Synthesis and characterization of sodium titanates Na2Ti3O7 and Na2Ti6O13

Na₂Ti₃O₇ and Na₂Ti₆O₁₃ were synthesized by sol-gel method in order to obtain pure phases. Different heat-treatments were applied on powders and pellets of these materials. The effects were studied by XRD, dilatometry, TGA-DTA, SEM and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. Pure Na₂Ti₃O₇ was obtained at 973 K. Sintering at 1373 K caused a partial decomposition into Na₂Ti₆O₁₃. The Na₂Ti₃O₇ powder sintered at 1273 K showed polygonal microstructure. Na₂Ti₃O₇ pellets sintered at 1323 K for 10 h exhibited large structures. This latter microstructure decreased the electrical conductivity of Na₂Ti₃O₇. Pure Na₂Ti₆O₁₃ was obtained at 873 K. Sintering at 1073 K caused a partial decomposition into TiO₂ (rutile). Na₂Ti₆O₁₃ pellets sintered at 1323 K for 10 h exhibited common shrinkage behavior. This shrinkage process increased the electrical conductivity of this material. The presence of TiO₂ resulted in a oxygen partial pressure dependence of the electrical conductivity.     

The crystal chemistry of L-Ta2O5 and related structures

Single crystals of a new form of L-Ta₂O₅ with a 19×b superstructure have been synthesised by flux growth. The phase is most likely stabilised by the incorporation of a small amount of lithium (0.14 wt% Li) from the flux. The phase has C-centred monoclinic symmetry with , (), , γ=90.00(1)°. The structure was refined in space group C112/m to R₁=0.044 for 814 unique reflections with F>4σ(F). The structure can be described as comprising chains of edge-shared TaO₇ pentagonal bipyramids that are regularly folded at (010) planes to give sinusoidal chains along [010]. These chains are interconnected along [100] and [001] by corner sharing, creating inter-chain regions that are occupied by isolated TaO₆ octahedra and pairs of corner-shared octahedra. A comparison with published data for high-quality refinements of related structures has led to the development of a general model that can explain the structural chemistry variations in the known L-Ta₂O₅-related structures. A shorthand notation is presented for representing the structures, based on the sequence along [010] of the interchain octahedra.     

Structure and basic magnetic properties of the honeycomb lattice compounds Na2Co2TeO6 and Na3Co2SbO6

The synthesis, structure, and basic magnetic properties of Na₂Co₂TeO₆ and Na₃Co₂SbO₆ are reported. The crystal structures were determined by neutron powder diffraction. Na₂Co₂TeO₆ has a two-layer hexagonal structure (space group P6₃22) while Na₃Co₂SbO₆ has a single-layer monoclinic structure (space group C2/m). The Co, Te, and Sb ions are in octahedral coordination, and the edge sharing octahedra form planes interleaved by sodium ions. Both compounds have full ordering of the Co²⁺ and Te⁶⁺/Sb⁵⁺ ions in the ab plane such that the Co²⁺ ions form a honeycomb array. The stacking of the honeycomb arrays differ in the two compounds. Both Na₂Co₂TeO₆ and Na₃Co₂SbO₆ display magnetic ordering at low temperatures, with what appears to be a spin-flop transition found in Na₃Co₂SbO₆.     

Synthesis and crystal structure of the palladium oxides NaPd3O4, Na2PdO3 and K3Pd2O4

NaPd₃O₄, Na₂PdO₃ and K₃Pd₂O₄ have been prepared by solid-state reaction of Na₂O₂ or KO₂ and PdO in sealed silica tubes. Crystal structures of the synthesized phases were refined by the Rietveld method from X-ray powder diffraction data. NaPd₃O₄ (space group Pm3¯n, a=5.64979(6) Å, Z=2) is isostructural to NaPt₃O₄. It consists of NaO₈ cubes and PdO₄ squares, corner linked into a three-dimensional framework where the planes of neighboring PdO₄ squares are perpendicular to each other. Na₂PdO₃ (space group C2/c, a=5.3857(1) Å, b=9.3297(1) Å, c=10.8136(2) Å, β=99.437(2)°, Z=8) belongs to the Li₂RuO₃-structure type, being the layered variant of the NaCl structure, where the layers of octahedral interstices filled with Na⁺ and Pd⁴⁺ cations alternate with Na₃ layers along the c-axis. Na₂PdO₃ exhibits a stacking disorder, detected by electron diffraction and Rietveld refinement. K₃Pd₂O₄, prepared for the first time, crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group Cmcm (a=6.1751(6) Å, b=9.1772(12) Å, c=11.3402(12) Å, Z=4). Its structure is composed of planar PdO₄ units connected via common edges to form parallel staggered PdO₂ strips, where potassium atoms are located between them. Magnetic susceptibility measurements of K₃Pd₂O₄ reveal a Curie-Weiss behavior in the temperature range above 80 K.     

Spectral properties of Nd-doped BiB3O6 crystal

Transparent Nd: BiB₃O₆ crystal has been grown by top-seeded method. The refraction indices of the crystal were measured and the parameters of chromatic dispersion were fitted. The room temperature absorption spectra of the crystal have been measured and compared with that of 0.2 mol/L NdCl₃ solution. According to Judd-Ofelt (JO) theory, the spectral strength parameters Ω₂ = 0.1776×10⁻²⁰ cm², Ω₄ = 0.1282−10⁻²⁰1 cm² and Ω₆ = 0.1357X10^-20 cm² of Nd³⁺ ion were fitted. The radiative transition probabilities A_J,J’, oscillator strengths f_J,J’, radiative lifetime rand the branching ratio β_J’ have all been calculated. Based on these parameters, the properties and application perspective are discussed.     

Structure and magnetism of NaRu2O4 and Na2.7Ru4O9

The structures of NaRu₂O₄ and Na_2.7Ru₄O₉ are refined using neutron diffraction. NaRu₂O₄ is a stoichiometric compound consisting of double chains of edge sharing RuO₆ octahedra. Na_2.7Ru₄O₉ is a non-stoichiometric compound with partial occupancy of the Na sublattice. The structure is a mixture of single, double and triple chains of edge-shared RuO₆ octahedra. NaRu₂O₄ displays temperature independent paramagnetism with . Na_2.7Ru₄O₉ is paramagnetic, χ₀= with and a Curie constant of 0.0119 emu/mol Oe K. Specific heat measurements reveal a small upturn at low temperatures, similar to the upturn observed in La₄Ru₆O₁₉. The electronic contribution to the specific heat (γ) for Na_2.7Ru₄O₉ was determined to be15 mJ/mole_Ru K².     

Synthesis and Crystal Structure of the First Fully Characterized Vanadoborate Na3[B6O9(VO4)]

Single crystals of synthetic Na₃VB₆O₁₃ were obtained by heating a mixture of Na₂CO₃.H₂O, V₂O₅, and H₃BO₃; its formula has been determined by the resolution of the structure from X-ray diffraction data. The compound is orthorhombic, space group P2₁2₁2₁; the unit cell parameters are a=7.723(7), b=10.155(4), c=12.505(4) Å, Z=4. The crystal structure was solved from 1535 reflections until R=0.029; it contains hexaborate units formed by three triangular BO₃ (3Δ) and three tetrahedral BO₄ (3T). These hexaborate groups are joined together to form sheets which are linked by VO₄ tetrahedra leading to a three-dimensional network. The shorthand notation of the vanadoborate ion is 6: ∞³ (3Δ+3T)+VO₄. The sodium atoms are inside the channels that exist in the compound, whose structural formula may be written Na₃[B₆O₉(VO₄)]. This compound melts incongruently; powder may be obtained by annealing a mixture of Na₂B₄O₇ and V₂O₅ at 630°C. It is the first vanadoborate for which the formula and the structure have been unambiguously established.     

The Na2O-SrO-B2O3 diagram in the B-rich part and the crystal structure of NaSrB5O9

The subsolidus phase relations in the B-rich part of the ternary system, Na₂O-SrO-B₂O₃, are investigated by the powder X-ray diffraction method. Four ternary compounds: NaSrBO₃, NaSr₄B₃O₉, Na₃SrB₅O₁₀ and NaSrB₅O₉ were found in it, the two lasts are new. NaSrB₅O₉ crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2₁/c, with the lattice parameters a=6.4963(1) Å, b=13.9703(2) Å, c=8.0515(1) Å, β=106.900(1)°. Na₃SrB₅O₉ is also monoclinic, space group C2, a=7.290(1) Å, b=13.442(2) Å, c=9.792(1) Å, β=109.60(1). NaSrB₅O₉ is isostructural with another pentaborate NaCaB₅O₉, and its structure was refined by Rietveld method based on the structural model of NaCaB₅O₉. The fundamental building units are [B₅O₉]³⁻ anionic groups, forming complex thick anionic sheets, extending parallel to the ac plane. The Na and Sr atoms are all eight-coordinated with O atoms, forming trigonal dodecahedra. The [NaO₈] polyhedra are distributed between the B-O sheets, while the [SrO₈] polyhedra located in the sheets and connect with each other by edges to form infinite chains along the c-axis.     

Synthesis, structure and magnetic properties of Na6Co2O6

Na₆Co₂O₆ was synthesized via the azide/nitrate route by reaction between NaN₃, NaNO₃ and Co₃O₄. Stoichiometric mixtures of the starting materials were heated in a special regime up to 500°C and annealed at this temperature for 50 h in silver crucibles. Single crystals have been grown by subsequent annealing of the reaction product at 500°C for 500 h in silver crucibles, which were sealed in glass ampoules under dried Ar. According to the X-ray analysis of the crystal structure (, Z=1, a=5.7345(3), b=5.8903(3), c=6.3503(3) Å, α=64.538(2), β=89.279(2), γ=85.233(2)°, 1006 independent reflections, R₁=8.34% (all data)), cobalt is tetrahedrally coordinated by oxygen. Each two CoO₄ tetrahedra are linked through a common edge forming Co₂O₆^6- anions. Cobalt ions within the dimers, being in a high spin state (S=2), are ferromagnetically coupled (J=17 cm^-1). An intercluster spin exchange (zJ′=−4.8 cm^-1) plays a significant role below 150 K and leads to an antiferromagnetically ordered state below 30 K. Heat capacity exhibits a λ-type anomaly at this temperature and yields a value of 19.5 J/mol K for the transition entropy, which is in good agreement with the theoretical value calculated for the ordering of the ferromagnetic-coupled dimers. In order to construct a model for the spin interactions in Na₆Co₂O₆, the magnetic properties of Na₅CoO₄ have been measured. This compound features isolated CoO₄ tetrahedra and shows a Curie-Weiss behavior (μ=5.14 μ_B, Θ=−20 K) down to 15 K. An antiferromagmetic ordering is observed in this compound below 10 K.     

Low-temperature flux syntheses and characterizations of two 1-D anhydrous borophosphates: Na3B6PO13 and Na3BP2O8

Two new anhydrous sodium borophosphates with one-dimensional structure, Na₃B₆PO₁₃(1) and Na₃BP₂O₈(2), were synthesized by low-temperature molten salts techniques using boric acid and sodium dihydrogen phosphate as flux, respectively. The crystal structures were solved by means of single-crystal X-ray diffraction (1, orthorhombic, Pnma (no. 62), , , , Z=4; 2 , monoclinic, C2/c (no. 15), , , , β=92.492(5)°, Z=8). Compound 1 is characterized by an infinite chain of containing eight-membered rings in which all vertexes of borate groups contribute to interconnection. Compound 2 reveals an infinite straight chain built of vertex-sharing four-membered rings, and chains in neighboring layers arranged along different orientations. The relations between structures and the synthetic conditions with only traced water are discussed.     

碳包覆Na2Ti6O13纳米管的电化学性能研究

以金红石型TiO2和NaOH为原料,由水热反应制备Na2Ti6O13纳米管.然后,在含有0.1 mol.L-1NaOH的葡萄糖水溶液中反应4 h制得碳包覆的Na2Ti6O13纳米管.X射线衍射(XRD)、扫描电子显微镜(SEM)和透射电子显微镜(TEM)等分析表明,该碳包覆Na2Ti6O13纳米管外径约14～19 nm,内径约2～5 nm,长度为数百纳米,有一层厚度约为2 nm的碳层包覆在纳米管外壁.以其作为锂离子电池负极材料,恒电流充放电测试表明,在50 mA.g-1电流密度下首周可逆容量达到161 mAh.g-1,循环100周后容量保持在147 mAh.g-1.相比于Na2Ti6O13纳米管,提高了20%以上.电流密度升至1600 mA.g-1充放电,碳包覆Na2Ti6O13纳米管可逆容量仍有70 mAh.g-1左右,远高于Na2Ti6O13纳米管,表现出良好的倍率性能.     

Synthesis, structure and properties of new chain cuprates, Na3Cu2O4 and Na8Cu5O10

Na₃Cu₂O₄ and Na₈Cu₅O₁₀ were prepared via the azide/nitrate route from stoichiometric mixtures of the precursors CuO, NaN₃ and NaNO₃. Single crystals have been grown by subsequent annealing of the as prepared powders at 500 °C for 2000 h in silver crucibles, which were sealed in glass ampoules under dried Ar. According to the X-ray analysis of the crystal structures (Na₃Cu₂O₄: P2₁/n, Z=4, a=5.7046(2), b=11.0591(4), c=8.0261(3) Å, β=108.389(1)°, 2516 independent reflections, R₁(all)=0.0813, wR₂ (all)=0.1223; Na₈Cu₅O₁₀: Cm, Z=2, a=8.228(1), b=13.929(2), , β=111.718(2)°, 2949 independent reflections, R₁(all)=0.0349, wR₂ (all)=0.0850), the main feature of both crystal structures are CuO₂ chains built up from planar, edge-sharing CuO₄ squares. From the analysis of the Cu-O bond lengths, the valence states of either +2 or +3 can be unambiguously assigned to each copper atom. In Na₃Cu₂O₄ these ions alternate in the chains, in Na₈Cu₅O₁₀ the periodically repeated part consists of five atoms according to Cu^II-Cu^II-Cu^III-Cu^II-Cu^III. The magnetic susceptibilities show the dominance of antiferromagnetic interactions. At high temperatures the compounds exhibit Curie-Weiss behaviour (Na₃Cu₂O₄: , , Na₈Cu₅O₁₀: , , magnetic moments per divalent copper ion). Antiferromagmetic ordering is observed to occur in these compounds below 13 K (Na₃Cu₂O₄) and 24 K (Na₈Cu₅O₁₀).     

Preparation, crystal structure, and magnetic studies of Na3Fe2Mo5O16, a new oxide containing Mo3O13 clusters

The complex oxide Na₃Fe₂Mo₅O₁₆ has been synthesized, and its crystal structure was determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction (space group (SG) P-3m1; a=5.7366(6) Å, c=22.038(3) Å; Z=2). The compound can be considered as a new structure type containing Mo₃O₁₃ cluster units, which can be derived from the Na₂In₂Mo₅O₁₆ structure model by doubling of the cell along the c-axis. Na₃Fe₂Mo₅O₁₆ crystallizes in centrosymmetric SG (P-3m1) and the positions of the sodium atoms are fully occupied in contrast to the proposed Na₂In₂Mo₅O₁₆ model SG (P3m1). Magnetic properties of Na₃Fe₂Mo₅O₁₆ were studied by superconducting quantum interference device measurements, revealing antiferromagnetic ordering below Tχ_max=10(1) K. Thermal stability in air was investigated by in situ high-temperature X-ray powder diffraction. Structural relationships to Na₂In₂Mo₅O₁₆ and NaFe(MoO₄)₂ are discussed.     

Structure and magnetism of rare-earth-substituted Ca3Co2O6

Yttrium- and rare-earth-substituted derivatives of Ca_3−vR_vCo₂O₆ (RY, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Yb, and Lu) have been synthesized and structurally characterized by powder X-ray and neutron diffraction. All phases adopt the K₄CdCl₆-type structure with space group R3¯c), in which the trivalent R³⁺ substituents randomly occupy the Ca²⁺ site. The homogeneity range of Ca_3−vR_vCo₂O₆ extends to v≈0.90 for the substituents concerned. A significant increase in the Co2-O distances within the trigonal-prismatic Co2O₆ co-ordination polyhedra upon introduction of R³⁺ confirms that extra electrons from the R³⁺-for-Ca²⁺ substitution exclusively enter the Co2 site of the quasi-one-dimensional Ca_3−vR_vCo₂O₆ structure, thereby formally reducing its oxidation state. This is furthermore supported by magnetic susceptibility and low-temperature neutron diffraction measurements. The long-range ferrimagnetic ordering temperature is reduced upon R substitution and appears to vanish for v>∼0.30.     

Synthesis and crystal structure determination of the new ternary intermetallic phase Na17Cu6Ga46.5 (Na102Cu36Ga279)

Na₁₇Cu₆Ga_46.5 crystallizes in the trigonal system, space group with a = B = 16.183(6), C = 35.190(9) Å; Z = 6. Diffraction data were collected on a Nonius CAD 3 diffractometer within the octants hkl and of the corresponding A-centered monoclinic cell (a = 14.993(6), B = 16.184(7), C = 25.254(8) Å; β = 119.75(5)°). The 5091 reflections were transformed and averaged into 1216 observed (I> 3σ(I)) in the space group. The structure was solved by direct methods and refined by full-matrix least-squares to a final R(F) = 0.056. The structure of Na₁₀₂Cu₃₆Ga₂₇₉ contains icosahedra displaying two types of symmetry and a triply fused icosahedron which forms a very unusual polyhedral complex with a copper atom (M₂₈CuM₂₈). Clusters are linked to each other to form an intricated three-dimensional anionic lattice. Sodium cations lie inside 12-vertex (Friauf), 15-vertex, and 16-vertex polyhedral cavities. This stoichiometric phase has been interpreted in terms of electron-deficient bonding within clusters and localized (2c-2e) bonding between clusters. In association with the extended Hückel molecular orbital (EHMO) calculation, the Wade-Mingos electron counting procedure applies successfully.     

The crystal structure of synthetic simmonsite, Na2LiAlF6

The structure of the synthetic fluoroperovskite, Na₂LiAlF₆ (simmonsite), has been determined by powder X-ray diffraction using the Rietveld method of structure refinement. The compound adopts space group P2₁/n [#14; a=5.2842(1); b=5.3698(1); c=7.5063(2)Å; β=89.98(1)°; Z=4), and is a member of the cryolite (Na₂NaAlF₆) structural group characterized by ordering of the B-site cations (Li, Al) and tilting of the BF₆ octahedra according to the tilt scheme a⁻b⁻c⁺. Rotations of the B-site polyhedra are less (Φ_Li=14.9°; Φ_Al=17.0°) than those found in cryolite (Φ_Na=18.6; Φ_Al=23.5°) because of the larger difference in the ionic radii of the B-site cations in cryolite as compared to those in simmonsite. Na at the A-site is displaced from the special position resulting in 10- and 8-fold coordination in simmonsite and cryolite, respectively. By analogy with the synthetic compound, naturally occurring simmonsite is considered to adopt space group P2₁/n (#14) and not the P2₁(#4) or P2₁/m(#11) space groups.     

Synthesis and crystal chemistry of NH3(MoO3)3

NH₃(MoO₃)₃ crystallizes with hexagonal symmetry, space group $\text{P6}{}_3\text{m}$, lattice constants a = 10.568 Å, c = 3.726 Å, and Z = 2. The crystal structure has been determined by Patterson synthesis and refined assuming isotropic temperature factors to a final conventional R value of 0.085. The structure shows a three-dimensional arrangement built up of double chains of distorted MoO₆ octahedra, parallel to the [001] direction. The octahedral double chains are linked among each other through common oxygen atoms. In addition to the shared oxygen atoms, each molybdenum is coordinated to one terminal oxygen. MoO distances range from 1.645 to 2.378 Å and OMoO angles from 74.3 to 114.3°. These results are consistent with the fact that molybdenum in high-valence states shows octahedral coordination with terminal oxygens.     

Synthesis and crystal chemistry of BaNd2Ti3O10, BaNd2Ti5O14, and Nd4Ti9O24

Two new ternary compounds BaNd₂Ti₃O₁₀ (1:1:3) and BaNd₂Ti₅O₁₄ (1:1:5) have been identified in the BaONd₂O₃TiO₂ system. Single crystals of the compounds were grown and unit cell dimensions and space group symmetry were determined. BaNd₂Ti₃O₁₀ is orthorhombic with a = 3.8655 ± 0.0003, b = 28.156 ± 0.003 and c = 7.6221 ± 0.0007 Å and possible space groups are Cmcm or Cmc2. The compound melts congruently at 1640 ± 20°C. BaNd₂Ti₅O₁₄ is also orthorhombic with a = 22.346 ± 0.002, b = 12.201 ± 0.001 and c = 3.8404 ± 0.0003 Å and possible space groups are Pbam and Pba2. This compound melts congruently at 1540 ± 20°C. Single crystals of the binary compound Nd₄Ti₉O₂₄ were also grown and found to be orthorhombic with a = 35.289 ± 0.003, b = 13.991 ± 0.001, c = 14.479 ± 0.001 Å, space group Fddd.     

Phase formation, crystal chemistry, and properties in the system Bi2O3-Fe2O3-Nb2O5

Subsolidus phase relations have been determined for the Bi₂O₃-Fe₂O₃-Nb₂O₅ system in air (900-1075 °C). Three new ternary phases were observed—Bi₃Fe_0.5Nb_1.5O₉ with an Aurivillius-type structure, and two phases with approximate stoichiometries Bi₁₇Fe₂Nb₃₁O₁₀₆ and Bi₁₇Fe₃Nb₃₀O₁₀₅ that appear to be structurally related to Bi₈Nb₁₈O₅₇. The fourth ternary phase found in this system is pyrochlore (A₂B₂O₆O′), which forms an extensive solid solution region at Bi-deficient stoichiometries (relative to Bi₂FeNbO₇) suggesting that ≈4-15% of the A-sites are occupied by Fe³⁺. X-ray powder diffraction data confirmed that all Bi-Fe-Nb-O pyrochlores form with positional displacements, as found for analogous pyrochlores with Zn, Mn, or Co instead of Fe. A structural refinement of the pyrochlore 0.4400:0.2700:0.2900 Bi₂O₃:Fe₂O₃:Nb₂O₅ using neutron powder diffraction data is reported with the A cations displaced (0.43 Å) to 96g sites and O′ displaced (0.29 Å) to 32e sites (Bi_1.721Fe_0.190(Fe_0.866Nb_1.134)O₇, Fd3¯m (#227), ). This displacive model is somewhat different from that reported for Bi_1.5Zn_0.92Nb_1.5O_6.92, which exhibits twice the concentration of small B-type cations on the A-sites as the Fe system. Bi-Fe-Nb-O pyrochlores exhibited overall paramagnetic behavior with large negative Curie-Weiss temperature intercepts, slight superparamagnetic effects, and depressed observed moments compared to high-spin, spin-only values. The single-phase pyrochlore with composition Bi_1.657Fe_1.092Nb_1.150O₇ exhibited low-temperature dielectric relaxation similar to that observed for Bi_1.5Zn_0.92Nb_1.5O_6.92; at 1 MHz and 200 K the relative permittivity was 125, and above 350 K conductive effects were observed.