Crystal Growth,Thermal and Linear Optical Properties of the Non‐Centrosymmetric Hydrated Tetraborates Na2[B4O5(OH)4] . 3H2O (Tincalconite) and K2[B4O5(OH)4] . 2H2O

Large single crystals of the non‐centrosymmetric hydrated tetraborates Na₂[B₄O₅(OH)₄] . 3H₂O (Tincalconite) (point group 32) and K₂[B₄O₅(OH)₄] . 2H₂O(point group 222) were grown from aqueous solutions and the linear optical properties (refractive indices between 365 nm and 1530 nm and unpolarized absorption spectra) as a basis for nonlinear optical investigations were determined. The uniaxial positive sodium salt is not phase matchable; in the orthorhombic potassium compound type I phase matching is possible in the near infrared region. Thermal investigations indicate a phase transition at ≈285 K for Na₂[B₄O₅(OH)₄] . 3H₂O.     

Structures and properties of layered barium borates Ba0.975[B6O9(OH)(O0.975Br0.025) · B2O(OH)3], Ba2[B5O8(OH)2](OH), Na2Ba2[B20O34(OH)4], and Ba5[B20O33(OH)4]H2O

A new hexaborate, Ba_0.975[B₆O₉(OH)(O_0.975Br_0.025) · B₂O(OH)₃], was synthesized under hydrothermal conditions. This compound is structurally similar to tunnelite and the synthetic borates Pb[B₆O₁₀(OH) · B₂O(OH)₃], Pr[B₆O₁₀(OH) · B₂O(OH)₄], and Nd[B₆O₁₀ · B₃O₃(OH)₄] · H₂O studied earlier. In the new hexaborate and the refined pentaborate Ba₂[B₅O₈(OH)₂]OH, in which the polyanions adopt an orientation in layers unusual for pentaborates, thermal vibrations of the terminal groups were revealed. This fact reflects the real crystal structure. The nonlinear optical properties of the crystals of the polar pentaborate Na₄Ba₄[B₂₀O₃₄(OH)₄] were determined. The crystal structure of the related pentaborate Ba₅[B₂₀O₃₃(OH)₄]H₂O was considered. The factors most likely responsible for the difference in the second-harmonic generation signal for this pair were revealed.     

Crystal structure of new synthetic Ca,Na,Li-carbonate-borate

In the process of studying the phase formation in the Li₂CO₃-CaO-B₂O₃-NaCl system, new Ca,Na, Li-carbonate-borate has been synthesized under hydrothermal conditions. The crystal structure of carbonate-borate with the crystallochemical formula Ca₄(Ca_0.7Na_0.3)₃(Na_0.7□ _0.3)Li₅[B ₁₂ ^t B ₁₀ ^Δ O₃₆(O,OH)₆](CO₃)(OH) · (OH,H₂O) was refined to R _hkl = 0.0716 by the least squares method in the isotropic approximation of atomic thermal vibrations without the preliminary knowledge of the chemical composition and the formula (sp. gr. R3, a _rh = 13.05(2) Å, α = 40.32(7)]°, V = 838(2) ų, a _h = 8.99(2), c _h = 35.91(2) Å, V = 2513(2) ų, Z = 3, d _calcd = 2.62 g/cm³, Syntex P $\bar 1$ diffractometer, 3459 reflections, 2θ-θ method, λMo). The structure has a new boron-oxygen radical [B ₁₂ ^t B ₁₀ ^Δ O₃₆(O,OH)₆] _∞∞ ^15? , a double layer of nine-membered [B ₆ ^t B ₃ ^Δ O₁₅(O,OH)₃]^7.5?-rings bound by BO₃-triangles, and twelve-membered [B ₆ ^t B ₆ ^Δ O_19.5(O,OH)₃]^7.5? rings. This allows one to relate this compound to megaborates with complex boron-oxygen radicals. The structure is built from two types of blocks consisting of Ca,Na,B-and Li,B-polyhedra alternating along the c-axis, which explains the perfect cleavage of the crystals along the (0001) plane.     

The precipitation of magnesium hydroxoaluminate hydrate powders from sodium hydroxoaluminate solutions: Precipitate phases and precipitation mechanisms

Magnesium hydroxoaluminate hydrates were precipitated from different sodium hydroxoaluminate and hydroxoaluminate-hydroxide solutions at ambient temperature, at C_Al = 0.1 M, OH/Al ratios = 4–9 and XS OH/Al ratios = 1–6. The precipitations were monitored by potentiometric (pH) measurements while the final precipitate compositions were examined by chemical analysis, infra-red spectrophotometry and thermal analysis. At solution OH/Al ratio = 4, the main precipitate phase at 20°C was Mg(H₂O)_n[Al(OH)₄]₂ admixed with some Al(OH)₃; at solution OH/Al ratio = 5, the main phase was Mg₂(H₂O)₄[Al₂(OH)₁₀]; at solution OH/Al ratio = 7, the main phase was Mg₄(H₂O)_n(OH)₄[Al₂(OH)₁₀] while at solution OH/Al ratio = 9, the main phase was Mg₆(H₂O)_n(OH)₈[Al₂(OH)₁₀] admixed with some Mg(OH)₂. These hydrates were dehydrated at 60–100°C probably to the compounds Mg₂[Al₂O₃(OH)₄], Mg₄(OH)₄[Al₂O₃(OH)₄] and Mg₆(OH)₈[Al₂O₃(OH)₄], respectively.     

A new nonlinear optical borate, Na0.5Pb2[B5O9](OH)1.5 · 0.5H2O, from the orthorhombic hilgardite family

A new polar representative of the hilgardite structural family, Na_0.5Pb₂[B₅O₉](OH)_1.5 · 0.5H₂O (space group Pnn2), is synthesized under hydrothermal conditions. The crystal structure of the compound synthesized is similar to the structure of the previously studied polar compound Na_0.5Pb₂[B₅O₉]Cl(OH)_0.5 and is intermediate between the latter compound and the centrosymmetric hydrate Pb₂[B₅O₉](OH) · 0.5H₂O. The additional peak revealed in the electron density in the vicinity of the Pb(1) atom is attributed to the stereochemically active lone electron pair of this atom. The lone electron pair is oriented toward the two most distant oxygen atoms involved in the Pb(1) coordination environment, namely, O(7) and O(2), which are located in a boron-oxygen framework layer in the ac plane, not toward the (00_z) channel occupied by water molecules. The nonequivalence in the stereochemical activity of two lead atoms [Pb(1) > Pb(2)] is similar to that observed in the nonlinear optical borate Pb₂[B₄O₅(OH)₄](OH)₂ · H₂O related to BiB₃O₆.     

Crystal structure of a new synthetic calcium pentaborate, Ca2[B5O8(OH)]2 · [B(OH)3] · H2O, and modular crystal chemistry of pentaborates with polar boron-oxygen layers

The crystal structure of a new calcium pentaborate, Ca₂[B₅O₈(OH)]₂ B(OH)₃ · H₂O, synthesized by the hydrothermal method, has been determined (a = 6.6620(4) ?, b = 6.5990(4) ?, c = 10.5830(6) ?, α = 103.372(5)°, β = 78.296(5)°, γ = 120.931(7)°, space group P1, Z = 1; R ₁ = 0.0712 for 4263 reflections with I > 2σ (I)). This structure is built up of three-layer stacks isolated from each other and consisting of Ca (Sr, Ba) polyhedra joined into columns with boron-oxygen networks located on both sides. Building blocks of the network are the pentaborate groups [B₂ ^t B₃^ΔO₈(OH)]²⁻ formed by two boron tetrahedra and three boron triangles. A comparative crystal chemical analysis has been performed for divalent metal pentaborates that have similar compositions and structures. A common fundamental building block {M[B₅O₈(OH)]}₂ · {[B(OH)₃],H₂O}₂ (M = Ca, Sr, Ba) is determined. The diversity of mineral species in the subgroup of pentaborates under consideration is associated both with the variations in the composition and symmetry of individual blocks and with the types of their joining in the structure.     

Two CrIII containing metal‐1‐hydroxyethylidenediphosphonate compounds: Synthesis,structure, and morphology

Two novel layered Cr^III containing metal‐hedp compounds, Na₂₀AlCr^III[CH₃C(O)P₂O₆]₆·O₃·(H₂O)₂₆·(H₃O)₁₀ (CH₃ CH₂ OH) and Na₆Cr^III[CH₃C(OH)P₂O₆]₃·(H₂O)₂₁(H₃O)₃ (designated as DLES‐AlCr and DLES‐Cr^III respectively), were hydrothermally synthesized. Their structures were determined by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. The two crystals are isostructural with propeller‐like chiral motifs and hexagonal rings along [001]. DLES‐AlCr crystal exhibits interesting hollow tubular hexagonal morphology, while DLES‐Cr crystal possesses solid hexagonal morphology. (© 2006 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Crystal structure and thermal behaviour of (Rb,Cs)BSi2O6 solid solutions

The crystal chemistry of Rb‐Cs boroleucites has been studied by means of X‐ray powder diffraction at room and elevated temperatures. The cubic I‐43d → cubic Ia3d phase transition was investigated using a series of samples prepared by solid‐state reaction along the pseudobinary system RbBSi₂O₆ ‐ CsBSi₂O₆. The Rietveld refinement of the structures of Rb_1‐xCs_xBSi₂O₆ solid solutions (x = 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8) demonstrates that the solutions with a high Rb content crystallise in the cubic I‐43d space group, and the boroleucites with a considerable Cs content have Ia3d symmetry. Rb can substitute Cs in a wide range of compositions. Within a narrow range of x = 0.5 ‐ 0.6 immiscibility was revealed. Under Rb‐Cs substitution the cubic lattice parameter, the (Rb,Cs)‐O distances, and the angles between tetrahedra of the I‐43d phase change clearly, while those of the Ia3d phase change slightly. The HTXRD data shows that the I‐43d phase transforms into a Ia3d phase on heating analogously to a change of the composition. As the Cs content increases the transition temperature decreases. The low temperature I‐43d phase shows a higher thermal expansion than the high temperature Ia3d phase. © 2006 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim     

Si modified Ge10 cluster: the preparation and characterization of single crystal Na4(Ge,Si)9O20

A Si modified Ge₁₀ cluster with structure Na₄(Ge,Si)₉O₂₀ (denoted as HUT‐1) was synthesized by hydrothermal synthesis at 160 °C with a sodium silicate source. The compound was characterized by single crystal, powder X‐ray diffraction and TGA‐DSC analysis. HUT‐1 crystallizes in space group I4₁ (80) with calculated unit cell (a=14.966(5) Å, c=7.343(2) Å, V=1644.8(9) ų), which has the same structure as Na₄Ge₉O₂₀. HUT‐1 has a high Si/Ge ratio with an approximate formula of Na₄Ge_7.68Si_1.32O₂₀. Single crystal X‐ray structure refinements together with results from X‐ray powder diffraction (XRPD) confirm the occupancy of Si at two tetrahedral sites. (© 2010 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Thermal “order‐disorder” behaviour in (Na1‐xKx)4B8O14 solid solutions investigated by X‐ray powder diffraction

In the potassium‐rich part of the binary system Na₄B₈O₁₄‐K₄B₈O₁₄ solid solutions have been found that can be described with the formula (Na_1‐xK_x)₄B₈O₁₄ with 0.45 ≤ x < 1.0. The crystal structures of (Na_0.25K_0.75)₄B₈O₁₄ and (Na_0.45K_0.55)₄B₈O₁₄ were refined at room temperature by the Rietveld method. The solid solutions crystallize like K₄B₈O₁₄ in the triclinic crystal system, space group P ‐1, with K partially substituted for Na. An ordered distribution of the alkali atoms over the four cation sites at room temperature has been discovered. The structure of (Na_0.25K_0.75)₄B₈O₁₄ was also refined for data collected at 300 and 500 °C. The refinements show that sodium and potassium atoms are less ordered at higher temperatures. (© 2008 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Magneto‐transport properties of polycrystalline YBa2(Cu1‐xMx)3O7‐δ (M = B and Mn)

The magnetic and transport properties of polycrystalline YBa₂ (Cu_1‐xM_x)₃ O_7‐δ (M = B and Mn) superconductor was investigated. Samples of YBa₂(Cu_1‐xB_x)₃O_7‐δ doped with several concentrations of boron B(x = 0.05 and 0.1) were investigated using magnetization measurements. A YBa₂(Cu_1‐xMn_x)₃O_7‐δ sample doped with Mn with concentration of x = 0.02 was investigated using current‐voltage (I‐V) measurements. Our results on the YBa₂(Cu_1‐xB_x)₃O_7‐δ samples reveal a considerable increase in the hysterisis width of the magnetization, M versus the applied magnetic field H with increasing boron concentration. The lower critical field was also found to be enhanced by boron doping. The critical current density, J_c was found to be significantly enhanced in the Mn‐doped sample. The enhancement of J_c was found to be more significant at the lower temperatures for all applied magnetic fields used (0 Oe, 300 Oe, and 500 Oe). Thus, chemical doping is suggested to enhance the vortex pinning forces in the YBCO samples. From the resistivity (R‐T) measurements, chemical doping of the samples was found to have no significant effect on the critical temperature, T_c. (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

New layer megaborate Sm3[B13O22(OH)3](OH) · 3H2O and its place in the structural systematics

Crystals of a new aqueous rare earth borate Sm₃[B₁₃O₂₂(OH)₃](OH) · 3H₂O, space group P2/c, are obtained under hydrothermal conditions. The structure is determined by the heavy-atom method without preliminary knowledge of the chemical formula. The anionic radical is a boron-oxygen sheet in which two corrugated layers are related by centers of inversion. An independent layer is akin to pentaborate layers; it differs from the layer in (Nd_0.925Na_0.075)Nd[B₉O₁₅(OH)₂]Cl_0.85 · 2.65H₂O by an additional branch in the form of a 4: (3[2?? + 1T] + 1??) group. The intersheet space and large holes of the sheet accommodate Sm atoms, (OH) groups, and water molecules. The new Sm-borate and the related Nd-borate are polyborates (megaborates) with complex anionic radicals. In the Sm-borate, the new two-dimensional [B₁₃O₂₂(OH)₃]_??? complex anionic radical of the 13{(4: [2T + 2??])_?? + (5: [3T + 2??] + 4: (3[2?? + 1T] +1??))_??}_??? formula is built of three different blocks, unlike the [B₉O₁₅(OH)₂]_??? radical of the 9{(4: [2T + 2??])_?? + (5: [3T + 2??])_??}_??? formula in the Nd-borate, which consists of two blocks. The rule of the inverse relationship between the polymerization degrees of the boron-oxygen radical and rare earth polyhedra holds for both borates.     

Crystal structure,dielectric properties of (K0.5Na0.5)NbO3 single crystal grown by flux method using B2O3 flux

Lead free piezoelectric single crystals of sodium potassium niobate (K_0.5Na_0.5)NbO₃ (KNN) were grown by high‐temperature solution method using two different fluxes; one with a mixture of NaF and KF and other with addition of B₂O₃ along with the mixture. In the present study, the growth of KNN crystals without B₂O₃ flux and the same with B₂O₃ flux were compared. It was found that additions of small amounts of B₂O₃ lowered the melting temperature of the solid solution and enabled better dielectric properties. Phase analysis showed that all samples were crystallized in pure orthorhombic perovskite phase. AFM morphological studies showed that the addition of B₂O₃ flux increased the roughness of the grown crystal. Further, addition of B₂O₃ flux slightly decreased the orthorhombic to tetragonal phase transition temperature T_(O—T) and the Curie temperature T_C. The ferroelectric behaviour of KNN single crystal has been investigated at room temperature. The crystal grown using B₂O₃ flux exhibited a remanent polarization (P_r) ∼ 32 μC/cm² and coercive field (Ec) of ∼11.8 kV/cm whereas the crystal grown without the use of B₂O₃ flux had a remanent polarization (P_r) ∼ 36 μC/cm² and coercive field (Ec) of ∼14.6 kV/cm.     

Phase formation in molten system (Na/K)2O‐TiO2‐P2O5. Crystal structures of NASICON and langbeinite‐related phosphates (K/Na)1+xTi2(PO4)3 (x = 0 and 0.357)

Crystallization of high temperature self‐flux of system Na₂O‐K₂O‐TiO₂‐P₂O₅ was investigated at different molar ratios (Na+K)/P = 0.9; 1.0 or 1.2 and Na/K = 1.0 or 2.0 over the temperature range 1000–650°C. The conditions of formation of complex phosphates K_0.10Na_0.90Ti₂(PO₄)₃ (NASICON‐related) and K_0.877Na_0.48Ti^ІІІ_0.357Ti^ІV_1.643(PO₄)₃ (langbeinite‐related) have been established. The new obtained compounds were investigated using FTIR‐spectroscopy, powder and single crystal X‐ray diffraction and optical microscopy methods. The influence of alkaline metal nature on the structure formation of complex phosphates in the high temperature self‐fluxes is discussed.     

Structural and spectroscopic study of Mg13.4(OH)6(HVO4)2(H0.2VO4)6

Single‐crystals of the polar compound magnesium hydrogen vanadate(V), Mg_13.4(OH)₆(HVO₄)₂(H_0.2VO₄)₆, were synthesized hydrothermally. It represents the first hydrogen vanadate(V) among inorganic compounds. Its structure was determined by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction [space group P 6₃mc, a = 12.9096(2), c = 5.0755(1) Å, V = 732.55(2) ų, Z = 1]. The crystal structure of Mg_13.4(OH)₆(HVO₄)₂(H_0.2VO₄)₆ consists of well separated, vacancy‐interrupted chains of face sharing Mg2O₆ octahedra, with short Mg2—Mg2 distances of 2.537(1) Å, embedded in a porous magnesium vanadate 3D framework having the topology of the zeolite cancrinite. All three hydrogen positions in the structure were confirmed by FTIR spectroscopy. (© 2008 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Synthetic Na,Sr-carbonatoborate with a new type of pentaborate layer: The OD nature of the structure and its correlation with volkovskite,veatchites, and hilgardites

A new carbonate borate, Sr(Na_0.4Sr_0.1)Na₂[B₅O₈(OH)₂] · (CO₃)_{1 ? x} , space group B2/b, is synthesized under hydrothermal conditions. A new layered anionic boron-oxygen radical based on the 5[3T + 2Δ] block, which is a component of the framework of the subgroup of triclinic hilgardites, is found in the structure. The structure of the new carbonatoborate is compared with the structures of veatchites, volkovskite, and other layered borates that are based on the 5[2T + 3Δ] block. The OD nature of their structure is shown. The regions responsible for the slight acentricity and disorder along the baxis are revealed in the centrosymmetric model of the new borate.     

New layer borate (Nd0.925Na0.075)Nd[B9O15(OH)2]Cl0.85 · 2.65H2O and its place in the structural systematics

Crystals of a new aqueous rare-earth borate-(Nd_0.925Na_0.075)Nd[B₉O₁₅(OH)₂]Cl_0.85 · 2.65H₂O, space group P2/n-are obtained under hydrothermal conditions. The crystal structure is determined by the heavy-atom method without preliminary knowledge of the chemical formula. The independent anionic radical is a new corrugated layer related to layer pentaborates. Layers related by centers of inversion form sheets. Nd and Cl atoms are located in the intersheet space and in the large voids of the sheet. One of the positions of both Nd and Cl atoms is isomorphously shared with Na atoms and H₂O molecules, respectively. The new borate is characterized as a polyborate (megaborate) containing the {(4:3[2T + Δ] + 1[Δ])_∞ + (5[3T + 2Δ])_∞}_∞∞ complex anionic radical. The topological variants of the completion of the layer by additional triangles and the connection of layers into a framework are considered. The relationship between the new borate and the earlier studied LaB₅O₈(OH)₂ · 1.5H₂O framework borate is revealed.     

Crystal Growth and Basic Characterisation of the Bismuth Borate Bi2B8O15

Top‐seeded growth of Bi₂B₈O₁₅ from a stoichiometric melt is reported. Crystals have been grown with dimensions of up to 24 × 12 × 5 mm³ . Bi₂B₈O₁₅ shows twin domains at room temperature; their origin was investigated by methods of thermal analysis. The domains were found to result from a sluggish phase transition that occurs in a broad temperature range (ΔT ≈ 20 K) around ∼390 K. Unit cell parameters at room temperature were determined: a = 4.3140(6) Å, b = 22.148(2) Å, c = 6.4695(6) Å, β = 105.46(1)° , possible space group P2₁ (no.4), the non‐centrosymmetry was proved using powder SHG.     

Refined crystal structure of Ca[B<Subscript>8</Subscript>O<Subscript>11</Subscript>(OH)<Subscript>4</Subscript>]—A synthetic calcium analog of strontioborite

A calcium analog of strontioborite, namely, Ca[B₈O₁₁(OH)₄], is synthesized under hydrothermal conditions (T = 270°C, P = 20 atm) within the framework of the study of the phase formation in the CaCl₂ · Rb₂CO₃ · B₂O₃ system. The crystal structure of the synthetic calcium borate [a = 7.4480(5) Å, b = 8.2627(5) Å, c = 9.8102(6) Å, β = 108.331(1)°, V = 573.09(6) ų, space group P2₁, Z = 2, ρ_calcd = 2.15 g/cm³; Brucker SMART CCD automated diffractometer, 5506 reflections, λMoK_α] is refined by the least-squares procedure in the anisotropic approximation of thermal atomic vibrations to R₁ = 0.050. The calcium borate studied has a crystal structure identical to the structure of the natural strontium borate (strontioborite) Sr[B₈O₁₁(OH)₄] and its calcium analog synthesized earlier. The crystal structure is built up of stacks consisting of skeleton layers (formed by boron-oxygen polyanions) and isolated strontium (calcium) polyhedra located in trigonal holes of the skeleton layers. Through channels that can contain H₂O molecules are formed between the stacks. The structure refinement and analysis of the IR spectrum of the synthetic calcium analog of strontioborite do not confirm the previously proposed hypothesis that water molecules are involved in the channels of the structure. A comparative crystal chemical analysis of the calcium borate under investigation and its formula analog, namely, the lead borate Pb[B₈O₁₁(OH)₄], is performed.     

A new modification of Ba[B5O8(OH)] · H2O, the refined structure of Ba2[B5O9]Cl · 0.5H2O, and the role of the pentaborate structural units in the formation of the quadratic optical nonlinearity

The structure of a new modification of the barium pentaborate β-Ba[B₅O₈(OH)] · H₂O synthesized under hydrothermal conditions is investigated. This structure differs from the previously studied structure of the α-Ba[B₅O₈(OH)] · H₂O compound by a shorter interlayer spacing and a higher degree of filling of the intersheet space with water molecules and barium atoms (the space group P is retained). The structure of the Ba₂[B₅O₉] Cl · 0.5H₂O pentaborate from the family of orthorhombic hilgardites (space group Pnn2) is refined, and the property of this crystal to generate the second optical harmonic is revealed. It is found that the previously studied pentaborate Ba₅[B₂₀O₃₃(OH)₄]H₂O exhibits a nonlinear optical activity. The relationship between the structure and properties of hydrous and anhydrous pentaborates is discussed. Original Russian Text ? E.L. Belokoneva, S.Yu. Stefanovich, M.A. Erilov, O.V. Dimitrova, N.N. Mochenova, 2008, published in Kristallografiya, 2008, Vol. 53, No. 2, pp. 255–263.