exhibits a negative thermal expansion of the volume between 12 and 50 K. A linear increase of the average bond lengths (PrO)₈, (PrO)₉, (PrO)₁₂, (GaO)₆, as well as the average (OO)₈ distances was observed. However, with the average (PrPr)₆, (PrGa)₈ and (GaGa)₆ cation-cation distances a change of slope occurs at 200-300 K. Over all, with rising temperature a decrease of the deformation is observed for the perovskite type structure. A phase transition from orthorhombic to rhombohedral structure of PrGaO₃ around 1855 K is predicted from extrapolation of both the temperature dependencies of the (PrPr)₆/(GaGa)₆ distance ratio and of the experimental temperatures of the -Pbnm phase transition for LaGaO₃, CeGaO₃ and La_1−xRE_xGaO₃ (RE—rare earth) perovskites.     

Compressibility of CaZrO3 perovskite: Comparison with Ca-oxide perovskites

The evolution of the unit-cell parameters of CaZrO₃ perovskite, an orthorhombic perovskite belonging to space group Pbnm, have been determined to a pressure of 8.7 GPa at room temperature using single-crystal X-ray diffraction measurements. A fit of a third-order Birch-Murnaghan equation of state to the pressure-volume data yields values of V₀=258.04(2) Å³, K_T0=154(1) GPa and K₀′=5.9(3). Although CaZrO₃ perovskite does not exhibit any phase transitions in this pressure range, the compression of the structure is anisotropic with [010] approximately 20% less compressible than either [100] or [001]. Compressional moduli for the unit cell parameters are: K_a0=142(1) GPa and K_a0′=4.4(2), K_b0=177(2) GPa and K_b0′=9.4(5), K_c0=146(2) GPa and K_c0′=5.4(4). Comparison with other orthorhombic Ca-oxide perovskites shows that there is systematic increase in compressional anisotropy with increasing distortion from cubic symmetry.     

Structural and magnetic properties of high-pressure/high-temperature synthesized (Sr1-xRx)CoO3 (R=Y and Ho) perovskites

Polycrystalline perovskite cobalt oxides Sr_1-xR_xCoO₃ (R=Y and Ho; 0?x?1) were prepared by high-pressure/high-temperature technique. X-ray powder patterns of the Y-system indicated cubic perovskite form for 0?x?0.5, and orthorhombic perovskite form for x=0.8 and 1.0, while coexisting of the two phases for x=0.6. The cubic perovskite samples had metallic electric resistivities while the orthorhombic ones with semiconducting or insulating nature. The parent compound SrCoO₃ showed a ferromagnetic transition at 266 K. With the Y substitution, the transition temperature increased slightly to ∼275 K at x=0.1, then decreased rapidly to ∼60 K for x=0.6. The YCoO₃ (x=1) sample showed non-magnetic behavior. The Ho-substituted system showed quite similar structural, transport and magnetic properties to those of the Y-system.     

Magnesium substitution in Nd0.7Sr0.3MnO3

Magnesium substitution in Nd_0.7Sr_0.3MnO₃ has been studied by neutron powder diffraction. Polycrystalline samples of nominal compositions Nd_0.7Sr_0.3Mn_1−yMg_yO₃ with y=0.0, 0.1, 0.2 and 0.3 were synthesized by the standard solid-state reaction method. Rietveld refinements of the neutron powder diffraction data showed that all samples had distorted perovskite structure of orthorhombic symmetry. Mg initially preferred to substitute for Nd and only at Mg concentration greater than 0.1, a substantial substitution for Mn occurred. Our study also showed that Mg-substitution did not change the crystal structure of Nd_0.7Sr_0.3MnO₃.     

Structure Study of Bi2.5Na0.5Ta2O9 and Bi2.5Nam−1.5NbmO3m+3 (m=2-4) by Neutron Powder Diffraction and Electron Microscopy

The crystal structures of Bi_2.5Na_0.5Ta₂O₉ and Bi_2.5Na_m-1.5Nb_mO_3m+3 (m=3,4) have been investigated by the Rietveld analysis of their neutron powder diffraction patterns (λ=1.470 Å). These compounds belong to the Aurivillius phase family and are built up by (Bi₂O₂)²⁺ fluorite layers and (A_m-1B_mO_3m+1)^2- (m=2-4) pseudo-perovskite slabs. Bi_2.5Na_0.5Ta₂O₉ (m=2) and Bi_2.5Na_2.5Nb₄O₁₅ (m=4) crystallize in the orthorhombic space group A2₁am, Z=4, with lattice constants of a=5.4763(4), b=5.4478(4), c=24.9710 (15) and a=5.5095(5), b=5.4783(5), c=40.553(3) Å, respectively. Bi_2.5Na_1.5Nb₃O₁₂ (m=3) has been refined in the orthorhombic space group B2cb, Z=4, with the unit-cell parameters a=5.5024(7), b=5.4622(7), and c=32.735(4) Å. In comparison with its isostructural Nb analogue, the structure of Bi_2.5Na_0.5Ta₂O₉ is less distorted and bond valence sum calculations indicate that the Ta-O bonds are somewhat stronger than the Nb-O bonds. The cell parameters a and b increase with increasing m for the compounds Bi_2.5Na_m-1.5Nb_mO_3m+3 (m=2-4), causing a greater strain in the structure. Electron microscopy studies verify that the intergrowth of mixed perovskite layers, caused by stacking faults, also increases with increasing m.     

Phase equilibria in the pseudo-binary system SrO-Fe2O3

The phase relations in the pseudo-binary system SrO-Fe₂O₃ have been investigated in air up to 1150°C by means of powder X-ray diffraction and thermal analysis. Sr₃Fe₂O_7−δ, SrFeO_3−δ and SrFe₁₂O₁₉ are stable phases in the entire investigated temperature region, whereas Sr₂FeO_4−δ and Sr₄Fe₃O_10−δ decompose above 930±10°C and 850±25°C, respectively. Sr₄Fe₆O_13±δ is entropy-stabilized relative to SrFeO_3−δ and SrFe₁₂O₁₉ above 775±25°C. Extended solid-solution Sr_1±xFeO_3−δ was demonstrated. On the Fe-deficient side, the extent of solid solubility appeared to decrease gradually with temperature, whereas an abrupt decrease due to formation of Sr₄Fe₆O_13±δ was observed above 775°C on the Sr-deficient side.     

BaPbO3与BaTiO3多晶态陶瓷缺陷结构对比

BaPbO，是具有类金属导电特性的钙钛矿结构导电陶瓷，其晶体结构由Ba2＋和O^2-离子紧密堆积形成，pb^4＋离子占据由O^2-离子形成的八面体空隙。BaTiO3同为钙钛矿结构的陶瓷材料，由Ba^2＋和O^2-离子紧密堆积形成，Ti^4＋离子占据由O^2-离子形成的八面体空隙。BaPbO3和BaTiO3的A位离子相同,B位离子都为可变价离子。     

Displacive Phase Transitions in and Strain Analysis of Fe-Doped CaTiO3 Perovskites at High Temperatures by Neutron Diffraction

The influence of small amounts of Fe³⁺ on the phase transitions of CaTiO₃ perovskite has been studied by means of in situ high-temperature neutron diffraction. The same sequence of phase transitions as observed in CaTiO₃ is shown by both CaTi_0.9Fe_0.1O_2.95 and CaTi_0.8Fe_0.2O_2.90 perovskites: from orthorhombic Pnma symmetry at room temperature (RT) to cubic Pm3m at high temperature, with an intermediate I4/mcm tetragonal phase which exists over a temperature range of about 100°C. The two phase boundaries in the temperature vs composition phase diagram of the system CaFe_xTi_1−xO_3−x/2 (0≤x≤0.4) decrease in a quasi-linear manner with increasing Fe content up to x=0.2 and then they both drop abruptly to RT. The existence of a second orthorhombic phase (Cmcm), which has been postulated for CaTiO₃, is ruled out in the Fe-doped CaTiO₃ perovskites in view of the behavior of specific diffraction peaks. Strain analysis shows first-order thermodynamic character for the Pnma→I4/mcm transition, while the character of the Pm3m→I4/mcm transition could be second order or tricritical. Shear strains behave more or less classically, as described by order parameter coupling and shear strain/order parameter coupling models. The volume strain has an anomalous coupling with the order parameter components, which appears to be temperature-dependent.     

溶剂热法制备BiFeO_3基纳米颗粒光催化剂及其性能

以聚酰胺-胺(PAMAM)树形分子为稳定剂,采用溶剂热法制得了纯相BiFeO_3纳米颗粒(A)和BiFeO_3/Bi_(25)FeO_(40)/Fe_2O_3复合纳米颗粒(B),并采用HRTEM、XRD、UV-Vis、SQUID对其结构和性能进行了表征。2种颗粒结晶良好,粒径小于10 nm,能有效光催化降解亚甲基蓝,磁性回收率分别为74.6%(A)和90.2%(B)。BiFeO_3/Bi_(25)FeO_(40)/Fe_2O_3复合纳米颗粒的光催化与磁性能均优于纯相BiFeO_3纳米颗粒,是因为复合纳米颗粒含有多种相,相界面存在异质结构有利于光生载流子的分离和迁移,并且对可见光的吸收能力更强。     

CeAlO3 and Ce1−xRxAlO3 (R=La, Nd) solid solutions: Crystal structure, thermal expansion and phase transitions

The crystal structures of CeAlO₃ and the solid solutions Ce_1−xR_xAlO₃ (R=La, Nd), and their thermal behaviour in a wide temperature range of 12−1200 K have been precisely determined by means of in situ high-resolution X-ray powder diffraction technique applying synchrotron radiation, thermal analysis and magnetic measurements. The unique sequence of the reversible phase transitions I4/mcm↔Imma↔R3¯c↔Pm3¯m has been detected in CeAlO₃ and solid solutions formed in the pseudo-binary system CeAlO₃-LaAlO₃. In the Ce_1−xNd_xAlO₃ system, the samples with x=0.3 and 0.5 compositions undergo three phase transformations I2/m↔Imma↔R3¯c↔Pm3¯m, whereas for the Ce-rich sample Ce_0.9Nd_0.1AlO₃ four successive transitions are observed: I4/mcm↔I2/m↔Imma↔R3¯c↔Pm3¯m. Crystal structure parameters of all structural polymorphs of CeAlO₃ and solid solutions based on them as well as their thermal evolution are reported. Based on in situ powder diffraction and DTA/DSC data, the phase diagrams of the pseudo-binary systems CeAlO₃-LaAlO₃ and CeAlO₃-NdAlO₃ are constructed together with a combined phase diagram, where the transition temperatures are presented as a function of the average radius of rare-earth cations.     

Pressure-induced polymorphism in Al3BC3: A first-principles study

Al₃BC₃, an isostructural phase to Mg₃BN₃, experienced no pressure-induced phase transformation that occurred in the latter material (J. Solid State Chem. 154 (2000) 254-256). The discrepancy is not clear yet. Using the first-principles density functional calculations, we predict that Al₃BC₃ undergoes a hexagonal-to-tetragonal structural transformation at 24 GPa. The predicted phase equilibrium pressure is much higher than the previously reported pressure range, i.e., 2.5-5.3 GPa, conducted on phase stability of Al₃BC₃. A homogeneous orthorhombic shear strain transformation path is proposed for the phase transformation. The transformation enthalpy barrier is estimated to yield a low value, i.e., 0.129 eV/atom, which ensures that the transformation can readily take place at the predicted pressure.     

(La0.8A0.2)MnO3 (A = Sr,K) perovskite catalysts for NO and C10H22 oxidation and selective reduction of NO by C10H22

In this work, we studied the catalytic activity of LaMnO₃ and (La_0.8A_0.2)MnO₃ (A = Sr, K) perovskite catalysts for oxidation of NO and C₁₀H₂₂ and selective reduction of NO by C₁₀H₂₂. The catalytic performances of these perovskites were compared with that of a 2 wt% Pt/SiO₂ catalyst. The La site substitution increased the catalytic properties for NO or C₁₀H₂₂ oxidation compared with the non-substituted LaMnO₃ sample. For the most efficient perovskite catalyst, (La_0.8Sr_0.2)MnO₃, the results showed the presence of two temperature domains for NO adsorption: (1) a domain corresponding to weakly adsorbed NO, desorbing at temperatures lower than 270 ℃ and (2) a second domain corresponding to NO adsorbed on the surface as nitrate species, desorbing at temperatures higher than 330 ℃. For the Sr-substituted perovskite, the maximum NO₂ yield of 80% was observed in the intermediate temperature domain (around 285 ℃). In the reactant mixture of NO/C₁₀H₂₂/O₂/H₂O/He, (La_0.8Sr_0.2)MnO₃ perovskite showed better performance than the 2 wt% Pt/SiO₂ catalyst： NO₂ yields reaching 50% and 36% at 290 and 370 ℃, respectively. This activity improvement was found to be because of atomic scale interactions between the A and B active sites, Sr²⁺ cation and Mn⁴⁺/Mn³⁺ redox couple. Thus, (La_0.8Sr_0.2)MnO₃ perovskite could be an alternative free noble metal catalyst for exhaust gas after treatment.     

溶剂热法制备BiFeO3基纳米颗粒光催化剂及其性能

以聚酰胺-胺（PAMAM）树形分子为稳定剂,采用溶剂热法制得了纯相BiFeO₃纳米颗粒（A）和BiFeO₃/Bi₂₅FeO40/Fe₂O₃复合纳米颗粒（B）,并采用HRTEM、XRD、UV-Vis、SQUID对其结构和性能进行了表征。2种颗粒结晶良好,粒径小于10 nm,能有效光催化降解亚甲基蓝,磁性回收率分别为74.6%（A）和90.2%（B）。BiFeO₃/Bi₂₅FeO40/Fe₂O₃复合纳米颗粒的光催化与磁性能均优于纯相BiFeO₃纳米颗粒,是因为复合纳米颗粒含有多种相,相界面存在异质结构有利于光生载流子的分离和迁移,并且对可见光的吸收能力更强。     

Etude par rayons X à haute temperature des transformations polymorphiques des pérovskites LnAlO3 (Ln = élément lanthanidique)

The temperatures of phase transitions of the rare earth aluminates have been determined by high temperature X-ray diffractometry. All of the transitions are reversible and occur respectively for Rh ? C at 500°C (LaAlO₃), 1330°C (PrAlO₃), 1550°C (NdAlO₃), and 1950°C (SmAlO₃) and for O ? Rh at 770°C (SmAlO₃), 1330°C (EuAlO₃), and 1700°C (GdAlO₃). LnAlO₃ perovskites from TbAlO₃ up to LuAlO₃ are orthorhombic without any phase transition.     

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.