Synthesis and an X-ray diffraction study of Rb<Subscript>2</Subscript>[(UO<Subscript>2</Subscript>)<Subscript>2</Subscript>(C<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>4</Subscript>)<Subscript>3</Subscript>]

The synthesis and X-ray diffraction study of compound Rb₂[(UO₂)₂(C₂O₄)₃], which crystallizes in the monoclinic crystal system, are performed. The unit cell parameters are as follows: a = 7.9996(6) Å, b = 8.8259(8) Å, c = 11.3220(7) Å, β = 105.394(2)°, and V = 770.7(1) ų; space group P2₁/n, Z = 2, and R ₁ = 0.0271. [(UO₂)₂(C₂O₄)₃]^2? layers belonging to the AK _0.5 ⁰² T ¹¹ crystal chemical group of uranyl complexes (A = UO ₂ ²⁺ , K ⁰² = C₂O ₄ ^2? , and T ¹¹ = C₂O ₄ ^2? ) are uranium-containing structural units of the crystals. The layers are connected with outer-sphere rubidium cations by electrostatic interactions.     

Characteristic of spontaneous polarization in Li<Subscript>2</Subscript>Ge<Subscript>7</Subscript>O<Subscript>15</Subscript> crystals

The temperature dependence of spontaneous polarization in Li₂Ge₇O₁₅, a ferroelectric with one polarization axis, is studied in the temperature range from 4.2 K to T_C. An unusual character of spontaneous polarization associated with the change of the crystal behavior from the Ising to multipole type is revealed in the vicinity of T_C. The low value of spontaneous polarization is explained not by the relation between certain physical quantities, but rather by the interaction of the components of higher order (n > 2) electric moments which, by definition, have rather low values. The Li₂Ge₇O₁₅ structure is built by macrofragments consisting of two types of mesotetrahedra whose distortion results in the appearance of pseudopolarization of the nonvector type.     

Structure and some properties of [UO<Subscript>2</Subscript>(C<Subscript>5</Subscript>H<Subscript>12</Subscript>N<Subscript>2</Subscript>O)<Subscript>5</Subscript>](ClO<Subscript>4</Subscript>)<Subscript>2</Subscript>

Compound [UO₂(C₅H₁₂N₂O)₅](ClO₄)₂ is synthesized and characterized by thermogravimetry, IR spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction. The compound crystallizes in the monoclinic crystal system; a = 15.2985(9) Å, b = 26.9676(15) Å, c = 20.6962(11) Å, β = 100.697(1)°, space group P2₁/c, Z = 8, and R = 0.0445. Discrete [UO₂(C₅H₁₂N₂O)₅]²⁺ groups belonging to the AM ₅ ¹ crystal chemical group of uranyl complexes (A = UO ₂ ²⁺ and M ¹=C₅H₁₂N₂O) are uranium-containing structural units of the crystals.     

Structural transformations in Cu<Subscript>1.95</Subscript>Ni<Subscript>0.05</Subscript>S crystals

A solid solution of the Cu_1.95Ni_0.05S composition has been synthesized for the first time due to the partial replacement of Cu with Ni atoms in Cu₂S. The polymorphic transformations in the polycrystalline samples in the temperature range of 300–1400 K have been investigated by X-ray diffraction and differential thermal analysis. It is established that, at room temperature, the synthesized Cu_1.95Ni_0.05S samples have an orthorhombic lattice with unit-cell parameters a = 26.50 Å, b = 15.39 Å, and c = 13.85 Å (sp. gr. Abm2). Heating to T = 379 ± 2 K leads to its transformation into a hexagonal lattice with parameters a = 3.960 Å and c = 6.78 Å (sp. gr. P6₃/mmc). At 750 ± 2 K, the hexagonal modification is transformed into a cubic one with period a = 5.788 Å (sp. gr. Fm\(\bar 3\)m). The phase transition in this crystal is enantiotropic.     

Crystal chemistry of KCuMn<Subscript>3</Subscript>(VO<Subscript>4</Subscript>)<Subscript>3</Subscript> in the context of detailed systematics of the alluaudite family

The crystal structure of new manganese potassium copper vanadate KCuMn₃(VO₄)₃, which was prepared by the hydrothermal synthesis in the K₂CO₃–CuO–MnCl₂–V₂O₅–H₂O system, was studied by X-ray diffraction (R = 0.0355): a = 12.396(1) Å, b = 12.944(1) Å, c = 6.9786(5) Å, β = 112.723(1)°, sp. gr. C2/c, Z = 4, ρ_calc = 3.938 g/cm³. A comparative analysis of the crystal-chemical features of the new representative of the alluaudite family and related structures of minerals and synthetic phosphates, arsenates, and vanadates of the general formula A(1)A(1)′A(1)″A(2)A(2)′M(1)M(2)₂(TO₄)₃ (where A are sites in the channels of the framework composed of MО₆ octahedra and TО₄ tetrahedra) was performed. A classification of these structures into subgroups according to the occupancy of A sites is suggested.     

Crystal structure and microtwinning of monoclinic La<Subscript>3</Subscript>SbZn<Subscript>3</Subscript>Ge<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>14</Subscript> crystals of the langasite family

The crystal structure of monoclinic La₃SbZn₃Ge₂O₁₄ crystals from the langasite family is determined by X-ray diffraction analysis [a = 5.202(1) Å, b = 8.312(1) Å, c = 14.394(2) Å, β = 90.02(1)°, sp. gr. A2, Z = 2, and R/R _w = (5.2/4.6)%]. The structure is a derivative of the Ca₃Ga₂Ge₄O₁₄-type structure (a = 8.069 Å, c = 4.967 Å, sp. gr. P321, Z = 1). The crystal studied is a polysynthetic twin with the twin index n = 2, whose monoclinic components are related by pseudomerohedry by a threefold rotation axis of the supergroup P321.     

Structural study of new compound Bi<Subscript>2.53</Subscript>Li<Subscript>0.29</Subscript>Nb<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>9</Subscript> by the powder neutron diffraction method

A new compound of composition Bi_2.53Li_0.29Nb₂O₉ was synthesized in the course of the search for new materials with high ionic conductivity. Its crystal structure was determined from the neutron diffraction data. The new compound Bi_2.53Li_0.29Nb₂O₉ is crystallized in the orthorhombic system, sp. gr. Cmc2₁, and unit-cell parameters a = 24.849(1) Å, b = 5.4536(3) Å, and c = 5.4619(2) Å at T = 290 K (a = 24.843(2) Å, b = 5.4456(5) Å, and c = 5.4546(5) Å at T = 10 K). Within the temperature range 10–870 K, no structural phase transitions were revealed. The atomic coordinates and the thermal factors in the isotropic approximation were refined by the Rietveld method at 290 and 10 K. The data obtained were analyzed based on the calculated local balance of bond strengths.     

Synthesis and crystal structure of the [Co<Subscript>2</Subscript>(Nicotinamide)<Subscript>4</Subscript>(C<Subscript>4</Subscript>H<Subscript>9</Subscript>COO)<Subscript>4</Subscript>(H<Subscript>2</Subscript>O)] complex

The [Co₂ L ₄(C₄H₉COO)₄(H₂O)] coordination compound of cobalt(II) valerate with nicotinamide (L) is synthesized and studied by IR spectroscopy. The crystal structure of the synthesized compound is determined. The crystals are triclinic, and the unit cell parameters are as follows: a = 10.2759(10) Å, b = 16.3858(10) Å, c = 16.4262(10) Å, α = 100.538(10)°, β = 101.199(10)°, γ = 90.813 (10)°, Z = 2, and space group P \(\bar 1\). The structural units of the crystal are dimeric molecular complexes in which pairs of cobalt atoms are linked by triple bridges formed by oxygen atoms of two bidentately coordinated valerate anions and a water molecule. The octahedral coordination of each cobalt atom is complemented by the pyridine nitrogen atoms of two nicotinamide ligands and the oxygen atom of the monodentate valerate group. The hydrocarbon chains of the valerate anions are disordered over two or three positions each.     

Growth,structure, and magnetic properties of CuFeTe<Subscript>2</Subscript> single crystals

CuFeTe₂ single crystals were grown and the temperature dependence of their magnetic susceptibility in the temperature range 1.8–400 K was investigated. It is found that the magnetic susceptibility shows anomalies at temperatures T _s = 65 and T _N = 125 K. At T > 125 K, the crystal is in the paramagnetic state controlled by Fe²⁺ and Cu²⁺ ions with an effective magnetic moment of 1.44 μB.     

Low-temperature X-ray diffraction studies of [(CH<Subscript>3</Subscript>)<Subscript>2</Subscript>NH<Subscript>2</Subscript>]<Subscript>5</Subscript>Cd<Subscript>3</Subscript>Cl<Subscript>11</Subscript> crystals

[(CH₃)₂NH₂]₅Cd₃Cl₁₁ crystals are grown by the method of isothermal evaporation from saturated aqueous solutions containing dimethylamine and cadmium chlorides, [(CH₃)2NH₂]Cl and CdCl_2.5H₂O. The crystal grown are studied by the X-ray diffraction method. It is established that the crystals are orthorhombic with the unit-cell parameters at room temperature a = 18.115 ± 0.004 Å, b = 11.432 ± 0.002 Å, and c = 15.821 ± 0.003 Å. The unit-cell parameters a, b, and c of the [(CH₃)₂NH₂]₅Cd₃Cl₁₁ crystals are measured as functions of temperature in the temperature range 100–320 K. The data obtained were used to determine the thermal expansion coefficients along the main crystallographic axes. The temperature curves of the unit-cell parameters and thermal expansion coefficients showed pronounced anomalies in the vicinity of the temperatures T ₁ = 120, T ₂ = 150, and T ₃ = 180 K corresponding to the phase transitions in the [(CH₃)₂NH₂]₅Cd₃Cl₁₁ crystals. The crystals are also characterized by a pronounced anisotropy of thermal expansion.     

Crystal structure of Rb<Subscript>2</Subscript>Mn<Subscript>3</Subscript>(H<Subscript>2</Subscript>O)<Subscript>2</Subscript>[P<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>7</Subscript>]<Subscript>2</Subscript>, a new representative of the family of hydrated diphosphates

The crystal structure of Rb₂Mn₃(H₂O)₂[P₂O₇]₂, a new phase obtained in the form of single crystals under hydrothermal conditions in the MnCl₂–Rb₃PO₄–H₂O system, is determined by X-ray diffraction (Xcalibur-S-CCD diffractometer, R = 0.0270): a = 9.374(2), b = 8.367(2), c = 9.437(2) Å, ß = 99.12(2)°, space group P2₁/c, Z = 2, D_x = 3.27 g/cm³. A correlation between the unit-cell parameters and the size of cations forming the crystal structures of isostructural A₂M₃(H₂O)₂[P₂O₇]₂ diphosphates (A = K, NH₄, Rb, or Na; _M = Mn, Fe, Co, or Ni) is revealed. It is shown that, due to the topological similarity, the structures of diphosphates and orthophosphates of the farringtonite structural type can undergo mutual transformations.     

Crystal structure refinement of Sr<Subscript>3</Subscript>TaGa<Subscript>3</Subscript>Si<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>14</Subscript>

An accurate X-ray diffraction study of Sr₃TaGa₃Si₂O₁₄ (STGS) crystal (a = 8.3023(10) Å, c = 5.0853(2) Å, sp. gr. P321, Z = 1, R/wR = 0.59/0.52%, 4004 independent reflections) is performed. The use of two independent data sets obtained on diffractometers with point and 2D detectors made it possible to determine the model structure characterized by the best reproducibility of parameters. The ordered distribution of atoms over crystallographic positions and the anharmonic character of displacements of all cations and one oxygen atom are established.     

Electrical conductivity of CsCuCl<Subscript>3</Subscript> crystals at structural phase transition

The electrical conductivity σ of CsCuCl₃ single crystals synthesized by the crystallization method from aqueous solutions in the ternary CsCl–CuCl₂–H₂O system has been studied. The σ measurements for CsCuCl₃ crystals have been carried out in the temperature range of 397–455 K, which covers the structural phase transition from the low-temperature (sp. gr. P6₁22, Z = 6) to the high-temperature (sp. gr. P6₃mc, Z = 2) modification at T _tr = 423 ± 8 K. A jump of σ by a factor of ~3 is observed on the σ(T) dependence in the region of the structural transition, which indicates the existence of first-order phase transition. The electric transfer activation enthalpies ΔHσ are found to be 1.0 ± 0.1 eV at T > T _tr and 0.8 ± 0.1 eV at T < T _tr. The σ value for CsCuC_l3 crystals amounts to 7 × 10^–6 S/cm at 455 K.     

Investigation of zirconium phosphate Zr<Subscript>3</Subscript>(PO<Subscript>4</Subscript>)<Subscript>4</Subscript> during heating

Zirconium phosphate Zr₃(PO₄)₄ has been synthesized by the sol-gel technique and investigated using X-ray powder diffraction, IR spectroscopy, and differential scanning calorimetry. It has been established that the symmetry of the unit cell, R \(\bar 3\) c, which is characteristic of the NaZr₂(PO₄)₃ (NZP) family, is lowered to P \(\bar 3\) c. The behavior of the zirconium phosphate during heating has been examined using high-temperature X-ray diffraction at temperatures ranging from 25 to 575°C. It has been revealed that the structure of the zirconium phosphate is hardly subjected to expansion due to heating in the temperature ranges 25–125°C (α _a < 1 × 10^?6 K^?1, α _c < 1 × 10^?6 K^?1, Δα < 1 × 10^?6 K^?1) and 325–575°C (α _a = ?1.4 × 10^?6 K^?1, α _c < 1 × 10^?6 K^?1, Δα < ?2.4 × 10^?6 K^?1). In the temperature range 125–325°C, the synthesized compound undergoes a second-order phase transition (upon heating), which is accompanied by the contraction of the structure along all crystallographic directions. Upon cooling in the range from 75 to 25°C, the phase transition is accompanied by the expansion of the structure.     

Accurate structural study of langasite-family Ca<Subscript>3</Subscript>TaGa<Subscript>3</Subscript>Si<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>14</Subscript> crystal

An accurate X-ray diffraction study of Ca₃TaGa₃Si₂O₁₄ single crystal has been performed using two datasets obtained on a diffractometer equipped with a CCD area detector (a = 8.1056(2) Å, c = 4.9800(1) Å, sp. gr. P321, Z = 1, R/wR = 0.486/0.488%). A model structure is determined which is characterized by a high degree of reproducibility of structural parameters. Each site in Ca₃TaGa₃Si₂O₁₄ is occupied by atoms of only one type. Nevertheless, its structural feature is asymmetric disordering of sites of Ca, Ta, Ga, and two out of three oxygen atoms occupying special and general sites. A transition of some part of Ca atoms (~3%) from 3e sites on the twofold symmetry axis to general 6g sites is revealed.     

Synthesis and structure of (Rb<Subscript>0.50</Subscript>Ba<Subscript>0.25</Subscript>)[UO<Subscript>2</Subscript>(CH<Subscript>3</Subscript>COO)<Subscript>3</Subscript>]

A new compound (Rb_0.50Ba_0.25)[UO₂(CH₃COO)₃] is synthesized and its crystal structure is studied by X-ray diffraction. The compound crystallizes in the form of yellow plates belonging to the cubic crystal system. The unit cell parameter a = 17.0367(1) Å, V = 4944.89(5) ų, space group I \(\bar 4\)3d, Z = 16, and R = 0.0182. The coordination polyhedron of the uranium atom is a hexagonal bipyramid with oxygen atoms of three acetate groups and the uranyl group in the vertices. The crystal chemical formula of the uranium-containing group is AB ₃ ⁰¹ (A = UO ₂ ²⁺ , B ⁰¹ = CH₃COO^?). The oxygen atoms of the acetate groups that enter the coordination polyhedron of uranium are bound to barium and rubidium atoms.     

Molecular structure of [(C<Subscript>5</Subscript>H<Subscript>5</Subscript>)<Subscript>2</Subscript>(C<Subscript>5</Subscript>H<Subscript>4</Subscript>CH<Subscript>3</Subscript>)(C<Subscript>4</Subscript>H<Subscript>8</Subscript>O)Sm]

The mixed tris-cyclopentadienyl tetrahydrofuranato samarium complex bis-(cyclopentadienyl) methylcyclopentadienyl tetrahydrofuranato samarium (I) was synthesized by reaction of (C₅H₅)₂SmCl with methyl cyclopentadienyl sodium in THF. [(C₅H₅)₂(C₅H₄CH₃)(C₄H₈O)Sm] (I) was characterized by elemental analyses—IR spectra and MS spectra. The structure of [(C₅H₅)₂(C₅H₄CH₃)(C₄H₈O)Sm] (I), which has two slightly different independent molecules per asymmetric unit, has been elucidated through complete X-ray analysis. The crystals are monoclinic, with a = 12.791(3) Å, b = 10.467(2) Å, c = 26.108(5) Å, β = 98.22(2)°, and space group Cc, R = 0.0381 for 2103 observed-reflection with I ≥ 3σ(I).     

X-Ray Crystal Structure of <Emphasis Type="Italic">trans</Emphasis>-PdCl<Subscript>2</Subscript>(PPh<Subscript>2</Subscript>C<Subscript>12</Subscript>H<Subscript>7</Subscript>S<Subscript>3</Subscript>)<Subscript>2</Subscript>, a New Morphology

Herein we report the crystal structure of trans-PdCl₂(PPh₂C₁₂H₇S₃)₂, 1, in a different morphology than has previously been reported [Stott et al. (Dalton Trans (4):652–653, 2005]. This structure crystallizes in a P-1 space group with a = 9.4249(19) Å, b = 11.540(2) Å, c = 12.559(3) Å, α = 79.07(3)°, β = 78.04(3)°, γ = 69.44(3)°, Z = 1. The earlier structure possessed a P2₁/n space group. Additionally the terthienyl moieties of 1 demonstrate the anti orientation exclusively while the P2₁/n space group structure has some syn and even syn/anti mixed geometries included.     

Elastic and dielectric properties of A<Superscript>II</Superscript>B<Stack><Subscript>2</Subscript><Superscript>V</Superscript></Stack> (<Emphasis Type="Italic">A</Emphasis> = Cd or Zn, <Emphasis Type="Italic">B</Emphasis> = P or As) single crystals

Elastic and dielectric properties of CdP₂, ZnP₂, and ZnAs₂ single crystals are investigated at frequencies of 10², 10³, 10⁴, 10⁶, and 10⁷ Hz in the [00l], [h00], and [hk0] directions in the temperature range 78–400 K. The elastic constants, the Gruneisen parameters, and the force constants of the crystals are calculated from the measured ultrasonic velocities. The elastic constants C_ij decrease with an increase in temperature and anomalously change in narrow (ΔT = 10–20 K) temperature ranges. The permittivity sharply increases from ε ≈ 7–14 at 78–150 K to ε ≈ 10²–10³ in the temperature range 175–225 K without any signs of a structural phase transition. The behavior of the temperature-frequency dependences of the complex permittivity ε*(f, T) is typical of relaxation processes. The dielectric relaxation in A^IIB ₂ ^V is considered on the basis of the model of isolated defects. The conuctivity σ of the single crystals under study is a sum of the frequency-dependent (hopping) conductivity σ_h and the conductivity σ_s that is typical of semiconductors. The hopping conductivity increases with an increase in frequency according to the law σ _h ～f^α, where α < 1 at low temperatures and α > 1 at high temperatures.     

Refinement of the crystal structure of rhombohedral KU<Subscript>2</Subscript>(PO<Subscript>4</Subscript>)<Subscript>3</Subscript> as a representative of orthophosphates with the NaZr<Subscript>2</Subscript>(PO<Subscript>4</Subscript>)<Subscript>3</Subscript> structure

The crystal structure of the high-temperature β modification of synthetic orthophosphate KU₂(PO₄)₃ was refined from powder X-ray diffraction data by the Rietveld method: sp. gr. \(R\bar 3c\), the unit-cell parameters a= 9.113(1) Å and c= 24.997(1) Å. The isotropic refinement converged to R _wp = 6.15, R _B = 2.14, R _F = 3.52, and S = 0.42. It was confirmed that β-KU₂(PO₄)₃ belongs to the structure type of sodium zirconium phosphate containing an actinide atom in a sixfold (octahedral) coordination formed by oxygen atoms, which is unusual for orthophosphates. The principal interatomic distances and bond angles in the structure are reported.