A structural study of the perovskite series Na0.75Ln0.25Ti0.5Nb0.5O3

The ternary stoichiometric perovskite compounds, Na_0.75Ln_0.25Ti_0.5Nb_0.5O₃ (Ln=La, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm) are intermediate members of the NaNbO₃-Na_0.5Ln_0.5TiO₃ solid solution series. The compounds were synthesized by standard ceramic methods at 1300 °C followed by annealing at 800 °C and quenching to ambient conditions. Rietveld analysis of the powder X-ray diffraction patterns shows that the compounds with Ln ranging from Pr to Tm adopt the orthorhombic space group Pbnm (a≈b≈√2a_p; c≈2a_p; Z=4) and the GdFeO₃ structure. In contrast, Na_0.75La_0.25Ti_0.5Nb_0.5O₃ adopts the orthorhombic space group Cmcm (a≈b≈c≈2a_p; Z=4). All cations located at the A- and B-sites are disordered in these compounds. The unit cell parameters and cell volumes of the compounds decrease regularly with increasing atomic number of the Ln cation. The Pbnm compounds with Ln from Sm to Tm have A-site cations in eight-fold coordination. A-site cations in the Pr and Nd compounds are considered to be in ten-fold coordination. Analysis of the crystal chemistry of the Pbnm compounds shows that B-site cations enter the second coordination sphere of the A-site cations for compounds with Ln from Tb to Tm as the A-B intercation distances are less than the maximum A-^IIO(2) bond lengths. The [111] tilt angles of the (Ti,Nb)O₆ polyhedra in the Pbnm compounds increase with increasing atomic number from 11.1° to 15.8° and are less than those observed in lanthanide orthoferrite and orthoscandate perovskites. These data are considered as relevant to the sequestration of lanthanide fission products in perovskite and the structure of lanthanide-bearing perovskite-structured minerals.     

A structural study of the perovskite series Ca1−xNaxTi1−xTaxO3

Compounds in the solid solution series Ca_1−xNa_xTi_1−xTa_xO₃ were synthesized at 1300 °C, followed by annealing at 850 °C or 800 °C with quenching and/or slow cooling to room temperature. Rietveld refinement of their powder X-ray diffraction patterns show that all compounds are single-phase ternary perovskites which adopt the space group Pbnm (a≈b≈√2a_p; c≈2a_p; Z=4) at ambient conditions. The unit cell parameters and cell volumes of the compounds increase regularly with increasing values of x. The coordination of the A-site cations changes throughout the series from eight for CaTiO₃ to nine for NaTaO₃. Compounds with 0?x ?0.4 have A-site cations in eight fold coordination, whereas the coordination of those with 0.4<x<0.9 is ambiguous. Analysis of the crystal chemistry of the compounds shows that the change in coordination at x=0.4 is related to the departure of the B-site cations from the second coordination sphere of the A-site cations, as in compounds with x>0.4 the A-^IIO distances become less than the A-B intercation distances. Contemporaneous with these coordination changes, the tilt angles of the BO₆ polyhedra decrease with increasing values of x. This solid solution series is unusual in that these structural and coordination changes occur regardless that Goldschmidt tolerance factors remain essentially constant at approximately 0.89, and observed tolerance factors, assuming eight fold coordination of the A-site cations, range only from 0.91 to 0.93 (0?x?0.8).     

Molecular motion and phase transition in perovskite-type (CH3)nNH4−nSnCl3 (n=1–4) studied by proton NMR spin–lattice relaxation

Powder X-ray diffraction, ¹¹⁹Sn NMR spectra, and ¹H NMR spin–lattice relaxation times, T₁, were measured for (CH₃)_nNH_4−nSnCl₃ (n=1–4). From the Rietveld analysis, it is shown that all four compounds crystallize into deformed perovskite-type structures at room temperature. The temperature dependence of ¹H T₁ was analyzed in terms of the CH₃ reorientation and other motions of the whole cation. Except for the phase transition in CH₃NH₃SnCl₃, which is from monoclinic to rhombohedral at 331 K, ¹H T₁ was continuously changed at other phase transitions in this compound as well as in the n=2–4 compounds, suggesting that the transitions are not caused by the change of the motional state of the cation but by an instability of the [SnCl₃]_nⁿ⁻ perovskite lattice.     

Synthesis and structure of the ternary and quaternary strontium nitride halides, Sr2N(X, X′) (X, X′=Cl, Br, I)

A number of new, layered nitride mixed halides have been synthesised in the quaternary phase systems Sr-N-Cl-Br and Sr-N-Br-I. The variation in structure with composition has been investigated by powder X-ray and powder neutron diffraction techniques and the structure of strontium nitride iodide, Sr₂NI, has been determined for the first time (rhombohedral space group R-3m, , , Z=3). A continuous solid solution exists between Sr₂NCl and Sr₂NBr with intermediate compounds adopting the same anti-α-NaFeO₂ structure (rhombohedral space group R-3m) as the ternary end members. A similar smooth and linear relationship between structure and composition is seen from Sr₂NBr to Sr₂NI and hence cubic close packing of metal-nitrogen layers is adopted regardless of halide, X (X′). While nitride and halide anions occupy distinct crystallographic sites, there is no ordering of the halides in the quaternary materials irrespective of stoichiometry or temperature (between 3 and 673 K).     

A simple aqueous metathesis reaction yields new lanthanide monothiophosphates

This paper describes the synthesis and characterization of two, new rare earth monothiophosphate materials, LaPO₃S·xH₂O and NdPO₃S·yH₂O, and their properties in comparison to the corresponding orthophosphates prepared by a similar aqueous metathesis reaction. Each of these new materials was found to exist in an amorphous phase similar to a corresponding orthophosphate mineral. The new rhabdophane-type oxythiophosphates were found to display reversible dehydration and rehydration under mild conditions. The materials were found to be thermally unstable. Disproportionation was found to occur at less than 450 °C under vacuum. Sulfur is lost during heating in air between 450 and 650 °C, according to thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) experiments, yielding the orthophosphate. The monothiophosphate hydrates display broad photoluminescence in the visible under excitation by a 325 nm laser. The compounds were also analyzed using differential thermal analysis, FT-IR and UV/vis/NIR spectroscopy.     

High-pressure structural behavior and equation of state of NaZnF3

We report the results of density functional theory ab-initio calculations and monochromatic synchrotron X-ray diffraction study carried out for orthorhombic NaZnF₃ in the pressure range 0-40 GPa. Perovskite-to-postperovskite phase transition was anticipated by first-principles computations and then observed in high-pressure diamond anvil cell synchrotron diffraction experiment between 14 and 22 GPa. Above 25 GPa postperovskite structure (CaIrO₃ type, space group Cmcm) coexists with another phase, yet unidentified. On decompression, pure postperovskite-type structure was found to be stable down to 4 GPa; below this pressure sample contained both perovskite and postperovskite modifications. Fit of experimental P-V data to the third-order Birch-Murnaghan equation of state gave bulk moduli, K_P,0 64.98±2.67 and 69.88±3.69 GPa for perovskite and postperovskite modifications, respectively. Both phases demonstrated strong anisotropy of compressibility. For postperovskite NaZnF₃, the highest compression was observed along the direction perpendicular to the planes of ZnF₆ octahedra arrangement.     

Low-temperature structural phase transition in SrMo6S8 studied by X-ray powder diffraction

Lattice parameters as a function of temperature for, and atomic coordinates of the low-temperature phase of, SrMo₆S₈ are reported from X-ray powder diffraction. The structure transforms atT ₁=135(3) K from the rhombohedral high-temperature modification (R ,a _rh=6.5630 (3) Å, _rh=88.9982(2)°,V _rh=282.55(5)ų at 298 K) into the triclinic low-temperature modification (P ,a _tr=6.481(1)Å,b _tr=6.572(1)Å,c _tr=6.611(1)Å, _tr=89.246(4)°, _tr=89.304(4)°, _tr=88.169(4)°,V _tr=281.4(2)ų at 20K). The triclinic distortion is larger than in the Ca analogue, and similar to the Ba and Eu analogues.

---

Untersuchung des Tieftemperatur-Phasenübergangs von SrMo₆S₈ mittels Röntgenpulverdiffraktometrie (Kurze Mitt.)

Zusammenfassung Die Temperaturabhängigkeit der Gitterparameter und die Atomlagen der Tieftemperaturphase von SrMo₆S₈ wurden mittels Röntgenpulverdiffraktometrie bestimmt. Die rhomboedrische Hochtemperaturmodifikation (R ,a _rh=6.5630(3)Å, _rh=88.9982(2)°,V _rh=282.55(5)ų,T=298 K) wandelt beiT ₁=135(3) K in die trikline Tieftemperaturmodifikation (P ,a _tr=6.481(1)Å,b _tr=6.572(1)Å,c _tr=6.611(1)Å, _tr=89.246(4)°, _tr=89.304(4)°, _tr=88.169(4)°,V _tr=281.4(2)ų,T=20 K) um. Die trikline Deformation ist stärker ausgeprägt als in der Ca-Verbindung und ähnlich jener der Ba- and Eu-Verbindung.

     

Synthesis and characterization of a new four-layer Aurivillius phase Bi2SrNa2Nb4O15 and its protonated form

A new four-layer Aurivillius phase Bi₂SrNa₂Nb₄O₁₅ has been synthesized by solid-state reaction of Bi₂SrNb₂O₉ and NaNbO₃ at 1100 °C. The detailed structure determination of Bi₂SrNa₂Nb₄O₁₅ performed by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) shows that it crystallizes in the space group I4/mmm [a∼3.9021(1) Å, c∼40.7554(10) Å]. Protonated form of Bi₂SrNa₂Nb₄O₁₅ was obtained by the substitution of bismuth oxide sheets with protons via acid treatment. The conversion into the protonated forms was achieved easily using 6 M HCl at room temperature. Preservation of the structure of the perovskite-like slabs and contraction in the c-axis were confirmed by X-ray analysis. The compositions of the resulting products were determined to be H_1.8[Sr_0.8Bi_0.2Na₂Nb₄O₁₃] by X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XFS) and thermogravimetry.     

Synthesis, crystal structure, and photocatalytic activity of the new three-layer aurivillius phases, Bi2ASrTi2TaO12 (A=Bi, La)

Two new three-layer Aurivillius phases Bi₂ASrTi₂TaO₁₂ (A=Bi, La) have been synthesized. The detailed structure determination of Bi₂ASrTi₂TaO₁₂ (A=Bi, La) performed by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) and selected area electron microscopy (SAED) shows that they all crystallize in the space group I/4mmm. UV-visible diffuse reflection spectrum of the prepared Bi₂ASrTi₂TaO₁₂ (A=Bi, La) indicates that it had absorption in the ultraviolet (UV) region. The photocatalytic activity of the Bi₂ASrTi₂TaO₁₂ (A=Bi, La) powders was evaluated by degradation of rhodamine B (RB) molecules in water under UV light irradiation. The results showed that Bi₂ASrTi₂TaO₁₂ (A=Bi, La) has high photocatalytic activity at room temperature. Therefore, the preparation and properties studies of Bi₂ASrTi₂TaO₁₂ (A=Bi, La) with a three-layer Aurivillius structure suggest potential future applications in photocatalysis.     

Synthesis, crystal structure, and photocatalytic activity of a new two-layer Ruddlesden-Popper phase, Li2CaTa2O7

A new two-layer Ruddlesden-Popper phase Li₂CaTa₂O₇ has been synthesized for the first time. The detailed structure determination of Li₂CaTa₂O₇ performed by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) and electron microscopy (ED) shows that it crystallizes in the space group Fmmm [a∼5.5153(1), b∼5.4646(1), c∼18.2375(3)Å]. UV-visible diffuse reflection spectrum of the prepared Li₂CaTa₂O₇ indicates that it had absorption in the UV region. The photocatalytic activity of the Li₂CaTa₂O₇ powders was evaluated by degradation of RhB molecules in water under ultra visible light irradiation. The results showed that Li₂CaTa₂O₇ has high photocatalytic activity at room temperature. Therefore, the preparation and properties studies of Li₂CaTa₂O₇ with a two-layer Ruddlesden-Popper structure suggest potential future applications in photocatalysis.     

Three new lanthanide coordination polymers containing isophthalate and 1,10-phenanthroline

Three lanthanide coordination polymers were prepared by hydrothermal synthesis and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. [Pr₂(mBDC)₃(phen)(H₂O)]_n·0.5nH₂O (1) (mBDC=isophthalate, phen=1,10-phenanthroline) exhibits two kinds of metal environments (coordination numbers 7 and 8). In complex 1, mBDC ligands adopt the tetradentate (bridging and bridging) coordination mode and connect Pr ions into an undulating layer, and a 3D supramolecular structure is formed via hydrogen bonds between adjacent layers. [Tb₄(mBDC)₆(phen)]_n (2) has three types of metal environments (coordination numbers 6, 7 and 8) and is composed of a 3D network formed by mBDC linking Tb ions via tetradentate (bridging and bridging) and pentadentate (bridging/chelating and bridging) coordination modes. There are two kinds of small quadrilateral channels along the a-axis. [Er₄(mBDC)₆(phen)]_n (3) is isostructural to complex 2.     

Structures and crystal chemistry of the double perovskites Ba2LnB′O6 (Ln=lanthanide B′=Nb and Ta): Part I. Investigation of Ba2LnTaO6 using synchrotron X-ray and neutron powder diffraction

The structure of 14 compounds in the series Ba₂LnTaO₆ have been examined using synchrotron X-ray diffraction and found to undergo a sequence of phase transitions from I2/m monoclinic to I4/m tetragonal to cubic symmetry with decreasing ionic radii of the lanthanides. Ba₂LaTaO₆ is an exception to this with variable temperature neutron diffraction being used to establish that the full series of phases adopted over the range of 15-500 K is P2₁/n monoclinic to I2/m monoclinic to rhombohedral. The chemical environments of these compounds have also been investigated and the overbonding to the lanthanide cations is due to the unusually large size for the B-site in these perovskites.     

Characterization and structural study of lanthanum citrate trihydrate [La(C6H5O7)(H2O)2]·H2O

[La(C₆H₅O₇)(H₂O)₂]·H₂O was synthesized as precursor material for an aqueous solution-gel route to La-containing multimetal oxides. The compound was characterized by means of FTIR, TGA and pycnometry. The crystallographic structure was solved from powder diffraction data. The symmetry is monoclinic [a=17.097(3) Å, b=9.765(2) Å, c=6.3166(8) Å and β=90.42(1)°, Z_exp=3.96] with space group P2₁/n (14). Direct methods were applied and the model was subsequently least-squares refined (R_B=5.1% and R_wP=12.0%). La³⁺ is nine-fold coordinated, the LaO₉ forming a mono-capped square antiprism. The basic unit is a binuclear entity of two LaO₉ polyhedra having one edge in common. These units are connected along the c-axis through citrate molecules. The carboxylate groups of the citrate are coordinated to La³⁺ in monodentate, bidentate and bridging way. Also the alkoxide group, which carries the proton, is coordinated to La³⁺. Two water molecules complete the coordination sphere, while the third one can be found inbetween the La³⁺-citrate network.     

Structural Distortion in Perovskite Type KCaH3–xFx (0.54 ≤ x ≤ 3)

Representatives of the solid solution series KCaH_3–xF_x were synthesized by solid state reactions from binary metal hydrides and fluorides. Crystal structures were analyzed by Rietveld refinement based on X-ray powder diffraction. The degree of substitution was determined by refinement of site occupancy factors as well as elemental analysis for hydrogen. Three sections of x in KCaH_3–xF_x can be distinguished. For x < 0.54 no hydride fluoride exists, i.e. there is no hydride of the composition KCaH₃ and the solid solution starts only at x = 0.54. The tetragonal SrTiO₃ type structure with partial ordering of hydrogen and fluorine atoms is found for 0.54 ≤ x ≤ 1.7. Both anion positions show mixed occupation with some preference of hydrogen atoms for 8h and fluorine atoms for 4a sites (I4/mcm, SrTiO₃ type). For fluorine-rich compounds a solid solution with orthorhombic GdFeO₃ type structure (Pnma) and a perfectly statistical distribution of hydrogen and fluorine atoms is found (1.8 ≤ x ≤ 3). Interatomic distances resulting from the structure refinements are in the range of typical K–H, K–F, Ca–H, and Ca–F distances for mainly ionic compounds.     

Structures and crystal chemistry of the double perovskites Ba2LnB′O6 (Ln=lanthanide and B′=Nb, Ta):: Part II—Temperature dependence of the structures of Ba2LnB′O6

The structures of eight members of the series of double perovskites of the type Ba₂LnB′O₆ (Ln=La³⁺-Sm³⁺ and Y³⁺ and B′=Nb⁵⁺ and Ta⁵⁺) were examined both above and below room temperature using synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction. The La³⁺ and Pr³⁺ containing compounds had an intermediate rhombohedral phase whereas the other tantalates and niobates studied have a tetragonal intermediate. This difference in symmetry appears to be a consequence of the larger size of the La³⁺ and Pr³⁺ cations compared to the other lanthanides. The temperature range over which the intermediate symmetry is stable is reduced in those compounds near the point where the preferred intermediate symmetry changes from tetragonal to rhombohedral. In such compounds the transition to the cubic phase involves higher order terms in the Landau expression. This suggests that in this region the stability of the two intermediate phases is similar.     

Synthesis,characterization, and biological activity of some lanthanide ternary complexes

Five complexes have been synthesized by the reaction of lanthanide(III) nitrate with 2-thenoyltrifluoroacetone (HTTA) and p-hydroxybenzoic acid (L). The complexes have been characterized by elemental analysis, molar conductivity, FT-IR, UV-Vis, ¹H NMR, TG-DTA, XPS, and transmission electron microscope. The general formula of the complexes is Na[Ln(TTA)₃L] (Ln?=?La³⁺,?Ce³⁺,?Nd³⁺,?Eu³⁺,?Er³⁺). The antibacterial activities indicate that all five complexes exhibit antibacterial ability against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus with broad antimicrobial spectrums. The antitumor activity of the five complexes against K562 tumor cell in vitro is measured using methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) colorimetry. The results show that the complexes induce K562 tumor cell apoptosis, and the complexes exhibit inhibitory effect on leukemia K562 cells.     

Synthesis, structures, and photoluminescence properties of novel lanthanide tetracyanoplatinates lacking Pt-Pt interactions

The synthesis of a series of lanthanide tetracyanoplatinates all incorporating 2,2′:6′,2″-terpyridine (terpy) have been carried out by reaction of Ln³⁺ nitrate salts with terpy and potassium tetracyanoplatinate. The incorporation of different Ln³⁺ cations results in the isolation of [Ln(DMF)₂(C₁₅H₁₁N₃)(H₂O)₂(NO₃)]Pt(CN)₄ (Ln=La-Nd, Sm-Yb) under otherwise identical reaction conditions. These compounds have been isolated as single crystals and X-ray diffraction has been used to investigate their structural features. All of the reported compounds are isostructural. Crystallographic data for the representative Eu³⁺ compound (EuPt) are (MoKα, λ=0.71073 Å): monoclinic, space group P2₁/c, a=10.1234(4) Å, b=18.7060(7) Å, c=17.1642(5) Å, β=97.249(3)°, V=3224.4(2), Z=4, R(F)=2.78% for 426 parameters with 7724 reflections with I>2σ(I). The structure consists of a zero-dimensional, ionic salt containing complex [Eu(DMF)₂(C₁₅H₁₁N₃)(H₂O)₂(NO₃)]²⁺ cations and anions. The complex cations contain the Eu³⁺ ions in a tri-capped trigonal prismatic coordination environment with one terdentate 2,2′:6′,2″-terpyridine molecule, one bidentate nitrate anion, two O-bound dimethylformamide molecules, and two coordinated water molecules. Photoluminescence data illustrate that EuPt displays intramolecular energy transfer from the coordinated terpy molecule to the Eu³⁺ cation. The uncoordinated tetracyanoplatinate anion also exhibits visible emission.     

High-pressure structural behavior of GdAlO3 and GdFeO3 perovskites

The orthorhombic perovskites, GdAlO₃ and GdFeO₃, have been studied using single-crystal X-ray diffraction up to 8.52 and 8.13 GPa, respectively, in a diamond anvil cell at 298 K. The evolution of the structures of GdAlO₃ and GdFeO₃ involves compression of both the GdO₁₂ and the octahedral (AlO₆ and FeO₆) sites. The compression of the GdO₁₂ site is anisotropic in both perovskites, with the four longest Gd-O distances compressing more than the eight shorter Gd-O bond lengths, resulting in a decrease in the distortion of GdO₁₂ with pressure. In GdAlO₃, the GdO₁₂ site is less compressible than the AlO₆ site, resulting in an increase of both the interoctahedral Al-O1-Al and Al-O2-Al angles with increasing pressure. Thus GdAlO₃ perovskite becomes less distorted with increasing pressure. In GdFeO₃, the GdO₁₂ site displays a similar compressibility as the FeO₆ site, with little change in the Fe-O2-Fe angle with pressure but an increase of the Fe-O1-Fe tilting angle. Thus GdFeO₃ perovskite becomes less distorted with increasing pressure, but the change is not as pronounced as GdAlO₃. The high-pressure behavior of GdAlO₃ and GdFeO₃ is similar to orthorhombic YAlO₃ perovskite but contrasts with orthorhombic CaSnO₃, which becomes more distorted with increasing pressure.     

Solid-state structural properties of 2,4,6-trimethoxybenzene derivatives, determined directly from powder X-ray diffraction data in conjunction with other techniques

Structural properties of 2,4,6-trimethoxybenzaldehyde, 2,4,6-trimethoxybenzyl alcohol and 2,4,6-trimethoxyacetophenone have been determined directly from powder X-ray diffraction data, using the direct-space Genetic Algorithm (GA) technique for structure solution followed by Rietveld refinement. Structural similarities and contrasts within this family of materials are elucidated. The work illustrates the value of utilizing information from other sources, including spectroscopic data and computational techniques, as a means of augmenting the structural knowledge established from the powder X-ray diffraction data.