Thermochemistry of La0.7Sr0.3Mn1−xFexO3 solid solutions (0<x<1)

The structure, the energetics and the internal redox reactions of La_0.7Sr_0.3Fe_xMn_1−xO₃ have been studied in the complete solid solution range 0.0<x<1.0. High temperature oxide melt drop solution calorimetry was performed to determine the enthalpies of formation from binary oxides and the enthalpy of mixing. There is a noticeable change in the energetics of the solid solution near x=0.7, which is due to the growing concentration of Fe⁴⁺ at higher Fe/(Fe+Mn) ratio. The balance between different valences of the transition metals, Mn and Fe, is the main factor in determining the energetics of the La_0.70Sr_0.30Fe_xMn_1−xO₃ solid solution.     

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.     

Fluorinated transition alumina with Al2−x/3O3−xFx compositions: Thermal, chemical, structural and morphological investigations

Fluorinated transition aluminas (Al_2−x/3O_3−xF_x) with hexagonal platelet shape were synthesized via decomposition of α-AlF₃ under air; they are thermally stable up to 1000 °C and exhibit at 1150 °C a weight loss with volume reduction caused by fluorine departure corresponding to a phase transition toward corundum alumina. The different characterizations performed in this study are structural (XRD), chemical (TGA-MS and microprobe analysis) and morphological (SEM, TEM and dilatometry). The evidence provided from this study is consistent with the formation of an Al-O-F phase as an intermediate compound in the pyrohydrolysis of an aluminium trifluoride phase to α-Al₂O₃.     

Chemical stability of La1−xSrxCrO3 in oxidizing atmospheres

The single-phase region of La_1−xSr_xCrO₃ (x=0.1, 0.2, 0.3) was precisely determined as a function of temperature, P_O2 and Sr content. The powders with the nominal composition of La_1−xSr_xCrO₃ were equilibrated under various conditions, and then identified by XRD analyses. To confirm the equilibration, two independent experiments were performed for each composition observing (i) the precipitation of the second phase from a single-phase solid solution, and (ii) the formation of the single phase from the constituent oxides. Two kinds of second phases, SrCrO₄ and an unknown phase, were observed depending on the conditions. The second phases tended to appear at low temperature, in high P_O2 and with a large Sr content. The single-phase regions obtained via the two equilibration routes were in good agreement with each other. The thermodynamic calculations on the supposition of ideality of the solid solution essentially reproduced the experimental results. When this material is used as the interconnects of solid oxide fuel cells, much attention should be paid to its relatively narrow solubility range of Sr; for example, the solubility limit is approximately 0.1 under a typical cathode-side condition (1273 K, air).     

Modulated structure of the composite crystal InCr1−xTixO3+x/2

Incommensurately modulated structure of the composite crystal InCr_1−xTi_xO_3+x/2 was refined by the profile fitting of powder X-ray diffraction based on the four-dimensional superspace group. The crystal consists of two monoclinic subsystems mutually incommensurate in b. The first subsystem is the alternate stacking of an edge-shared InO₆ octahedral layer and a Cr/Ti triangle-lattice plane along c^*. A sheet of oxygen atoms constructing the second subsystem is also extending on the Cr/Ti plane. The whole structure is the alternate stacking of an edge-shared InO₆ octahedral layer and a Cr/Ti-O plane, where displacive modulation of O ions is prominent. Metal ions on the Cr/Ti-O plane are surrounded by three or four oxygen ions on the plane and, in addition, two axial ones.     

Solvothermal Synthesis of Superfine Li1−xMn2O4−σ Powders

Superfine Li_1−xMn₂O_4−σ powders were successfully synthesized by the alcohol-thermal method using 0.01 mol of MnO₂, 0.01mol of LiOH·H₂O, and 0.06mol of NaOH as starting materials at 160-200°C. The products are characterized by XRD, TEM, ED, BET, and ICP. Results show that the Li_0.74Mn₂O_3.74 powder prepared at 200°C has an average size of 180 nm with BET surface areas of 16.44 m²/g. A possible formation mechanism is proposed. It was concluded that the alcohol acts not only as the solvent but also as the reducing agent in the synthesis of Li_1−xMn₂O_4−σ powders. The effects of reaction temperature and the contents of NaOH and LiOH on the formation of single phase Li_1−xMn₂O_4−σ were investigated.     

Crystal Structure of Pseudorhombohedral InFe1−xTixO3+x/2 (x=2/3)

The structure of pseudorhombohedral-type InFe_1−xTi_xO_3−x/2 (x=2/3) was refined by Rietveld profile fitting. The crystal is a commensurate member of a series in a solution range on InFeO₃-In₂Ti₂O₇ including incommensurate structures. The structure with the unit cell of a=5.9188(1), b=10.1112(2), and c=6.3896(1) Å, β=108.018(2)°, and a space group P2₁/a is the alternate stacking of an edge-shared InO₆ octahedral layer and an Fe/Ti-O plane along c^*. Metal sites on the Fe/Ti-O plane are surrounded by four oxygen atoms on the Fe/Ti-O plane and two axial ones. Electric conductivities of the order 10⁻⁴ S/cm were observed for the samples at 1000 K, while the oxide ion transport number is almost zero as no electromotive force was detected by an oxygen concentration cell.     

The Crystal Structures, Microstructure and Ionic Conductivity of Ba2In2O5 and Ba(InxZr1−x)O3−x/2

This paper describes the results of electron microscopy, high-temperature powder neutron diffraction, and impedance spectroscopy studies of brownmillerite-structured Ba₂In₂O₅ and perovskite structured Ba(In_xZr_1−x)O_3−x/2. The ambient temperature structure of Ba₂In₂O₅ is found to adopt Icmm symmetry, with disorder of the tetrahedrally coordinated (In³⁺) ions of the type observed previously in Sr₂Fe₂O₅. Ba₂In₂O₅ undergoes a ∼6-fold increase in its ionic conductivity over the narrow temperature range from ∼1140 K to ∼1230 K, in broad agreement with previous studies. This transition corresponds to a change from the brownmillerite structure to a cubic perovskite arrangement with disordered anions. Electron microscopy investigations showed the presence of extended defects in all the crystals analyzed. Ba(In_xZr_1−x)O_3−x/2 samples with x=0.1 to 0.9 adopt the cubic perovskite structure, with the lattice parameter increasing with x.     

Vacancy ordering and oxygen dynamics in oxide ion conducting La1−xSrxGa1−xMgxO3−x ceramics: Ga, Mg and O NMR

The oxygen vacancies distribution in the rigid lattice and the thermally activated motion of oxygen atoms are studied in La_1−xSr_xGa_1−xMg_xO_3−x (x=0.00; 0.05; 0.10; 0.15 and 0.20) compounds. For that ⁷¹Ga, ²⁵Mg and ¹⁷O NMR was performed from 100 K up to 670 K, and ion conductivity measurements were carried out up to 1273 K. The comparison of the electric field gradients at the Ga- and Mg-sites evidences that oxygen vacancies appear exclusively near gallium cations as a species trapped below room temperature in local clusters, GaO_5/2-□-GaO_5/2. These clusters decay at higher temperature into mobile constituents of the structural octahedra Ga(O_5/6□_1/6)_6/2. At the same time, the nearest octahedral oxygen environment of magnesium cations persists at different doping levels. The case of two adjacent vacant anion sites is found highly unlikely within the studied doping range. The thermally activated oxygen motion starts to develop above room temperature as is observed from both the motional narrowing of ¹⁷O NMR spectra and the ¹⁷O nuclear spin-lattice relaxation rate. The obtained results show that two types of motion exist, a slow motion and a fast one. The former is a long-range diffusion whereas the latter is a local back and forth oxygen jumps between two adjacent anion sites. These sites are strongly differentiated by the probability of the vacancy formation, like the vacant apical site and the occupied equatorial site in the orthorhombic compositions x <0.15.     

Synthesis and structural characterization of Al7C3N3-homeotypic aluminum silicon oxycarbonitride, (Al7−xSix)(OyCzN6−y−z) (x∼1.2, y∼1.0 and z∼3.5)

A new aluminum silicon oxycarbonitride, (Al_5.8Si_1.2)(O_1.0C_3.5N_1.5), has been synthesized and characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS). The title compound is hexagonal with space group P6₃/mmc and unit-cell dimensions a=0.322508(4) nm, c=3.17193(4) nm and V=0.285717(6) nm³. The atom ratios of Al:Si and those of O:C:N were, respectively, determined by EDX and EELS. The initial structural model was successfully derived from the XRPD data by the direct methods and further refined by the Rietveld method. The crystal is most probably composed of four types of domains with nearly the same fraction, each of which is isotypic to Al₇C₃N₃ with space group P6₃mc. The existence of another new oxycarbonitride (Al_6.6Si_1.4)(O_0.7C_4.3N_2.0), which must be homeotypic to Al₈C₃N₄, has been also demonstrated by XRPD and TEM.     

Crystal structure, thermal expansion and conductivity of anisotropic La1−xSrxGa1−2xMg2xO3−y (x=0.05, 0.1) single crystals

Crystal structure and anisotropy of the thermal expansion of single crystals of La_1−xSr_xGa_1−2xMg_2xO_3−y (x=0.05 and 0.1) were measured in the temperature range 300-1270 K. High-resolution X-ray powder diffraction data obtained by synchrotron experiments have been used to determine the crystal structure and thermal expansion. The room temperature structure of the crystal with x=0.05 was found to be orthorhombic (Imma, Z=4, a=7.79423(3) Å, b=5.49896(2) Å, c=5.53806(2) Å), whereas the symmetry of the x=0.1 crystal is monoclinic (I2/a, Z=4, a=7.82129(5) Å, b=5.54361(3) Å, c=5.51654(4) Å, β=90.040(1)°). The conductivity in two orthogonal directions of the crystals has been studied. Both, the conductivity and the structural data indicate three phase transitions in La_0.95Sr_0.05Ga_0.9Mg_0.1O_2.92 at 520-570 K (Imma-I2/a), 770 K (I2/a-R3c) and at 870 K (R3c-R-3c), respectively. Two transitions at 770 K (I2/a-R3c) and in the range 870-970 K (R3c-R-3c) occur in La_0.9Sr_0.1Ga_0.8Mg_0.2O_2.85.     

An X-ray diffraction, magnetic susceptibility and spectroscopic studies of Yb2−xCrxO3

Polycrystalline samples with general formula Yb_2−xCr_xO₃ (0<x<0.03), obtained by sol-gel method and analyzed by X-ray diffraction, formed solid solutions over all the mentioned range. Cr showed a maximum solubility of 2.8 mol% in Yb₂O₃ sesquioxide at 1000 °C. A preferential substitution of Cr³⁺ ions over two cationic sites, 8b and 24d in the space group Ia-3 was found. The lattice parameters a are found to vary linearly (10.4402(4) Å <a<10.4372(1) Å) with the composition x. The two independent atoms Yb/Cr have octahedral coordination; however, the degrees of distortion of their coordination polyhedron are different. Replacing Yb³⁺ by Cr³⁺ introduces slight changes in the atomic coordinates leading to an increase of the mean cation-anion distances. The ability of Raman spectroscopy to detect changes in local coordination is utilized. A pseudo-tetrahedral coordination for the Cr³⁺ in the 24d site was found. Magnetic susceptibility measurements of all samples were done in a temperature range of 2-50 K. For T<37 K, the inverse paramagnetic susceptibilities depend linearly on temperature. However, in the high-temperature region, for T>37 K, the inverse paramagnetic susceptibilities are non-linear versus temperature. This deviation from the Curie-Weiss behaviour was discussed.     

Structure and magnetic properties of the Al1−xGaxFeO3 family of oxides: A combined experimental and theoretical study

Magnetic properties of the Al_1−xGa_xFeO₃ family of oxides crystallizing in a non-centrosymmetric space group have been investigated in detail along with structural aspects by employing X-ray and neutron diffraction, Mössbauer spectroscopy and other techniques. The study has revealed the occurrence of several interesting features related to unit cell parameters, site disorder and ionic size. Using first-principles density functional theory based calculations, we have attempted to understand how magnetic ordering and related properties in these oxides depend sensitively on disorder at the cation site. The origin and tendency of cations to disorder and the associated properties are traced to the local structure and ionic sizes.     

Analysis of magnetic and structural phase transition behaviors of La1−xSrxCrO3 for preparation of phase diagram

The phase transition behavior of perovskite-type compounds, La_1−xSr_xCrO₃, was investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), dilatometry, dc magnetic susceptibility measurement and X-ray diffraction analysis. Both second-order magnetic phase transition from antiferromagnetic to paramagnetic and first-order structural phase transition from orthorhombic to rhombohedral were observed in the DSC or dilatometric curve of every specimen. The temperatures of both these magnetic and structural phase transitions decreased linearly with an increase in Sr content. The structural phase transition temperature of La_1−xSr_xCrO₃ with x less than 0.11 is higher than the magnetic phase transition temperature; however, a larger decrease in structural phase transition temperature than in magnetic phase transition temperature was observed with an increase in Sr content, resulting in a structural phase transition temperature lower than the magnetic phase transition temperature for La_1−xSr_xCrO₃ with x of more than 0.12. It was also observed that the heat of absorption of the structural phase transition decreased with an increase in x. In the dependence of dc magnetic susceptibility on temperature, variations by not only magnetic but also structural phase transitions were observed. It was also revealed that thermal expansion coefficient is affected not only by structural phase transition but also magnetic phase transition. Magnetic and structural phase diagram of La_1−xSr_xCrO₃, suggesting the existence of two Sr contents and temperatures at which triple phases coexist, was proposed.     

Investigation of the quasi-ternary system LaMnO3-LaCoO3-“LaCuO3”—I: the series La(Mn0.5Co0.5)1−xCuxO3−δ

The La(Mn_0.5Co_0.5)_1−xCu_xO_3−δ series with x=0, 0.05, 0.1, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8 and 1 was synthesized by the Pechini method to obtain insight into the phase formation in the quasi-ternary LaMnO₃-LaCoO₃-“LaCuO₃” system caused by the instability of LaCuO₃ under ambient conditions. After sintering at 1100°C some remarkable results were obtained: LaMn_0.3Co_0.3Cu_0.4O_3−δ crystallized as a single phase in the orthorhombic perovskite structure typical of LaCuO₃. Among the synthesized compositions this compound showed the highest electrical conductivity in air at 800°C (155 S cm⁻¹) and also the highest thermal expansion coefficient (α_30−800°C=15.4×10⁻⁶ K⁻¹). The LaCuO_3−δ composition also crystallized as a single phase but in a monoclinic structure although previous investigations have shown that other phases are preferably formed after sintering at 1100°C. The electrical conductivity and thermal expansion coefficient were the lowest within the series of compositions, i.e. 9.4 S cm⁻¹ and 11.9×10⁻⁶ K⁻¹, respectively.     

Crystallographic and hydriding properties of the system La1−xCexY2Ni9 (xCe=0, 0.5 and 1)

The structural properties of the system La_1−xCe_xY₂Ni₉ with x_Ce=0, 0.5 and 1 have been investigated by electron probe microanalysis, powder X-ray diffraction and absorption spectroscopy. The compound LaY₂Ni₉ adopts a rhombohedral structure of PuNi₃-type (R-3m space group, Z=3). It can be described as an intergrowth between RM₅ (Haücke phase) and RM₂ (Laves phase) type structures. Among the two available crystallographic sites for R atoms, lanthanum occupies preferentially the site 3a leading to a partially ordered ternary compound. Substitution by cerium involves anisotropic variations of the cell parameter with a decrease of a and an increase of c leading to an overall cell volume reduction. Increasing cerium content does not induce any symmetry change but leads to a statistical distribution of the rare earths over the two sites 3a and 6c involving an evolution toward a pseudo-binary compound. This behavior is related to the intermediate valence state of cerium observed by X-ray absorption spectroscopy. The hydriding properties of the two compounds LaY₂Ni₉ and CeY₂Ni₉ are described in relation with their crystallographic structure.     

Synthesis of LiNi1/3Co1/3Mn1/3O2−zFz cathode material from oxalate precursors for lithium ion battery

The layered LiNi_1/3Co_1/3Mn_1/3O_2−zF_z (0 ≤ z ≤ 0.12) cathode materials were synthesized from oxalate precursors by a simple self-propagating solid-state metathesis method with the help of the ball milling and the following calcination. Li(Ac)·2H₂O, Ni(Ac)₂·4H₂O, Co(Ac)₂·4H₂O, Mn(Ac)₂·4H₂O(Ac = acetate), LiF and excess H₂C₂O₄·2H₂O were used as starting materials without any solvent. The structural and electrochemical properties of the prepared LiNi_1/3Co_1/3Mn_1/3O_2−zF_z were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and electrochemical measurements, respectively. The XRD patterns indicate that all samples have a typical hexagonal structure with a space group of . The FESEM images show that the primary particle size of LiNi_1/3Co_1/3Mn_1/3O_2−zF_z gradually increases with increasing fluorine content. Though the fluorine-substituted LiNi_1/3Co_1/3Mn_1/3O_2−zF_z have lower initial discharge capacities, a small amount of fluorine-substituted LiNi_1/3Co_1/3Mn_1/3O_2−zF_z (z = 0.04 and 0.08) exhibit excellent cycling stability and rate capability compared to fluorine-free LiNi_1/3Co_1/3Mn_1/3O₂.     

The Crystal Chemistry of Lithium in the Alluaudite Structure: A Study of the (Na1−xLix)CdIn2(PO4)3 Solid Solution (x=0 to 1)

Several compounds of the (Na_1−xLi_x)CdIn₂(PO₄)₃ solid solution were synthesized by a solid-state reaction in air, and pure alluaudite-like compounds were obtained for x=0.00, 0.25, and 0.50. X-ray Rietveld refinements indicate the occurrence of Cd²⁺ in the M(1) site, and of In³⁺ in the M(2) site of the alluaudite structure. This non-disordered cationic distribution is confirmed by the sharpness of the infrared absorption bands. The distribution of Na⁺ and Li⁺ on the A(1) and A(2)′ crystallographic sites cannot be accurately assessed by the Rietvled method, probably because the electronic densities involved in the Na⁺→Li⁺ substitution are very small. A comparison with the synthetic alluaudite-like compounds, (Na_1−xLi_x)MnFe₂(PO₄)₃, indicates the influence of the cations occupying the M(1) and M(2) sites on the coordination polyhedra morphologies of the A(1) and A(2)′ crystallographic sites.     

Enzyme mimics of spinel-type CoxNi1−xFe2O4 magnetic nanomaterial for eletroctrocatalytic oxidation of hydrogen peroxide

A series of spinel-type Co_xNi_1−xFe₂O₄ (x = 0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.8, 1.0) magnetic nanomaterials were solvothermally synthesized as enzyme mimics for the eletroctrocatalytic oxidation of H₂O₂. X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscope were employed to characterize the composition, structure and morphology of the material. The electrochemical properties of spinel-type Co_xNi_1−xFe₂O₄ with different (Co/Ni) molar ratio toward H₂O₂ oxidation were investigated, and the results demonstrated that Co_0.5Ni_0.5Fe₂O₄ modified carbon paste electrode (Co_0.5Ni_0.5Fe₂O₄/CPE) possessed the best electrocatalytic activity for H₂O₂ oxidation. Under optimum conditions, the calibration curve for H₂O₂ determination on Co_0.5Ni_0.5Fe₂O₄/CPE was linear in a wide range of 1.0 × 10⁻⁸–1.0 × 10⁻³ M with low detection limit of 3.0 × 10⁻⁹ M (S/N = 3). The proposed Co_0.5Ni_0.5Fe₂O₄/CPE was also applied to the determination of H₂O₂ in commercial toothpastes with satisfactory results, indicating that Co_xNi_1−xFe₂O₄ is a promising hydrogen peroxidase mimics for the detection of H₂O₂.     

Structural and Transport Properties of Mg1−xMnxMn2O4±δ Spinels

The synthesis and structural properties of Mg_1−xMn_2+xO₄, for 0≤x≤1 are described. Complete miscibility in the solid state exists for this system. For the material with the correct stoichiometry, i.e. MgMn₂O₄, the effect of temperature on the cation distribution was investigated= above 600°C the inversion degree (m) starts increasing. The electrical conductivity shows a small dependence on P(O₂) which is consistent with the small oxygen non-stoichiometry determined by means of thermogravimetry. The main contribution to the transport properties arises from the inversion equilibrium. Two distinct conductivity regimes, below and above the inversion threshold, can be assumed to explain the electrical conductivity and thermoelectric power results.