Vibrational Studies of Gel Grown Ferroelectric RbHC4H4O6 and SrC4H4O6 4H2O Crystals

Single crystals of Rubidium Hydrogen Tartrate (RbHT) and Strontium Tartrate Tetrahydrate (SrTT) have been grown by a gel technique using a chemical reaction method. A controlled reaction has been employed between tartaric acid and feed solution (RbCl for RbHT and Sr(NO₃)₂) at room temperature. The laser Raman and FT-IR spectra of these crystals are recorded in the frequency range 100 - 4000 cm^-1. The presence of tartrate ion, monohydrogen tartrate ion, water molecules and external mode vibrational frequencies are identified and discused. The doublet and broad nature of tartrate ion vibrational frequencies have also been observed and analysed.     

Growth of Te(OH)6Na2HPO4 · H2O single crystals in silica gel and their characterization

Single crystals of Te(OH)₆Na₂HPO₄ · H₂O were grown in silica gel medium using single-test tube diffusion method. Hexagonal pyramidal and hexagonal tabular single crystals were obtained. Crystals were characterized by IR, X-ray, and Raman studies.     

Morphological effects in liquid phase epitaxy (The C8H5O4K-C8H5O4Rb-H2O system)

The results of the complex study of the morphology and defect state of the crystals of the isomorphous potassium acid phthalate-rubidium acid phthalate (KAP-RbAP) series formed in aqueous solutions are presented. The crystals are characterized by heteroepitaxial porous and solid textures formed as a result of the exchange reaction between the crystals and solution. The interaction of the KAP and RbAP crystals with saturated RbAP and KAP aqueous solutions is studied both in situ and in vitro under optical and atomic force microscopes. The results obtained are used to create a theoretical model of formation of characteristic morphological textures in liquid phase epitaxy, including their formation from the aqueous solutions of the respective salts.     

Electrical Conductivity and Thermal Dehydration Studies of Mixed Single Crystals of BaCu(C2O4)2 · 6 H2O,Ba1–xCuxC2O4 · 4 H2O and Ba1–2x(NH4)2xC2O4 · 4 H2O

The measurement of electrical conductivity for the investigation of the number of water molecules present in the mixed crystals of barium copper oxalate and barium ammonium oxalate lattice have been carried out in the temperature range 30 to 450 °C. The dehydration temperature and the number of water molecules removed out of the structure at a particular temperature is estimated from the sharp increase in conductivity at these points. The almost steep increase of conductivity is attributed to the increase in the number of mobile charge carriers H⁺ and OH^– ions generated from the escaping water molecules. The study of electrical conductivity in association with the thermal behaviour has been used to understand the mechanism of conduction.     

Transport Properties of (NH4)2 CuCl4.2H2O Low Dimensional Single Crystals

The X‐ray diffraction and Infrared (IR) spectral studies of (NH₄)₂ CuCl₄.2H₂O single crystals reveals that these crystals contains tetragonal crystal structure with the unit cell dimensions of a = 7.58Å, c = 7.95Å, z= 2, β =90° and two water molecules in the unit cell. The temperature dependence of thermally stimulated depolarization current (TSDC) and dc electrical conductivity (σ) studies of this two‐dimensional (NH₄)₂ CuCl₄.2H₂O single crystal have been carried out in 77K–300K temperature region. The TSDC thermograph shows only one sharp peak at 248K with a peak current of 130nA, which is attributed to the Maxwell‐Wagner peak. The activation energy (U), relaxation time (τ) are calculated as 0.78eV and 3.44×10^‐15 s respectively. Dc electrical conductivity studies of these crystals show a first order phase transition at about 248K.     

Preparation of (NH4)2SO4 monocrystals

The preparation of (NH₄)₂SO₄ crystals has been studied, and the difficulties, especially the formation of numerous parasitical crystals and the irregular growth are discussed from a theoretical point of view and with regard to the performed investigations. Further on the habit of crystals and an acceptable procedure for the growing of homogeneous regular crystals are given. Likewise the effect of temperature, of P(H) of the crystallizing solution, the choice of seed crystals and the admixture of glycerine are reported.     

Nucleation of struvite (MgNH4PO4 · 6 H2O) single crystals and aggregates

The conditions (concentration and pH) for preparation of single crystals of struvite at 25 °C from ammoniacal solutions equimolar with respect to magnesium and phosphate ions are given. The limits are found above which crystal aggregates (twins or dendrites) precipitate as dominant morphology. The mechanisms of nucleation are discussed and the interfacial tension between crystals and solution is evaluated.     

Preparation and studies of new crystals in the K3H(SO4)2-(NH4)3H(SO4)2-H2O system

To elucidate the effect of isomorphic substitution on the kinetics of phase transitions, single crystals of (K _x (NH₄)_1?x ) _m H _n (SO₄)_{(m + n)/2} · yH₂O solid solutions are grown from the K₃H(SO₄)₂-(NH₄)₃H(SO₄)₂-H₂O system, whose end members are known to undergo superprotonic phase transitions of fundamentally different kinetics. The chemical composition of the single crystals grown is determined by energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis. The thermal and optical behavior of (K,NH₄)₉H₇(SO₄)₈ · H₂O single crystals is studied in the temperature range 295–420 K and the crystal structure at 295 K is determined. A comparison of the results of the studies with data for crystal K₉H₇(SO₄)₈ · H₂O published earlier shows that the substitution of ammonium for potassium atoms lowers the temperature of the structural phase transition by 8 K.     

Crystal structures of 4-amino-1,2,4-triazolidine-3,5-dione (urazine) (C2H4N4O2) and dichlorobis (4-amino-1,2,4-triazolidine-3,5-dione-N,O) copper (II) (C4H8Cl2CuN8O4)

Crystal structure analyses of urazine and of its adduct with CuCl₂ show that this ligand can exchange interactions of stacking that cannot be defined as simple - interactions. The copper atoms are octahedrally coordinated by two oxygen atoms and two aminic nitrogen from chelating uraxines and two chlorine atoms. The crystals of urazine are monoclinicP2₁ c:a=6.741(1),b=5.815(1),c=11.141(2) Å,/gb=92.13(1)°,V _c=436.4(1) ų,Z=4,R=0.0402 for 714 independent observed reflections; the crystals of [CuCl₂(urazine)₂] are triclinicP¯1:a=5.236(1),b=6.662(1),c=8.411(1) Å,=93.00(1),=104.87(1), =105.69(1)°,V _c=270.66(8) ų,Z=1,R=0.0380 for 875 independent observed reflections.     

Synthesis and crystal structure of [Nd(H2O)2]2(C2O4)3

Some crystals of [Nd(H₂O)₂]₂(C₂O₄)₃ were synthesized hydrothermally by heating at 200°C for 8 days an aqueous suspension of neodymium oxalate decahydrate in presence of terephthallic acid and guanidinium carbonate. They crystallize in the orthorhombic system, space group P2₁2₁2₁, with a = 8.6702(7) Å, b = 9.558(2) Å, and c = 17.009(2) Å. The structure of this complex is built up by two independent neodymium atoms, three bischelating oxalate ligands, and four water molecules forming a rectangle building unit of 6-membered ring, [Ln(H₂O)₂(C₂O₄)]₆. The packing of these units leads to a layer parallel to the plane (001). However, the neodymium atoms of two neighbor layers share an edge of oxalato oxygen atoms thus giving a double-layer. The three dimensionality between these double-layers is insured by hydrogen bonds of water molecules which are bound to the neodymium atoms. There is no zeolitic water molecule. The two neodymium atoms are nine-coordinated. In both cases, the coordination polyhedron can be described as a distorted tricapped trigonal prism.     

Synthesis and characterization of Ce2(SO4)3 · 5(H,D)2 O

The synthesis of cerium sulphate pentahydrate and its structure investigated by X-ray diffraction methods are reported. Analysis of the precession and Weissenberg photographs show that the crystals are twinned perfectly, in the sense that they are made of two single crystals with the true space group Cc. The dehydration of this compound has been studied using thermogravimetry and differential scanning calorimetric analysis in the temperature range 360 to 650 K. Powder Raman spectra of Ce₂(SO₄)₃ · 5 H₂O and Ce₂(SO₄)₃ · 5 D₂O have been measured at room temperature and the spectral assignments have been carried out by comparing these spectra with each other. Evidence of intermolecular hydrogen bonding has been found.     

Growth of Er2(SO4)3 ⋅ 8H2O crystals and study of their structure and properties

New crystals of the composition Er₂(SO₄)₃ ? 8H₂O have been synthesized by the method similar to that used for synthesis of (CH₃)₂NH₂Al(SO₄)₂ ? 6H₂O. The synthesized crystals were studied by the X-ray diffraction method. The crystals are monoclinic C2/c) and contain no (CH₃)₂NH₂ ions. It is established that, contrary to DMAAS crystals, Er₂(SO₄)₃ ? 8H₂O crystals undergo no phase transitions and possess neither ferroelectric nor ferroelastic properties.     

Cs2Ni(SO4)2 · 6H2O (CNSH) crystal: Growth and some properties

Large single crystals of cesium-nickel sulfate hexahydrate Cs₂Ni(SO₄)₂ · 6H₂O of optical quality were grown for the first time. The crystal structure and the optical and thermogravimetric properties of this compound were investigated.     

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.     

Comparison of Ba(B1-xAlx)2O4 Single Crystals on their Diameters

Small diameter crystals of Ba(B_1-xAl_x)₂O₄ were grown by Floating zone pulling down method and Micro-pulling down method to be compared with large diameter crystals grown by Czochralski method. While the Czochralski grown crystal was opaque, the crystal transparency was actually improved with the decrease of crystal diameter, i.e., the decrease of constitutional supercooling. The reason was the increase of temperature gradient caused by down-sizing of the crystal diameter deduced by down-sizing of the growth furnace. The adequate diameter for transparent crystal was determined depending on the Al content.     

On the Growth Morphology of K2Cr2O7 (KBC) Crystals

The morphology of potassium dichromate (KBC) crystals grown under different conditions by solvent evaporation method is investigated. Observations of the examination of asgrown surfaces and inclusions, and of the realtion between dislocations and inclusions are presented. The results indicate that the change in the morphology of KBC crystals can be associated with the dislocation structure in the crystal.     

Crystal growth and magnetic properties of the copper coordination polymer [Cu(µ ‐C2O4)(4‐aminopyridine)2(H2O)]n

In this paper, we consider various ways of crystal growth of the polymer [Cu(µ ‐C₂O₄)(4‐aminopyridine)₂(H₂O)]_n. Single crystals of the size of 1.5×1.5×0.2 mm³ have been grown by a slow diffusion technique from solutions of the monoammine copper complex and of the mixture of potassium oxalate and aminopyridine with the stoichiometric ratio. Magnetic susceptibility and ESR measurements have been performed on single crystals large enough for investigating anisotropic properties. The susceptibility can be well described within the model of a Heisenberg antiferromagnetic spin chain. The magnetic measurements reveal a small concentration of paramagnetic moments reflecting the high quality of the single crystals. (© 2007 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Growth Rate anisotropy of the K2(S,Cr)O4 Mixed Crystals Grown from Aqueous Solution

The ratio of growth rates of the K₂(S,Cr)O₄ crystals in the [100] and [001] directions (the anisometry coefficient) is proportional to the initial effective supersaturation of the solutions from which the crystals were grown. The values of the factors of asymmetry and excess of distribution of the crystal anisometry coefficient are affected by the composition of solution. The change in the values of these factors is caused by the change in the value of the initial supersaturation of solution according to the specific features of the solubility diagram.     

Mosaic microinhomogeneity in crystals of (Co,Ni)K2(SO4)2 · 6H2O solid solutions

The mosaic microinhomogeneity in mixed crystals of the isomorphic series (Co,Ni)K₂(SO₄)₂ · 6H₂O has been studied. The growth processes have been observed in situ in optical and confocal microscopes and the distribution of composition components has been studied by the energy-dispersive method. The results make it possible to develop model concepts about the formation of composition microinhomogeneity in solid solutions.