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).     

Order-disorder in In perovskites: The example of A(In2/3B″1/3)O3 (A=Ba, Sr; B″=W, U)

We describe the preparation and structural characterization of four In-containing perovskites from neutron powder diffraction (NPD) and X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD) data. Sr₃In₂B″O₉ and Ba(In_2/3B″_1/3)O₃ (B″=W, U) were synthesized by standard ceramic procedures. The crystal structure of the W-containing perovskites and Ba(In_2/3U_1/3)O₃ have been revisited based on our high-resolution NPD and XRPD data, while for the new U-containing perovskite Sr₃In₂UO₉ the structural refinement was carried out from high-resolution XRPD data. At room temperature, the crystal structure for the two Sr phases is monoclinic, space group P2₁/n, where the In atoms occupy two different sites Sr₂[In]_2d[In_1/3B″_2/3]_2cO₆, with a=5.7548(2) Å, b=5.7706(2) Å, c=8.1432(3) Å, β=90.01(1)° for B″=W and a=5.861(1) Å, b=5.908(1) Å, c=8.315(2) Å, β=89.98(1)° for B″=U. The two phases with A=Ba should be described in a simple cubic perovskite unit cell (S.G. Pm3¯m) with In and B″ distributed at random at the octahedral sites, with a=4.16111(1) Å and 4.24941(1) Å for W and U compounds, respectively.     

Molecular hexagonal perovskite: a new type of organic-inorganic hybrid conductor

An organic charge-transfer (CT) salt (BEDT-TTF)₃(MnCl₃)₂(C₂H₅OH)₂ has been synthesized by a standard electrochemical method. The crystal data are monoclinic, C2/c (#15), a=38.863(4)Å, b=6.716(1) Å, c=23.608(3) Å, β=115.007(3)°, V=5584(1) Å³, and Z=4. The structure consists of one-dimensional (1D) infinite {[MnCl₃]⁻}_∞ magnetic chains and two-dimensional (2D) organic conduction pathways. The former consists of face-sharing octahedra of manganese chloride complex ions, and dominates the magnetic properties of this compound. Such a feature of the crystal structure closely relates to transition metal hexagonal perovskite compounds, all of which are known for frustrated triangular lattices comprised of weakly interacting 1D magnetic chains. The new compound exhibits a high conductivity down to 4 K.     

Preparation, structural study from neutron diffraction data and magnetism of the disordered perovskite Ca(Cr0.5Mo0.5)O3

We report on the preparation and characterization of the Ca(Cr_0.5Mo_0.5)O₃ perovskite, obtained in the search of the hypothetical double perovskite Ca₂CrMoO₆. This material was prepared in polycrystalline form by solid state reaction in H₂/Ar flow. It has been studied by X-ray and neutron powder diffraction (NPD) and magnetic measurements. Ca(Cr_0.5Mo_0.5)O₃ crystallizes in the orthorhombic Pbnm (No. 62) space group, with the unit-cell parameters a=5.4110 (4) Å, b=5.4795 (5) Å, c=7.6938 (6) Å. There is a complete disordering of Cr³⁺ and Mo⁵⁺ over the B-site of the perovskite, and the (Cr,Mo)O₆ octahedra are tilted by 12.4° in order to optimize the Ca-O bond lengths. The magnetic susceptibility is characteristic of a ferrimagnetic behavior, with T_C=125 K, and a small saturation magnetization at T=5 K, of 0.05 μ_B/f.u.     

Neutron diffraction study and magnetotransport properties of stoichiometric CaMoO3 perovskite prepared by a soft-chemistry route

Polycrystalline CaMoO₃ perovskite has been prepared by soft-chemistry procedures, followed by controlled annealing under reducing conditions (H₂/N₂ flow). The crystal structure, studied from neutron powder diffraction data, can be described in an orthorhombic unit cell, space group Pbnm (No. 62). The lattice parameters were a=5.4510(1) Å, b=5.5821(1) Å and c=7.7803(2) Å. In the perovskite network the MoO₆ octahedra are tilted by 13.5° in order to optimize the Ca-O bond lengths; the tilting scheme corresponds to a GdFeO₃-like superstructure. The perovskite is fully oxygen stoichiometric, as demonstrated from the refinement of the oxygen occupancy factors. Resistivity and transport measurements indicated that CaMoO₃ behaves as a metal; at low temperatures (5 K) a small positive magnetoresistance is observed, reaching a maximum value of 1.4% at 9 T. The magnetic susceptibility is predominantly Pauli paramagnetic-like, although a non-negligible temperature-dependent component due to isolated Mo⁴⁺ spins is patent at low temperatures.     

Synthesis, structure and properties of Li2Rh3B2

Li₂Rh₃B₂ has been synthesized at 1000 °C from a stoichiometric mix of rhodium and boron and an excess of lithium. Li₂Rh₃B₂ crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group Pbam (no. 55, Z=2) with room temperature lattice constants a=5.7712(1) Å, b=9.4377(2) Å, c=2.8301(1) Å and cell volume 154.149(6) Å³. The structure was solved from single crystal X-ray diffraction yielding the final R indices (all data) R1=2.8% and wR2=4.7%. The structure is a distortion of the CeCo₃B₂ structure type, containing a network of Rh₆B trigonal prisms and short Li-Li contacts of 2.28(2) Å. Li₂Rh₃B₂ is a diamagnetic metal with a room temperature resistivity of 19 μΩ cm, as determined by magnetic susceptibility and single crystal transport measurements. The measured diamagnetism and electronic structure calculations show that Li₂Rh₃B₂ contains rhodium in a d¹⁰ configuration.     

Electrochemical behavior of metal hydrides

Metal hydride electrodes are of particular interest owing to their potential and practical application in batteries. A large number of hydrogen storage materials has been characterized so far. This paper deals with the effect of the chemical nature and stoichiometry of specific alloy families (AB₅, A₂B, AB/AB₂ and AB₂) on the hydride stability, hydrogen storage capacity and kinetics of hydrogen sorption-desorption in the solid phase/gas and solid phase/electrolyte solution systems. Special attention has been paid towards the electrochemical properties of metal hydrides in terms of their performance in Ni-MH rechargeable alkaline cells. Electronic Publication     

Ab-initio crystal structure of hydroxy adipate of nickel and hydroxy subarate of nickel and cobalt from synchrotron powder diffraction and magnetic properties

Organic-inorganic hybrid compounds Ni(II)₅(OH)₆(C₆H₈O₄)₂(1), Ni(II)₅(OH)₆(C₈H₁₂O₄)₂(2) and Co(II)₅(OH)₆(C₈H₁₂O₄)₂(3) have a similar layered structure as determined ab initio from synchrotron powder diffraction analysis. The metal sites are octahedrally coordinated by O atoms. The slabs are built from edge-sharing octahedra in such a way that channels with an average size of 4 Å are formed. Bis-bidentate and bridging dicarboxylate anions lead to a 3D framework. The compounds (1) and (2) order antiferromagnetically below T_N=26.5 and 19.3 K, respectively, while (3) is ferrimagnetic with T_C=16.2 K. Crystal data for compounds are as follows: (1)a=11.6504(1) Å, b=6.8021(3) Å, c=6.3603(1) Å, α=73.52(1)°, β=99.69(1)°, γ=96.16(1)°, R_B=0.070, 668 reflections; (2)a=13.9325(1) Å, b=6.7893(1) Å, c=6.3534(4) Å, α=73.63(1)°, β=95.14(1)°, γ=91.80(1)°, R_B=0.052, 804 reflections; (3)a=13.9806(1) Å, b=6.9588(1) Å, c=6.3967(1) Å, α=73.05(1)°, β=94.51(1)°, γ=92.19(1)°, R_B=0.048, 410 reflections. The space group is P−1 for the three compounds.     

New examples of ternary rare-earth metal boride carbides containing finite boron-carbon chains: The crystal and electronic structure of RE15B6C20 (RE=Pr, Nd)

The ternary rare-earth metal boride carbides RE₁₅B₆C₂₀ (RE=Pr, Nd) were synthesized by co-melting the elements. They exist above 1270 K. Their crystal structures were determined from single-crystal X-ray diffraction data. Both crystallize in the space group P1¯, Z=1, a=8.3431(8) Å, b=9.2492(9) Å, c=8.3581(8) Å, α=84.72(1)°, β=89.68(1)°, γ =84.23(1)° (R1=0.041 (wR2=0.10) for 3291 reflections with I_o>2σ(I_o)) for Pr₁₅B₆C₂₀, and a=8.284(1) Å, b=9.228(1) Å, c=8.309(1) Å, α=84.74(1)°, β=89.68(1)°, γ=84.17(2)° (R1=0.033 (wR2=0.049) for 2970 reflections with I_o>2σ(I_o)) for Nd₁₅B₆C₂₀. Their structure consists of a three-dimensional framework of rare-earth metal atoms resulting from the stacking of slightly corrugated and distorted square nets, leading to cavities filled with unprecedented B₂C₄ finite chains, disordered C₃ entities and isolated carbon atoms, respectively. Structural and theoretical analyses suggest the ionic formulation (RE³⁺)₁₅([B₂C₄]⁶⁻)₃([C₃]⁴⁻)₂(C⁴⁻)₂·11ē. Accordingly, density functional theory calculations indicate that the compounds are metallic. Both structural arguments as well as energy calculations on different boron vs. carbon distributions in the B₂C₄ chains support the presence of a CBCCBC unit. Pr₁₅B₆C₁₈ exhibits antiferromagnetic order at T_N=7.9 K, followed by a meta-magnetic transition above a critical external field B>0.03 T. On the other hand, Nd₁₅B₆C₁₈ is a ferromagnet below T_C≈40 K.     

La(Li1/3Ti2/3)O3: a new 1:2 ordered perovskite

A new 1:2 ordered perovskite La(Li_1/3Ti_2/3)O₃ has been synthesized via solid-state techniques. At temperature >1185°C, Li and Ti are randomly distributed on the B-sites and the X-ray powder patterns can be indexed in a tilted (b⁻b⁻c⁺) Pbnm orthorhombic cell (a=a_c√2=5.545 Å, b=a_c√2=5.561 Å, c=2a_c=7.835 Å). However, for T?1175°C, a 1:2 layered ordering of Li and Ti along 〈111〉_c yields a structure with a P2₁/c monoclinic cell with a=a_c√6=9.604 Å, b=a_c√2=5.552 Å, c=a_c3√2=16.661 Å, β=125.12°. While this type of order is well known in the A²⁺(B²⁺_1/3B⁵⁺_2/3)O₃ family of niobates and tantalates, La(Li_1/3Ti_2/3)O₃ is the first example of a titanate perovskite with a 1:2 ordering of cations on the B-sites.     

Sr18Ru1.9Bi4.1O33: crystallization of a Ru(V)/Bi(V) oxide from molten hydroxide

Single crystals of a new complex oxide, Sr₁₈Ru_1.9Bi_4.1O₃₃, were precipitated from a mixture of molten alkali and alkaline earth metal hydroxides at 750°C. The structure was determined from a ruby-red crystal using single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Sr₁₈Ru_1.88Bi_4.12O₃₃ crystallizes in the space group C2/c (monoclinic) and has unit-cell dimensions: a=10.2102(11) Å, b=17.882(2) Å, c=19.579(2) Å, and β=102.043(2)°. The structure (refined to R₁=4.5%, wR₂=9.2%) is an unusual ABO₃ defect perovskite, with th of the oxygen positions vacant. All the A sites and half of the B sites are occupied by Sr²⁺, while the remaining B sites are occupied by Bi⁵⁺ or Ru⁵⁺. The oxygen atom vacancies are located within the Bi coordination sphere exclusively. The bonding in the BO₃ sublattice is less covalent than that in the perovskite archetype from which it is derived due to the presence of 50% Sr²⁺ on the B sites. Thus, the structure of Sr₁₈Ru_1.9Bi_4.1O₃₃ can also be viewed as being made up of isolated bismuthate anions (BiO₅⁵⁻, BiO_5.5⁶⁻ and BiO₆⁷⁻) and ruthenate anions (RuO₆⁷⁻) separated by strontium cations.     

Order-disorder at Fe sites in SrFe2/3B″1/3O3 (B″=Mo, W, Te, U) tetragonal double perovskites

We have prepared SrFe_2/3B″_1/3O₃ (B″=Mo, U, Te, and W) double perovskites in polycrystalline form by ceramic methods. Phases with B″=U, Te and W have been studied by X-ray powder diffraction and the results have been compared with neutron diffraction data available for B″=Mo. At room temperature, the stoichiometric samples crystallize in the tetragonal crystal system (space group I4/m, Z=4). Cell parameters when B″=U, Te and W are a=5.6936(1) Å, c=8.0637(1)Å; a=5.5776(1) Å, c=7.9144(3) Å and a=5.5707(3) Å, c=7.9081(5) Å, respectively.The Mössbauer spectra at room temperature for all compounds show hyperfine parameters belonging to two Fe³⁺ sites located at lattice positions with different degrees of distortion. This is in agreement with diffraction data that indicate that the series of compounds display different degrees of Fe-site disorder, which increases in the following sequence: Mo<U<Te<W.     

Neutron powder diffraction, and solid-state deuterium NMR analyses of Yb2RuD6 and spectroscopic vibrational analysis of Yb2RuD6 and Yb2RuH6

The crystal structure of Yb₂RuD₆ has been determined by neutron powder diffraction and the results were consistent with the Fm3m (#225) space group, a=7.2352(18) Å, with the atoms arranged according to the well-known K₂PtCl₆ structure. No structural phase transition was observed in going from room temperature to 4 K. Raman spectra were not available due to fluorescence, but all fundamental bands and combination bands were assigned from FTIR and PAIR spectra only following previous studies for other alkaline earth and europium ruthenium ternary metal hydrides and deuterides. The deuterium nuclear quadrupole coupling constant, 40.9 kHz, leads to an ionic character of the Ru-D bond of 82%.     

Crystal structure, magnetic, and dielectric properties of Aurivillius-type Bi3Fe0.5Nb1.5O9

Bi₃Fe_0.5Nb_1.5O₉ was synthesized using conventional solid state techniques and its crystal structure was refined by the Rietveld method using neutron powder diffraction data. The oxide adopts an Aurivillius-type structure with non-centrosymmetric space group symmetry A2₁am (a=5.47016(9) Å, b=5.43492(9) Å, c=25.4232(4) Å), analogous to other Aurivillius compounds that exhibit ferroelectricity. The Fe and Nb cations are disordered on the same crystallographic site. The [(Fe,Nb)O₆] octahedra exhibit tilting and distortion to accommodate the bonding requirements of the Bi cations located in the perovskite double layers. Magnetic measurements indicate non-Curie-Weiss-type paramagnetic behavior from 300 to 6 K. Measurements of dielectric properties and electrical resistivity exhibited changes near 250-260 °C and are suggestive of a ferroelectric transition.     

New 4234-type Intermetallic Borocarbides: Synthesis, Structure, and Magnetic Properties

New 4234-type compounds, structurally related to the n=4 member of the (LnC)_nNi₂B₂ homologous series of intermetallic borocarbides, were synthesized by arc-melting. Here we report that this structure type, previously observed only for Ni-based compounds, can be synthesized for a large number of transition elements. Further, we find it to be stable for medium through small lanthanides. The compounds have formulas Y₄T₂B₃C₄ [T=Fe, Co, Ni, Ru, Rh, and Ir], Ln₄T₂B₃C₄ [Ln=Er, Dy, and Gd; T=Fe and Co], Lu₄Ni₂B₃C₄, and Sc₄Ni₂B₃C₄. The unit cells are pseudo-tetragonal, with lattice parameters ranging from a=3.348(1) Å, c=25.90(1) Å for Sc₄Ni₂B₃C₄ to a=3.624(1) Å, c=26.63(1) Å for Y₄Rh₂B₃C₄. Structural investigation by exit-wave reconstruction is reported, showing the presence of twinning on the unit cell scale. The phases show either Curie- Weiss behavior with very small magnetic moments per transition metal atom or temperature-independent paramagnetism.     

K2Li(NH2)3 and K2Na(NH2)3—synthesis and crystal structure of two crystal-chemically isotypic mixed-cationic amides

K₂Li(NH₂)₃ (1) was the only crystalline product obtained from the reaction of potassium with dilithium decahydro-closo-decaborate Li₂B₁₀H₁₀ in liquid ammonia at −38 °C. The compound crystallizes in the space group P4₂/m with Z=4, a=6.8720(5) Å, c=11.706(1) Å and V=552.81(7) Å³. The investigated crystal-chemically isotypic sodium compound K₂Na(NH₂)₃ (2) was merohedrally twinned and crystallized from a reaction mixture containing potassium and disodium decahydro-closo-decaborate Na₂B₁₀H₁₀ in liquid ammonia with a=7.0044(5) Å, c=12.362(1) Å and V=606.48(9) Å³. The compounds contain pairs of edge sharing tetraamidolithium or tetraamidosodium tetrahedra which are interconnected by potassium ions forming three-dimensional infinite networks.     

New members of ternary rare-earth metal boride carbides containing finite boron-carbon chains: RE25B14C26 (RE=Pr, Nd) and Nd25B12C28

New ternary rare-earth metal boride carbides RE₂₅B₁₄C₂₆ (RE=Pr, Nd) and Nd₂₅B₁₂C₂₈ were synthesized by co-melting the elements. Nd₂₅B₁₂C₂₈ is stable up to 1440 K. RE₂₅B₁₄C₂₆ (RE=Pr, Nd) exist above 1270 K. The crystal structures were investigated by means of single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Nd₂₅B₁₂C₂₈: space group P, a=8.3209(7) Å, b=8.3231(6) Å, c=29.888(2) Å, α=83.730(9)°, β=83.294(9)°, γ=89.764(9)°. Pr₂₅B₁₄C₂₆: space group P2₁/c, a=8.4243(5) Å, b=8.4095(6) Å, c=30.828(1) Å, β=105.879(4)°, V=2100.6(2) Å³, (R1=0.048 (wR2=0.088) from 2961 reflections with I_o>2σ(I_o)); for Nd₂₅B₁₄C₂₆ space group P2₁/c, Z=2, a=8.3404(6) Å, b=8.3096(6) Å, c=30.599(2) Å, β=106.065(1)°. Their structures consist of a three-dimensional framework of rare-earth metal atoms resulting from the stacking of slightly corrugated and distorted square nets, leading to cavities filled with cumulene-like molecules [B₂C₄]⁶⁻ and [B₃C₃]⁷⁻, nearly linear [BC₂]⁵⁻ and bent [BC₂]⁷⁻ units and isolated carbon atoms. Structural and theoretical analysis suggests the ionic formulation for RE₂₅B₁₄C₂₆: (RE³⁺)₂₅[B₂C₄]⁶⁻([B₃C₃]⁷⁻)₂([BC₂]⁵⁻)₄([BC₂]⁷⁻)₂(C⁴⁻)₄·5e⁻ and for Nd₂₅B₁₂C₂₈: (Nd³⁺)₂₅([B₂C₄]⁶⁻)₃([BC₂]⁵⁻)₄([BC₂]⁷⁻)₂(C⁴⁻)₄·7e⁻. Accordingly, extended Hückel tight-binding calculations indicate that the compounds are metallic in character.     

High-Temperature Synchrotron X-Ray Powder Diffraction Study of the Orthorhombic-Tetragonal Phase Transition in La0.63(Ti0.92,Nb0.08)O3

The crystal structure of La_0.63(Ti_0.92,Nb_0.08)O₃ has been refined by the Rietveld analysis of CuKα X-ray powder diffraction data collected at 23°C. This material was confirmed to have an A-site deficient orthorhombic perovskite-type structure with double ideal perovskite ABO₃ units along the c-axis (space group Pmmm, Z=2, a=3.86036(5) Å, b=3.87222(5) Å, c=7.82609(9) Å). Lattice parameters of the same sample have been investigated in situ in the temperature range from 25°C to 496°C by 1.37873(3) Å synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction. The synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction technique was found to be very powerful to determine precise lattice parameters around a phase transition temperature. This compound exhibited a reversible phase transition between the orthorhombic and tetragonal phases at around 370°C. (1) The lattice parameters increased continuously with temperature, while the b/a ratio decreased continuously with temperature and became unity at the orthorhombic-tetragonal transition point. (2) No hysteresis was observed in the lattice parameter values between heating and cooling. These results of (1) and (2) suggest that the orthorhombic-tetragonal phase transition is continuous.     

Synthesis, structure and physical properties of GdCu4Al and GdCu4Ga

Two non-stoichiometric Gd compounds, GdCu_5−xTr_x (Tr=Al, Ga) have been synthesized from the corresponding elements by high temperature reactions in sealed tantalum containers. They crystallize in the hexagonal CaCu₅-type (Pearson's symbol hP6, space group P6/mmm, No. 191) with lattice parameters determined from single-crystal X-ray diffraction at room temperature as follows: a=5.0831(10) Å; c=4.156(2) Å for GdCu_3.98(4)Al_1.02(4), and a=5.1025(10) Å; c=4.155(2) Å for GdCu_3.9(1)Ga_1.1(1), respectively. Structure refinements from single crystal X-ray diffraction data reveal that substitution of Cu for Al or Ga takes place preferably on one of the two transition metal sites with site symmetry mmm (3g). Both compounds order antiferromagnetically below ∼40 K and ∼36 K, respectively, as determined from temperature dependent dc-magnetization, resistivity and heat-capacity measurements.     

Structural phase transition and magnetic properties of layered organic-inorganic hybrid compounds: p-Haloanilinium tetrachlorocuparate(II)

Compounds of the general formula A₂CuCl₄, (where A = 4-fluoroanilinium (1) and 4-chloroanilinium (2)) were prepared, structurally characterized and their thermal and magnetic properties studied. These compounds have a layered structure, distorted perovskite, where layers of CuCl₄²⁻ are sandwiched between a 4-haloanilinium cation bilayer. A single crystal X-ray diffraction study on (4-fluoroanilinium)₂CuCl₄, (1), shows that it crystallizes in the monoclinic P2₁/c space group with cell dimensions a = 15.5113(5) Å, b = 7.3788(2) Å, c = 7.0929(2) Å, β = 99.004(2)°, volume 801.81(4) Å³ at 150 K. Compound 2, (4-chloroanilinium)₂CuCl₄, crystallizes isostructurally to 1 at RT, but at 150 K it adopts the Pccn space group. This structural transition for 2 is reversible, and has been observed using Differential Scanning Calorimetric (DSC) measurements. The dc-magnetic studies using a SQUID magnetometer suggest that both compounds are soft ferromagnets and show an onset of long range magnetic ordering below 9 K. The ac-susceptibility measurements confirm the presence of this ferromagnetic ordering in both the compounds.