The disordered cubic structure of Ca7Co3Ga5O18

The new mixed oxide having composition close to Ca₇Co₃Ga₅O₁₈ was synthesized from CaCO₃, Co₃O₄ and Ga₂O₃ at 1150 °C in air and studied by neutron and synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction, selected-area electron diffraction and high-resolution electron microscopy. The structure was refined, using time-of-flight (TOF) neutron powder diffraction data, in space group F432, with and Z=8, to R_F=0.7%. It is considerably disordered, with four different tetrahedral sites randomly occupied by Co and Ga atoms at a ratio of 1:2. The tetrahedra form a disordered (Co_1/3Ga_2/3)O₂ 3D-framework inside which isolated CoO₆ octahedra, surrounded by 8 Ca atoms, are located. The structure is related to the ordered structure of Ca₁₄Al₁₀Zn₆O₃₅. Electron diffraction patterns confirmed the symmetry and unit cell and revealed no diffuse scattering. High-resolution electron microscopy images showed the absence of extended structural defects.     

Crystal growth, structural characterization and magnetic properties of Ca3CuRhO6, Ca3Co1.34Rh0.66O6 and Ca3FeRhO6

Single crystals of Ca₃CuRhO₆, Ca₃Co_1.34Rh_0.66O₆ and Ca₃FeRhO₆ were synthesized by high temperature flux growth in molten K₂CO₃ and structurally characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction. While Ca₃Co_1.34Rh_0.66O₆ and Ca₃FeRhO₆ crystallize with trigonal (rhombohedral) symmetry in the space group , Z=6: Ca₃Co_1.34Rh_0.66O₆a=9.161(1) Å, c=10.601(2) Å; Ca₃FeRhO₆a=9.1884(3) Å, c=10.7750(4) Å; Ca₃CuRhO₆ adopts a monoclinic distortion of the K₄CdCl₆ structure in the space group C2/c, Z=4: a=9.004(2) Å, b=9.218(2) Å, c=6.453(1) Å, β=91.672(5). All crystals of Ca₃CuRhO₆ examined were twinned by pseudo-merohedry. Ca₃CuRhO₆, Ca₃Co_1.34Rh_0.66O₆, and Ca₃FeRhO₆ are structurally related and contain infinite one-dimensional chains of alternating face-sharing RhO₆ octahedra and MO₆ trigonal prisms. In the monoclinic modification, the copper atoms are displaced from the center of the trigonal prism toward one of the rectangular faces adopting a pseudo-square planar configuration. The magnetic properties of Ca₃CuRhO₆, Ca₃Co_1.34Rh_0.66O₆, and Ca₃FeRhO₆ are discussed.     

Synthesis, crystal and magnetic structure of a novel brownmillerite-type compound Ca2Co1.6Ga0.4O5

The novel compound Ca₂Co_1.6Ga_0.4O₅ with brownmillerite (BM) structure has been prepared from citrates at 950 °C. The crystal structure of Ca₂Co_1.6Ga_0.4O₅ was refined, from neutron powder diffraction (NPD) data, in space group Pnma, , , , χ²=1.798, , R_wp=0.0378 and R_p=0.0292. On the basis of the NPD refinement the compound was found to be a G-type antiferromagnet (space group Pn^′m^′a) at room temperature, with the magnetic moments of cobalt atoms directed along chains of tetrahedra in the BM structure. Electron diffraction and electron microscopy studies revealed disorder in the crystallites, which can be interpreted as the presence of slabs with BM-type structure of Pnma and I2mb symmetry.     

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.     

The synthesis mechanism of Ca3Al2O6 from soft mechanochemically activated precursors studied by time-resolved neutron diffraction up to 1000°C

The reaction pathway for the Ca₃Al₂O₆ formation up to 1300°C, from mechanochemically treated mixtures of amorphous aluminum hydroxide and CaCO₃, was studied in situ by differential thermal analysis, constant heating rate dilatometry and time-resolved neutron powder diffraction. The experiment was carried out, in an open system, on a sample with the nominal Ca₃Al₂O₆ stoichiometry. The results obtained by neutron diffractometry and thermal analysis were in good agreement with the data obtained by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction on heat-treated and-quenched samples. The synthesis path implied the formation of cryptocrystalline Al₂O₃, crystalline CaO, CaAl₂O₄ and Ca₁₂Al₁₄O₃₃ as transitory phases. Finally the nucleation and growth of the single phase Ca₃Al₂O₆ took place at 1300°C and exhibited porous structure due to CO₂ and H₂O release.     

Cr3+在不同基质Y3Ga5O12或Ga2O3中的荧光特性

以Ga_2O_3、Y_2O_3、Cr(NO_3)_3·9H_2O为原料,柠檬酸为配位剂,通过溶胶-凝胶高温固相合成法制备出Ga_(2-2x)O_3∶2xCr~(3+)(Ga_2O_3∶xCr)与Y_3Ga_(5-5x)O_(12)∶5xCr~(3+)(YGG∶xCr)2种多晶粉体(x=0.01,0.03,0.05,0.07)。并采用X射线衍射(XRD)、红外光谱(IR)、扫描电镜(SEM)、荧光光谱(PL)对样品的结构、组成、形貌和荧光性能进行测试分析。XRD和IR分析结果显示在900℃煅烧后Ga_2O_3∶xCr和YGG∶xCr两种样品均成相。SEM照片显示Ga_2O_3∶xCr样品形貌为柱形多面体,YGG∶xCr为短棒状。PL结果显示Cr~(3+)在Ga_2O_3和YGG两种基质中的最强荧光发射峰分别位于742和740 nm,均属于Cr~(3+)的~2E-~4A_2跃迁,对比发现Cr~(3+)在YGG基质中的荧光发射强度更强,在远红光区的荧光性能更好,能满足温室照明中植物光合作用的需求。     

Synthesis, structure and magnetic properties of V4O9—A missing link in binary vanadium oxides

V₄O₉: A missing link of Wadsley phases has been successfully synthesized by using sulfur as a reducing agent at a low temperature and its structure has been determined by combining electron, X-ray and neutron diffractions. V₄O₉ has an orthorhombic Cmcm structure and the lattice parameters are a=10.356(2) Å, b=8.174(1) Å and c=16.559(3) Å at room temperature. The structure is composed of shared edges and corners of three types of polyhedra; a VO₆ distorted octahedron, a VO₅ pyramid and a VO₄ tetrahedron. The structure of V₄O₉ is very similar to that of vanadyl pyrophosphate (VO)₂P₂O₇ which has PO₄ tetrahedra instead of VO₄ tetrahedra. This indicates that V₄O₉ is a salt of pyro-ion [V₂O₇]^4-; (VO)₂V₂O₇. The magnetic properties of V₄O₉ have been investigated by magnetic susceptibility, high-field magnetization and inelastic neutron scattering measurements. V₄O₉ is a quantum spin system with a spin-gapped ground state. The excitation gap between the singlet ground state and the excited triplet state is approximately 73 K. The magnetic susceptibility behavior suggests that V₄O₉ is a spin-1/2 dimer system with significant interdimer interactions, as opposed to (VO)₂P₂O₇, which is an alternating spin-1/2 chain system. This difference is thought to be due to the fact that VO₄-mediated interactions are considerably weaker than PO₄-mediated interactions.     

Electrochemical Li insertion studies on WNb12O33—A shear ReO3 type structure

Electrochemical lithium insertion studies on WNb₁₂O₃₃ synthesized by solid state reaction (SSR) are carried out in the voltage range 1.0-3.2 V. During first discharge 15.6 Li are inserted with a specific capacity of 221 mAh/g. WNb₁₂O₃₃ is also synthesized by sol-gel (SG) technique with a view to enhance the rate capability and cycling properties. The SSR and SG samples are characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and galvanostatic cycling. Electrochemical cycling performance of SG samples is superior to that of the SSR sample at high ‘C’ rates. The sample synthesized by SG method exhibits high specific capacity of 142 mAh/g after 20 cycles at 20C rate.     

Preparation and photoluminescence property of a loose powder, Ca3Al2O6:Eu by calcination of a layered double hydroxide precursor

A novel red light-emitting material, Ca₃Al₂O₆:Eu³⁺, which is the first example found in the Ca₃Al₂O₆ host, was prepared by calcination of a layered double hydroxide precursor at 1350 °C. The precursor, [Ca_2.9−xAl₂Eu_x(OH)_9.8](NO₃)_2+x·2.5H₂O, was prepared by coprecipitation of metal nitrates with sodium hydroxide. The material is a loose powder composed of irregular particles formed from aggregation of particles of a few nanometers, as shown in scanning electron microscope (SEM) images. It was found that the photoluminescence intensity reached the maximum when the calcination temperature was 1350 °C and the concentration of Eu³⁺ was 1.0%. The material emits bright red emission at 614 nm under a radiation of λ=250 nm.     

Crystal structure and magnetic properties of the solid-solution phase Ca3Co2-vMnvO6

The homogeneity range of the Ca₃Co_2-vMn_vO₆ solid-solution phase covers the entire composition interval from v=0 to 1. A systematic powder X-ray and neutron diffraction, magnetic susceptibility, and magnetization study has been carried out to investigate effects of the Mn-for-Co substitution on structural and magnetic properties. The Mn substitution concerns primarily only the octahedral Co1 site of the Ca₃Co1Co2O₆ crystal structure, whereas the trigonal-prismatic Co2 site structurally is left essentially unaffected. The Ca₃Co_2-vMn_vO₆ crystal structure belongs to space group with unit-cell dimensions (in hexagonal setting) 9.084?a?9.134 Å and 10.448?c?10.583 Å. A cut through the magnetic phase diagram at 10 K shows a ferrimagnetic domain for 0?v<∼0.3 and an antiferromagnetic domain for ∼0.50<v<∼1. The magnetic ordering temperatures are quite low (<∼25/18 K), and even so further magnetic transitions appear to take place at still lower temperature. The legitimity and reliability of the different indicators used to establish the magnetic transitions, their individual accuracy, and mutual consistency are briefly discussed. Variable parameters of the crystal and magnetic structures of Ca₃Co1_1-vMn_vCo2O₆ are determined and their variation with v is briefly discussed in relation to chemical bonding. The magnetic structure in the ferrimagnetic region is essentially the same as that of the pristine v=0 phase, but since the moments at the Co2 site decrease and those at the (Co1,Mn) site increase with increasing v; characteristic traits of ferrimagnetism in magnetic susceptibility and magnetization gradually disappear. The magnetic arrangement in the antiferromagnetic region is characterized by differently sized moments at the (Co1,Mn) and Co2 sites, moments at adjacent sites in each of these sublattices being oppositely oriented along [001].     

Three Forms of the Misfit Layered Cobaltite [Ca2CoO3] [CoO2]1.62·A 4D Structural Investigation

Three misfit layer compounds with the same chemical formula Ca₃Co_4−xO_9+δ were isolated in the Ca–Co–O system. They exhibit either a monoclinic or an orthorhombic symmetry. These crystals are constituted of two interpenetrating C sublattices showing incommensurate periods along the b axis. The structure of the three crystals can be described as an alternate stacking along [001] of distorted rock-salt-type slabs [Ca₂CoO₃] and of [CoO₂] layers displaying a distorted CdI₂-type structure. Relating to the symmetry and the different observed c periods, different sequences are found for the [CoO₂] layers running along [001] within the three crystals. Two of them were determined by single X-ray diffraction using the 4D superspace formalism. A significant displacive modulation is implied, acting mainly on Ca and O atoms involved in the intersystem bonding scheme. This modulation leads to a noticeable distortion of the CoO₆ octahedra of the [CoO₂] layers. Strong interactions, via Ca–O bonds, are evidenced between the two sublattices. A systematic positional disorder is observed inside the [CoO] layer.     

稀土掺杂Lu3Al5O12荧光粉的发光特性及能量传递

采用高温固相法制备了Ce、Sm共掺Lu₃Al₅O₁₂荧光粉。通过X射线衍射分析、荧光光谱分析研究了样品的结构、发光特性,并通过理论计算研究了能量传递效率、能量传递的临界距离以及能量传递方式。X射线衍射分析表明所制备的荧光粉具有单一的石榴石结构;荧光光谱分析表明,在464 nm蓝光激发下,Sm³⁺的引入可增加Lu₃Al₅O₁₂：Ce,Sm发射光谱中红光成分,并且随着Sm³⁺浓度的增加,Ce³⁺发光强度逐渐减弱。计算出Ce³⁺、Sm³⁺之间的能量传递效率高达77.42%,确定了Ce³⁺、Sm³⁺之间的能量传递机制为偶极-偶极相互作用。     

Low temperature synthesis of Mn3O4 polyhedral nanocrystals and magnetic study

Manganese oxide (hausmannite) polyhedral nanocrystals were prepared by a microwave-assisted solution-based method using Mn(CH₃COO)₂ and (CH₂)₆N₄ at 80 °C. The as-prepared Mn₃O₄ nanocrystals were characterized by means of X-ray diffraction, field-emission transmission electron microscopy, field-emission scanning electron microscopy and Raman spectrum. Mn₃O₄ polyhedral nanocrystals prepared by microwave heating at 80 °C for 60 min were of cubic and rhombohedral shapes with the edge lengths in the range of 15-40 nm. Mn₃O₄ nanocrystals grew following the Ostwald ripening mechanism with increasing reaction time. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy and selected area electron diffraction confirm that the as-obtained polyhedral nanocrystals were single-crystalline. The magnetic behavior of Mn₃O₄ nanocrystals was studied. Mn₃O₄ nanocrystals show an obvious ferromagnetic behavior at low temperatures. The magnetic behavior of Mn₃O₄ nanocrystals was sensitive to crystal size. Ferromagnetic onset temperatures (T_c) of samples 1 and 3 are 40.6 and 41.1 K, respectively, lower than that observed for bulk Mn₃O₄ (42 K).     

Transmission electron microscopy study of Ruddlesden-Popper Can+1MnnO3n+1n=2 and 3 compounds

Two Ruddlesden-Popper compounds Ca_n+1Mn_nO_3n+1 with n=2 and 3 synthesized by a citrate gel technique have been studied by TEM. The structure of Ca₄Mn₃O₁₀ is consistent with the previously determined structure having the space group Pbca and a⁻ a⁻ c⁺/a⁻ a⁻ c⁺ tilt system. The presence of defects suggests the possible high-temperature phase transition from untilted I4/mmm to Pbca. The structure of Ca₃Mn₂O₇ was found to be different from the previously suggested I4/mmm symmetry. Ca₃Mn₂O₇ forms with an orthorhombic structure with either Cmcm or Cmc2₁ space group. A structural model for Cmc2₁ based on the tilting of almost-rigid octahedra with a⁺ c⁻ c⁻/a⁺ c⁻ c⁻ tilt system is proposed. The lamellar defects were shown to be twin variants of the Cmc2₁ structure with the (001)_t interfaces, which suggests the possible tilting phase transition from the ideal I4/mmm to Cmc2₁ following the maximal group-subgroup symmetry tree: I4/mmm→Fmmm→Bbmm(Cmcm)→Bb2₁m(Cmc2₁).     

Crystal-chemistry of mullite-type aluminoborates Al18B4O33 and Al5BO9: A stoichiometry puzzle

Orthorhombic Al₂O₃-rich aluminoborate is an important ceramic material for which two slightly different compositions have been assumed: Al₅BO₉ (5Al₂O₃:B₂O₃) and Al₁₈B₄O₃₃ (9Al₂O₃:2B₂O₃). The formula Al₁₈B₄O₃₃ (=Al_4.91B_1.09O₉) was derived from results of chemical analyses when crystal structure data were not yet available. Subsequent structural investigations indicated Al₅BO₉ composition. Nevertheless, Al₁₈B₄O₃₃ was still accepted as the correct stoichiometry assuming that additional B replaces 9% Al.Powder samples of both compositions and ones with excess boron were prepared by solid state reactions between α-Al₂O₃ and B₂O₃/H₃BO₃ at temperatures above 1100 °C and single-crystals were grown from flux at 1100 and 1550 °C. Products were investigated by single-crystal and powder XRD, ¹¹B and ²⁷Al solid-state MAS-NMR, Raman and FTIR spectroscopy as well as Laser-ablation ICP-MS. No indication of the predicted 9% B→Al substitution was found. LA ICP-MS indicated 12.36(27) wt% B₂O₃ corresponding to Al_4.97B_1.03O₉. Hence, the suggested Al₁₈B₄O₃₃ stoichiometry can be excluded for all synthesized samples. A very low amount of Al vacancies at a five-fold coordinated site are likely, charge balanced by an additional nearby three-fold coordinated B site. All evidences indicate that the title compound should be reported as Al_5−xB_1+xO₉ with x<0.038(6), which is close to Al₅BO₉.     

Crystal and magnetic structures of the brownmillerite compound Ca2Fe1.039(8)Mn0.962(8)O5

The crystal and magnetic structures of the brownmillerite material, Ca₂Fe_1.039(8)Mn_0.962(8)O₅ were investigated using powder X-ray and neutron diffraction methods, the latter from 3.8 to 700 K. The compound crystallizes in Pnma space group with unit cell parameters of a=5.3055(5) Å, b=15.322(2) Å, c=5.4587(6) Å at 300 K. The neutron diffraction study revealed the occupancies of Fe³⁺ and Mn³⁺ ions in both octahedral and tetrahedral sites and showed some intersite mixing and a small, ∼4%, Fe excess. While bulk magnetization data were inconclusive, variable temperature neutron diffraction measurements showed the magnetic transition temperature to be 407(2) K below which a long range antiferromagnetic ordering of spins occurs with ordering wave vector k=(000). The spins of each ion are coupled antiferromagnetically with the nearest neighbors within the same layer and coupled antiparallel to the closest ions from the neighboring layer. This combination of intra- and inter-layer antiparallel arrangement of spins forms a G-type magnetic structure. The ordered moments on the octahedral and tetrahedral sites at 3.8 K are 3.64(16) and 4.23(16) μ_B, respectively.     

稀土掺杂Lu3Al5O12荧光粉的发光特性及能量传递

采用高温固相法制备了Ce、Sm共掺Lu_3Al_5O_(12)荧光粉。通过X射线衍射分析、荧光光谱分析研究了样品的结构、发光特性,并通过理论计算研究了能量传递效率、能量传递的临界距离以及能量传递方式。X射线衍射分析表明所制备的荧光粉具有单一的石榴石结构;荧光光谱分析表明,在464 nm蓝光激发下,Sm~(3+)的引入可增加Lu_3Al_5O_(12)∶Ce,Sm发射光谱中红光成分,并且随着Sm~(3+)浓度的增加,Ce~(3+)发光强度逐渐减弱。计算出Ce~(3+)、Sm~(3+)之间的能量传递效率高达77.42%,确定了Ce~(3+)、Sm~(3+)之间的能量传递机制为偶极-偶极相互作用。     

Crystal structure and magnetic properties of the solid-solution phase Ca3Co2−vScvO6

The two crystallographically non-equivalent Co atoms of the quasi-one-dimensional crystal structure of Ca₃Co₂O₆ form chains with alternating, face-sharing polyhedra of Co2O₆ trigonal prisms and Co1O₆ octahedra. This compound forms a substitutional solid-solution phase with Sc, in which the Sc atoms enter the Co2 sublattice exclusively. The homogeneity range of Ca₃Co_2−vSc_vO₆ (more specifically Ca₃Co1Co2_1−vSc_vO₆) extends up to v≈0.55. The crystal structure belongs to space group R3¯c with lattice parameters (in hexagonal setting): 9.0846(3)?a?9.1300(2) Å and 10.3885(4)?c?10.4677(4) Å. The magnetic moment decreases rapidly with increasing amount of the non-magnetic Sc solute in the lattice.     

层状LiCo1/3Ni1/3Mn1/3O2正极材料的合成及电化学性能研究

采用液相法在800 ℃空气中烧结20 h合成出层状LiCo_1/3Ni_1/3Mn_1/3O₂正极材料。通过XRD、IR、SEM、XPS和电化学性能测试考察了产物的组成、结构、形貌及电化学性能。结果表明，所合成的LiCo_1/3Ni_1/3Mn_1/3O₂为六方单相，层状结构发育完善；产物呈球形且粒度小，分布窄，平均粒径为0.3 μm。以1 mA·cm^-2的电流密度，在2.7～4.3 V区间进行充放电测试，前4周的充放电比容量分别为168/160 mAh·g^-1、169/162 mAh·g^-1、165/160 mAh·g^-1、163/158 mAh·g^-1，循环性能优良。循环伏安实验表明，该材料在3.9 V附近出现了一对对称性好的氧化还原峰。     

Crystal growth of a novel oxygen-deficient layered perovskite: Ba7Li3Ru4O20

Single crystals of both Ba₇Li₃Ru₄O₂₀ and Ba₄NaRu₃O₁₂ were grown from reactive molten hydroxide fluxes. Ba₇Li₃Ru₄O₂₀ is a 7L-layer perovskite-related phase resulting from the stacking of six [AO₃] layers and one oxygen deficient [AO₂] layer, thereby creating LiO₄ tetrahedra in addition to the LiO₆ octahedra and face-sharing Ru₂O₉ bi-octahedra formed from the [AO₃] layers. The compound crystallizes in the space group with a=5.7927(1) Å and c=50.336(2) Å, Z=3. Ba₄NaRu₃O₁₂ crystallizes in the space group P6₃mc with lattice parameters of a=5.8014(2) Å and c=19.2050(9) Å, Z=2. Ba₄NaRu₃O₁₂ is identical to a previously reported neutron refinement structure. The magnetic properties of Ba₇Li₃Ru₄O₂₀ are also reported.