New perovskite-based manganite Pb2Mn2O5

A new perovskite based compound Pb₂Mn₂O₅ has been synthesized using a high pressure high temperature technique. The structure model of Pb₂Mn₂O₅ is proposed based on electron diffraction, high angle annular dark field scanning transmission electron microscopy and high resolution transmission electron microscopy. The compound crystallizes in an orthorhombic unit cell with parameters a=5.736(1) Å≈√2a_p, b=3.800(1) Å≈a_p, c=21.562(6) Å≈4√2a_p (a_p—the parameter of the perovskite subcell) and space group Pnma. The Pb₂Mn₂O₅ structure consists of quasi two-dimensional perovskite blocks separated by 1/2[110]_p(1?01)_p crystallographic shear planes. The blocks are connected to each other by chains of edge-sharing MnO₅ distorted tetragonal pyramids. The chains of MnO₅ pyramids and the MnO₆ octahedra of the perovskite blocks delimit six-sided tunnels accommodating double chains of Pb atoms. The tunnels and pyramidal chains adopt two mirror-related configurations (“left” L and “right” R) and layers consisting of chains and tunnels of the same configuration alternate in the structure according to an -L-R-L-R-sequence. The sequence is sometimes locally violated by the appearance of -L-L- or -R-R-fragments. A scheme is proposed with a Jahn-Teller distortion of the MnO₆ octahedra with two long and two short bonds lying in the a-c plane, along two perpendicular orientations within this plane, forming a d-type pattern.     

Crystal growth and structural investigation of A2BReO6 (A=Sr, Ba; B=Li, Na)

Single crystals of the double perovskite rhenates A₂BReO₆ (A=Sr, Ba; B=Li, Na) were grown out of molten hydroxide fluxes. Single crystals of orange/yellow Ba₂LiReO₆, Ba₂NaReO₆ and Sr₂LiReO₆ were solved in the cubic, Fm-3m space group with a=8.1214(11) Å, 8.2975(3) Å, and 7.9071(15) Å, respectively, while Sr₂NaReO₆ was determined to be monoclinic P2₁/n with a=5.6737(6) Å, b=5.7988(6) Å, c=8.0431(8) Å, and β=90.02(6) °. The cubic structure consists of a rock salt lattice of corner-shared ReO₆ and MO₆ (M=Li, Na) octahedra which, in the monoclinic structure, are both tilted and rotated. A discrepancy exists between the symmetry of Sr₂LiReO₆ indicated by the single-crystal refinement of flux-grown crystals (cubic, Fm-3m) and the symmetry indicated by the powder diffraction data collected on polycrystalline samples prepared by the ceramic method (tetragonal, I4/m). It is possible that the cubic crystals are a kinetic product that forms in small quantities at low temperatures, while the powder represents the more stable polymorph that forms at higher reaction temperature.     

Crystal chemistry and crystallography of the SrR2CuO5 (R=lanthanides) phases

The crystal chemistry and crystallography of the compounds SrR₂CuO₅ (Sr-121, R=lanthanides) were investigated using the powder X-ray Rietveld refinement technique. Among the 11 compositions studied, only R=Dy and Ho formed the stable SrR₂CuO₅ phase. SrR₂CuO₅ was found to be isostructural with the “green phase”, BaR₂CuO₅. The basic structure is orthorhombic with space group Pnma. The lattice parameters for SrDyCuO₅ are a=12.08080(6) Å, b=5.60421(2) Å, c=7.12971(3) Å, V=482.705(4) Å³, and Z=8; and for the Ho analog are a=12.03727(12) Å, b=5.58947(7) Å, c=7.10169(7) Å, V=477.816(9) Å³, and Z=8. In the SrR₂CuO₅ structure, each R is surrounded by seven oxygen atoms, forming a monocapped trigonal prism (RO₇). The isolated CuO₅ group forms a distorted square pyramid. Consecutive layers of prisms are stacked in the b-direction. Bond valence calculations imply that residual strain is largely responsible for the narrow stability of the SrR₂CuO₅ phases with R=Dy and Ho only. X-ray powder reference diffraction patterns for SrDy₂CuO₅ and SrHo₂CuO₅ were determined.     

Synthesis, Crystal Structure, and Magnetic Properties of a Novel Layered Manganese Oxide Sr2MnGaO5+δ

New Sr₂MnGaO_4.97 complex oxide was synthesized by solid state reaction in sealed silica tubes at 950–1000°C. The Sr₂MnGaO_4.97 crystal structure was refined from X-ray powder diffraction data. Sr₂MnGaO_4.97 is based on the Ima2 brownmillerite-type structure with apically elongated MnO₆ octahedra due to a Jahn–Teller effect. Electron diffraction and high-resolution electron microscopy showed that local ordering of the left-and right-hand chains of GaO₄ tetrahedra in Sr₂MnGaO_4.97 leads to a superstructure with a doubling of the b parameter of the orthorhombic unit cell. The formal oxidation state of Mn (V_Mn) can be varied by thermal treatments at elevated oxygen pressure (450°C, 20 bar of O₂). The oxygen insertion induces a structure transformation in oxidized Sr₂MnGaO_5.47 material with the formation of a tetragonal perovskite-like structure (aa_p, c2c_p) with oxygen vacancies located in the Ga layers. The oxidation is accompanied by a significant compression of the Mn–O apical distances and a suppression of the Jahn–Teller deformation. Both Sr₂MnGaO_4.97 and Sr₂MnGaO_5.47 can probably be treated as canted antiferromagnets with T_N=150 and 80 K, respectively.     

Anomalous octahedral distortion and multiple phase transitions in the metal-ordered manganite YBaMn2O6

By means of powder X-ray diffraction, powder neutron diffraction and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), we determined the crystal structures of a metal-ordered manganite YBaMn₂O₆ which undergoes successive phase transitions. A high-temperature metallic phase (T_c1=520 K<T) crystallizes in a triclinic P1 with the following unit cell: Z=2, a=5.4948(15) Å, b=5.4920(14) Å, c=7.7174(4) Å, α=89.804(20)°, β=90.173(20)°, γ=91.160(4)°. The MnO₆ octahedral tilting is approximately written as a⁰b⁻c⁻, leading to a significant structural anisotropy within the ab plane. The structure for T_c2<T<T_c1 is a monoclinic P2 (Z=2, a=5.5181(4) Å, b=5.5142(4) Å, c=7.6443(3) Å, β=90.267(4)°) with an a⁻b⁻c⁻ tilting. The structural features suggest a d_x²−y² orbital ordering (OO). Below T_c2=480 K, crystallographically inequivalent two octahedra show distinct volume difference, due to the Mn³⁺/Mn⁴⁺ charge ordering. The TEM study furthermore revealed a unique d_3x²−r²/d_3y²−r² OO with a modified CE structure. It was found that the obtained crystal structures are strongly correlated to the unusual physical properties. In particular, the extremely high temperature at which charge degree of freedom freezes, T_c2, should be caused by the absence of the structural disorder and by heavily distorted MnO₆ octahedra.     

Synthesis and structural investigation of the compounds containing HF2 anions: Ca(HF2)2, Ba4F4(HF2)(PF6)3 and Pb2F2(HF2)(PF6)

Three new compounds Ca(HF₂)₂, Ba₄F₄(HF₂)(PF₆)₃ and Pb₂F₂(HF₂)(PF₆) were obtained in the system metal(II) fluoride and anhydrous HF (aHF) acidified with excessive PF₅. The obtained polymeric solids are slightly soluble in aHF and they crystallize out of their aHF solutions. Ca(HF₂)₂ was prepared by simply dissolving CaF₂ in a neutral aHF. It represents the second known compound with homoleptic HF environment of the central atom besides Ba(H₃F₄)₂. The compounds Ba₄F₄(HF₂)(PF₆)₃ and Pb₂F₂(HF₂)(PF₆) represent two additional examples of the formation of a polymeric zigzag ladder or ribbon composed of metal cation and fluoride anion (MF⁺)_n besides PbF(AsF₆), the first isolated compound with such zigzag ladder. The obtained new compounds were characterized by X-ray single crystal diffraction method and partly by Raman spectroscopy. Ba₄F₄(HF₂)(PF₆)₃ crystallizes in a triclinic space group P1¯ with a=4.5870(2) Å, b=8.8327(3) Å, c=11.2489(3) Å, α=67.758(9)°, β=84.722(12), γ=78.283(12)°, V=413.00(3) Å³ at 200 K, Z=1 and R=0.0588. Pb₂F₂(HF₂)(PF₆) at 200 K: space group P1¯, a=4.5722(19) Å, b=4.763(2) Å, c=8.818(4) Å, α=86.967(10)°, β=76.774(10)°, γ=83.230(12)°, V=185.55(14) ų, Z=1 and R=0.0937. Pb₂F₂(HF₂)(PF₆) at 293 K: space group P1¯, a=4.586(2) Å, b=4.781(3) Å, c=8.831(5) Å, α=87.106(13)°, β=76.830(13)°, γ=83.531(11)°, V=187.27(18) Å³, Z=1 and R=0.072. Ca(HF₂)₂ crystallizes in an orthorhombic Fddd space group with a=5.5709(6) Å, b=10.1111(9) Å, c=10.5945(10) Å, V=596.77(10) Å³ at 200 K, Z=8 and R=0.028.     

Structure and electron density analysis of electrochemically and chemically delithiated LiCoO2 single crystals

Single crystals of Li_0.68CoO₂, Li_0.48CoO₂, and Li_0.35CoO₂ were successfully synthesized for the first time by means of electrochemical and chemical delithiation processes using LiCoO₂ single crystals as a parent compound. A single-crystal X-ray diffraction study confirmed the trigonal R3¯m space group and the hexagonal lattice parameters a=2.8107(5) Å, c=14.2235(6) Å, and c/a=5.060 for Li_0.68CoO₂; a=2.8090(15) Å, c=14.3890(17) Å, and c/a=5.122 for Li_0.48CoO₂; and a=2.8070(12) Å, c=14.4359(14) Å, and c/a=5.143 for Li_0.35CoO₂. The crystal structures were refined to the conventional values R=1.99% and wR=1.88% for Li_0.68CoO₂; R=2.40% and wR=2.58% for Li_0.48CoO₂; and R=2.63% and wR=2.56% for Li_0.35CoO₂. The oxygen-oxygen contact distance in the CoO₆ octahedron was determined to be shortened by the delithiation from 2.6180(9) Å in LiCoO₂ to 2.5385(15) Å in Li_0.35CoO₂. The electron density distributions of these Li_xCoO₂ crystals were analyzed by the maximum entropy method (MEM) using the present single-crystal X-ray diffraction data at 300 K. From the results of the single-crystal MEM, strong covalent bonding was clearly visible between the Co and O atoms, while no bonding was found around the Li atoms in these compounds. The gradual decrease in the electron density at the Li site upon delithiation could be precisely analyzed.     

Crystal chemistry of M[PO2(OH)2]2·2H2O compounds (M=Mg, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Zn, Cd): Structural investigation of the Ni, Zn and Cd salts

The compounds M[PO₂(OH)₂]₂·2H₂O (M=Mg, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Zn, Cd) were prepared from super-saturated aqueous solutions at room temperature. Single-crystal X-ray structure investigations of members with M=Ni, Zn, Cd were performed at 295 and 120 K. The space-group symmetry is P2₁/n, Z=2. The unit-cell parameters are at 295/120 K for M=Ni: a=7.240(2)/7.202(2), b=9.794(2)/9.799(2), c=5.313(1)/5.285(1) Å, β=94.81(1)/94.38(1)°, V=375.4/371.9 Å³; M=Zn: a=7.263(2)/7.221(2), b=9.893(2)/9.899(3), c=5.328(1)/5.296(2) Å, β=94.79(1)/94.31(2)°, V=381.5/377.5 Å³; M=Cd: a=7.356(2)/7.319(2), b=10.416(2)/10.423(3), c=5.407(1)/5.371(2) Å, β=93.85(1)/93.30(2)°, V=413.4/409.1 Å³. Layers of corner-shared MO₆ octahedra and phosphate tetrahedra are linked by three of the four crystallographically different hydrogen bonds. The fourth hydrogen bond (located within the layer) is worth mentioning because of the short O_h?O bond distance of 2.57-2.61 Å at room temperature (2.56-2.57 Å at 120 K); only for M=Mg it is increased to 2.65 Å. Any marked temperature-dependent variation of the unit-cell dimension is observed only vertical to the layers. The analysis of the infrared (IR) spectroscopy data evidences that the internal PO₄ vibrations are insensitive to the size and the electronic configuration of the M²⁺ ions. The slight strengthening of the intra-molecular P-O bonds in the Mg salt is caused by the more ionic character of the Mg-O bonds. All IR spectra exhibit the characteristic “ABC trio” for acidic salts: 2900-3180 cm⁻¹ (A band), 2000-2450 cm⁻¹ (B band) and 1550-1750 cm⁻¹ (C band). Both the frequency and the intensity of the A band provide an evidence that the PO₂(OH)₂ groups in M[PO₂(OH)₂]₂·2H₂O compounds form weaker hydrogen bonds as compared with other acidic salts with comparable O?O bond distances of about 2.60 Å. The observed shift of the O-H stretching vibrations of the water molecule in the order M=Mg>Mn≈Fe≈Co>Ni>Zn≈Cd has been discussed with respect to the influence of both the character and the strength of M↔H₂O interactions.     

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.     

Subsolidus phase relations in Na2O-CuO-Sb2On system and crystal structure of new sodium copper antimonate Na3Cu2SbO6

Subsolidus phase relation studies in the NaSb₃O₇-Na₃SbO₄-CuO-CuSb₂O₆ quadrangle of Na₂O-CuO-Sb₂O_n system at 1123-1173 K revealed the formation of one new compound Na₃Cu₂SbO₆. It is a superstructure derived from α-NaFeO₂ type, space group C2/m, lattice constants: a=5.6759(1) Å, b=8.8659(1) Å, c=5.8379(1) Å, β=113.289(1)°. All ions are in octahedral environment, but CuO₆ polyhedron exhibits strong elongation due to Jahn-Teller effect (Cu-O: 2.000(2) Å×2, 2.021(2) Å×2, 2.494(3) Å×2), whereas SbO₆ octahedron is almost regular. The relationship to other similar superlattices is discussed.     

Crystallographic and magnetic characterisation of the brownmillerite Sr2Co2O5

Sr₂Co₂O₅ with the perovskite-related brownmillerite structure has been synthesised via quenching, with the orthorhombic unit cell parameters a=5.4639(3) Å, b=15.6486(8) Å and c=5.5667(3) Å based on refinement of neutron powder diffraction data collected at 4 K. Electron microscopy revealed L-R-L-R-intralayer ordering of chain orientations, which require a doubling of the unit cell along the c-parameter, consistent with the assignment of the space group Pcmb. However, on the length scale pertinent to NPD, no long-range order is observed and the disordered space group Imma appears more appropriate. The magnetic structure corresponds to G-type order with a moment of 3.00(4) μ_B directed along [1 0 0].     

Synthesis, X-ray crystal structure and vibrational spectroscopy of the acidic pyrophosphate KMg0.5H2P2O7·H2O

The hydrated potassium hemimagnesium dihydrogen pyrophosphate KMg_0.5H₂P₂O₇·H₂O was synthesized. It crystallizes in the triclinic system, space group (n. 2), Z=2, with the following unit-cell parameters: a=6.8565(2) Å, b=7.3621(3) Å, c=7.6202(3) Å, α=81.044(2)°, β=72.248(2)°, γ=83.314(3)°, V=360.90(2) Å³. The structure was obtained by single-crystal X-ray diffractometry, and a full-matrix least-squares refinement based on F² gave a final R index of =0.0368 (wR=0.0975), utilizing 1446 observed reflections with I>2σ(I). The crystal packing consists in a three-dimensional network made by layers parallel to ab plane of PO₄ double tetrahedra and MgO₆ octahedra, linked by hydrogen bonds, while K atoms form complex coordination within cavities between tetrahedra and octahedra. The dihydro-pyrophosphate anion (H₂P₂O₇)²⁻ shows bent eclipsed conformation and the Mg²⁺ ion lies on inversion center. No coincidences observed between most of infrared and Raman spectral bands confirmed the centrosymmetric structure of the title compound; the vibrational spectra point to a bent POP bridge angle.     

Subsolidus phase relations and crystal structures of the mixed-oxide phases in the In2O3-WO3 system

Subsolidus phase relationships in the In₂O₃-WO₃ system at 800-1400°C were investigated using X-ray diffraction. Two binary-oxide phases—In₆WO₁₂ and In₂(WO₄)₃—were found to be stable over the range 800-1200°C. Heating the binary-oxide phases above 1200°C resulted in the preferential volatilization of WO₃. Rietveld refinement was performed on three structures using X-ray diffraction data from nominally phase-pure In₆WO₁₂ at room temperature and from nominally phase-pure In₂(WO₄)₃ at 225°C and 310°C. The indium-rich phase, In₆WO₁₂, is rhombohedral, space group (rhombohedral), with Z=1, a=6.22390(4) Å, α=99.0338(2)° [hexagonal axes: a_H=9.48298(6) Å, c=8.94276(6) Å, a_H/c=0.9430(9)]. In₆WO₁₂ can be viewed as an anion-deficient fluorite structure in which 1/7 of the fluorite anion sites are vacant. Indium tungstate, In₂(WO₄)₃, undergoes a monoclinic-orthorhombic transition around 250°C. The high-temperature polymorph is orthorhombic, space group Pnca, with a=9.7126(5) Å, b=13.3824(7) Å, c=9.6141(5) Å, and Z=4. The low-temperature polymorph is monoclinic, space group P2₁/a, with a=16.406(2) Å, b=9.9663(1) Å, c=19.099(2) Å, β=125.411(2)°, and Z=8. The structures of the two In₂(WO₄)₃ polymorphs are similar, consisting of a network of corner sharing InO₆ octahedra and WO₄ tetrahedra.     

Crystal growth, structure determination, and optical properties of new potassium-rare-earth silicates K3RESi2O7 (RE=Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu)

Single crystals of K₃RESi₂O₇ (RE=Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu) were grown from a potassium fluoride flux. Two different structure types were found for this series. Silicates containing the larger rare earths, RE=Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb crystallize in a structure K₃RESi₂O₇ that contains the rare-earth cation in both a slightly distorted octahedral and an ideal trigonal prismatic coordination environment, while in K₃LuSi₂O₇, containing the smallest of the rare earths, lutetium is found solely in an octahedral coordination environment. The structure of K₃LuSi₂O₇ crystallizes in space group P6₃/mmc with a=5.71160(10) Å and c=13.8883(6) Å. The structures containing the remaining rare earths crystallize in the space group P6₃/mcm with the lattice parameters of a=9.9359(2) Å, c=14.4295(4) Å, (K₃GdSi₂O₇); a=9.88730(10) Å, c=14.3856(3) Å, (K₃TbSi₂O₇); a=9.8673(2) Å, c=14.3572(4) Å, (K₃DySi₂O₇); a=9.8408(3) Å, c=14.3206(6) Å, (K₃HoSi₂O₇); a=9.82120(10) Å, c=14.2986(2) Å, (K₃ErSi₂O₇); a=9.80200(10) Å, c=14.2863(4) Å, (K₃TmSi₂O₇); a=9.78190(10) Å, c=14.2401(3) Å, (K₃YbSi₂O₇). The optical properties of the silicates were investigated and K₃TbSi₂O₇ was found to fluoresce in the visible.     

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.     

La3Ru8B6 and Y3Os8B6, new members of a homologous series R(A)nM3n−1B2n

Two new compounds, La₃Ru₈B₆ and Y₃Os₈B₆, were synthesized by arc melting the elements. Their structural characterization was carried out at room temperature on as-cast samples by using X-ray diffractometry. According to X-ray single-crystal diffraction results these borides crystallize in Fmmm space group (no. 69), Z=4, a=5.5607(1) Å, b=9.8035(3) Å, c=17.5524(4) Å, ρ=8.956 Mg/m³, μ=25.23 mm⁻¹ for La₃Ru₈B₆ and a=5.4792(2) Å, b=9.5139(4) Å, c=17.6972(8) Å, ρ=13.343 Mg/m³, μ=128.23 mm⁻¹ for Y₃Os₈B₆. The crystal structure of La₃Ru₈B₆ was confirmed from Rietveld refinement of X-ray powder diffraction data. Both La₃Ru₈B₆ and Y₃Os₈B₆ compounds are isotypic with the Ca₃Rh₈B₆ compound and their structures are built up from CeCo₃B₂-type and CeAl₂Ga₂-type structural fragments taken in ratio 2:1. They are the members of structural series R(A)_nM_3n−1B_2n with n=3 (R is the rare earth metal, A the alkaline earth metal, and M the transition metal). Structural and atomic parameters were also obtained for La_0.94Ru₃B₂ compound from Rietveld refinement (CeCo₃B₂-type structure, P6/mmm space group (no. 191), a=5.5835(9) Å, c=3.0278(6) Å).     

Transition metal tetramolybdate dihydrates MMo4O13·2H2O (M=Co,Ni) having a novel pillared layer structure

Hydrothermal synthesis in the M/Mo/O (M=Co,Ni) system was investigated. Novel transition metal tetramolybdate dihydrates MMo₄O₁₃·2H₂O (M=Co,Ni), having an interesting pillared layer structure, were found. The molybdates crystallize in the triclinic system with space group P−1, Z=1 with unit cell parameters of a=5.525(3) Å, b=7.058(4) Å, c=7.551(5) Å, α=90.019(10)°, β=105.230(10)°, γ=90.286(10)° for CoMo₄O₁₃·2H₂O, and a=5.508(2) Å, b=7.017(3) Å, c=7.533(3) Å, α=90.152(6)°, β=105.216(6)°, γ=90.161(6)° for NiMo₄O₁₃·2H₂O The structure is composed of two-dimensional molybdenum-oxide (2D Mo-O) sheets pillared with CoO₆ octahedra. The 2D Mo-O sheet is made up of infinite straight ribbons built up by corner-sharing of four molybdenum octahedra (two MoO₆ and two MoO₅OH₂) sharing edges. These infinite ribbons are similar to the straight ones in triclinic-K₂Mo₄O₁₃ having 1D chain structure, but are linked one after another by corner-sharing to form a 2D sheet structure, like the twisted ribbons in BaMo₄O₁₃·2H₂O (or in orthorhombic-K₂Mo₄O₁₃) are.     

Formation of Co octahedra and tetrahedra in YBaCo4O8.1

High-resolution neutron and synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction experiments were performed, at 300 and 10 K, for the determination of the structure of YBaCo₄O_8.1, which was prepared by controlled oxidation of the Kagomé lattice compound YBaCo₄O₇. Our diffraction data demonstrate that YBaCo₄O_8.1 crystallizes in the orthorhombic Pbc2₁ space group with the formation of a large superstructure (a=12.790 Å, b=10.845 Å, c=10.149 Å), with respect to the parent trigonal YBaCo₄O₇ material. The Co ions occupy both corner-sharing tetrahedral and edge-sharing octahedral sites, in contrast to YBaCo₄O₇, which has only corner-sharing tetrahedra. The octahedral sites form by the addition of two extra oxygen atoms and the drastic displacements of some of the original O atoms relative to the parent. The edge-sharing octahedra form isolated zigzag chains parallel to the c-axis linked to one another via tetrahedra. While found in a few phosphates, silicates and germanates, this motif appears unique to YBaCo₄O_8.1 among mixed-metal oxides. No structural phase transition or long range antiferromagnetic ordering are observed at 10 K.     

Ionothermal synthesis of β-NH4AlF4 and the determination by single crystal X-ray diffraction of its room temperature and low temperature phases

β-NH₄AlF₄ has been synthesised ionothermally using 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate as solvent and template provider. β-NH₄AlF₄ crystals were produced which were suitable for single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. A phase transition occurs between room temperature (298 K) and low temperature (93 K) data collections. At 298 K the space group=I4/mcm (no. 140), α=11.642(5), c=12.661(5) Å, Z=2 (10NH₄AlF₄), wR(F²)=0.1278, R(F)=0.0453. At 93 K the space group=P4₂/ncm (no. 138), α=11.616(3), c=12.677(3) Å, Z=2 (10NH₄AlF₄), wR(F²)=0.1387, R(F)=0.0443. The single crystal X-ray diffraction study of β-NH₄AlF₄ shows the presence of two different polymorphs at low and room temperature, indicative of a phase transition. The [AlF_4/2F₂]⁻ layers are undisturbed except for a small tilting of the AlF₆ octahedra in the c-axis direction.     

K2Mo4O13 phases prepared by hydrothermal synthesis

Hydrothermal synthesis in the K-Mo oxide system was investigated as a function of the pH of the reaction medium. Four compounds were formed, including two K₂Mo₄O₁₃ phases. One is a new low-temperature polymorph, which crystallizes in the orthorhombic, space group Pbca, with Z=8 and unit cell dimensions a=7.544(1) Å, b=15.394(2) Å, c=18.568(3) Å. The other is the known triclinic K₂Mo₄O₁₃, whose structure was re-determined from single crystal data; its cell parameters were determined as a=7.976(2) Å, b=8.345(2) Å, c=10.017(2) Å, α=107.104(3)°, β=102.885(3)°, γ=109.760(3)°, which are the standard settings of the crystal lattice. The orthorhombic phase converts endothermically into triclinic phase at ca. 730 K with a heat of transition of 8.31 kJ/mol.