Growth and microhardness studies of melt-grown lead (II) chloride single crystals

In the present work, lead (II) chloride material is purified by directional solidification and single crystals of PbCl₂ are grown by vertical Bridgman technique employing double zone furnace. The growth conditions and the problems overcome are discussed. The grown crystals of pure and K₊-doped crystals are cleaved and subjected to microindentation tests. The validity of Kick's relation is checked, the value of K₁ the standard hardness number and n the work-hardening coefficient are discussed. The microhardness behaviour of pure and K⁺-doped lead(II) chloride have been compared.     

Growth,structure, and superconducting properties of Bi2Sr2Ca2Cu3O10 and (Bi,Pb)2Sr2Ca2Cu3O10‐y crystals

Large and high‐quality single crystals of both Pb‐free and Pb‐doped high temperature superconducting compounds (Bi_1‐xPb_x)₂Sr₂Ca₂Cu₃O_10‐y (x = 0 and 0.3) were grown by means of a newly developed “Vapour‐Assisted Travelling Floating Zone” technique (VA‐TSFZ). This modified zone‐melting technique was realised in an image furnace and allowed for the first time to grow Pb‐doped crystals by compensating for the Pb losses occurring at high temperature. Crystals up to 3×2×0.1 mm³ were successfully grown. Post‐annealing under high pressure of O₂ (up to 10 MPa at T = 500°C) was undertaken to enhance T_c and improve the homogeneity of the crystals. Structural characterisation was performed by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction (XRD) and the structure of the 3‐layer Bi‐based superconducting compound was refined for the first time. Structure refinement showed an incommensurate superlattice in the Pb‐free crystals. The space group is orthorhombic, A2aa, with cell parameters a = 27.105(4) Å, b = 5.4133(6) Å and c = 37.009(7) Å. Superconducting studies were carried out by A.C. and D.C. magnetic measurements. Very sharp superconducting transitions were obtained in both kinds of crystals (ΔT_c ≤ 1 K). In optimally doped Pb‐free crystals, critical temperatures up to 111 K were measured. Magnetic critical current densities of 2�10⁵ A/cm² were measured at T = 30 K and μ₀H = 0 T. A weak second peak in the magnetisation loops was observed in the temperature range 40‐50 K above which the vortex lattice becomes entangled. We have measured a portion of the irreversibility line (0.1‐5 Tesla) and fitted the expression for the melting of a vortex glass in a 2D fluctuation regime to the experimental data. Measurements of the lower critical field allowed to obtain the dependence of the penetration depth on temperature: the linear dependence of λ(T) for T < 30 K is consistent with d‐wave superconductivity in Bi‐2223. (© 2004 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Structure of dichloroethanolaminecopper(II) and dibromoethanolaminecopper(II)

CuCl₂(NH₂CH₂CH₂OH) is monoclinic, space group C2/c, witha+11.092(2),b+10.012(2),c+6.401(1) Å, =121.71(1)°, andV=604.8(2)ų withZ+4. The structure was refined to a final value ofR+0.27 for 518 unique observed reflections with |F|>3. The ethanolamine and halide ions coordinate to the copper(II) ion forming a pseudoplanar four-coordinate monomeric CuCl₂L² complex (L²+bidentate ligand). The copper ion also interacts with the halides of neighboring complexes through the formation of semi-coordinate Cu-Cl linkages (2.926(1) Å) between oligomers. The copper thus attains a 4+2 elongated octahedral coordination geometry. In this space group, the ligand is statisticallydisordered The Cu-Cl distance is 2.267(1)Å while the Cu-N/O distances are 2.025(2)Å. The dibromide structure is isomorphous with the dichloride structure, with space group C2/c, anda+11.285(2),b+10.218(2),c+6.715(1) Å, =121.65(1)°, andV=659.2(2)ų.     

Crystal Growth of Lead (II) Iodide from the Melt

Bulk Pbl₂ crystals up to 20 cm³ have been grown from high purity source material in a controlled way using a modified Bridgman-Stockbarger technique. The cleavage plane (0001) of crystals grown by a natural seed selection in a tipped-end ampoule is nearly parallel to its axis. On a mica substrate epitaxially grown crystals cleaved perpendicularly to the axis of a specially designed double wall ampoule.     

Growth of Triglycine Sulphate Single Crystals Doped by Cobalt (II) Phosphate

Modified TGS single crystals have been grown by doping with Cobalt (II) Phosphate in ferroelectric phase. The effects of different amounts of doping entities on the growth habit and P‐E hysteresis loop have been investigated. The experimental results show that while the spontaneous polarization P_s measured on variously doped crystals remains virtually unchanged, the coercive field values differ in dependence on the growth conditions and grown pyramidal features. The highest values of the coercive field E_c have been found to fall in the interval 800‐900 V/cm.     

Growth and characterization of diaquatetrakis (thiocyanato) cobalt (II) mercury (II) N-methyl-2-pyrolidone (CMTWMP) single crystals

Single crystals of diaquatetrakis (thiocyanato) cobalt (II) mercury (II) N-methyl-2-pyrolidone, (CoHg(SCN)₄·(H₂O)₂·2(C₃H₆CONCH₃) (abbreviated as CMTWMP) were grown using slow solvent evaporation technique. The structure of the grown crystals was confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction (XRD) technique. The optical properties of the crystals were investigated by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and UV–Vis–NIR transmission spectra. The grown crystals of CMTWMP were also subjected to dielectric, photoconductivity, thermal and microhardness studies. The photoconductivity study of CMTWMP confirms the electrochromism behaviour in the sample. The SHG efficiency of the sample was measured by Kurtz and Perry powder technique and its value is almost comparable with KDP.     

Growth kinetics of ammonium oxalate monohydrate single crystals from aqueous solutions containing Co(II) and Ni(II) impurities

The growth kinetics of different faces of ammonium oxalate monohydrate (AO) single crystals from aqueous solutions containing different concentrations of Co(II) and Ni(II) ions at a constant temperature are described and discussed. It was found that: (1) at a given supersaturation σ, both Co(II) and Ni(II) ions lead to a decrease in the growth rates R of different faces of AO crystals, (2) the growth of a particular face of the crystals occurs above a critical supersaturation σ_d, but there is also another supersaturation barrier σ* when the rate abruptly increases with σ, and (3) the values of σ_d and σ* increase with increasing concentration c_i of the impurity. The experimental R(σ) data for different concentrations c_i of the impurities were analysed according to the model involving complex source of cooperating screw dislocations and concepts of instantaneous and time‐dependent impurity adsorption. Analysis of the data showed that: (1) adsorption of Co(II) and Ni(II) impurities occurs on the surface terrace of AO crystals, (2) there is a simple relationship between Langmuir constant K and the impurity concentration c_i* corresponding to maximum surface coverage, and (3) the ratio σ_d/σ* of the supersaturation barriers observed in the presence of both impurities increases with an increase in impurity concentration c_i, and may be explained from the standpoint of the mechanism of adsorption of impurity particles at kinks and ledges. (© 2004 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Structure sensitivity of relaxation phenomena in NaCl and KCl crystals doped with some divalent impurities (II) effect of plastic deformation

By studying: 1/the role of dislocations in the origin of the C-ITC-peak in undeformed crystals, 2/ the effect of plastic deformation upon the behaviour of this peak, and 3/ the recovery of the deformation-induced changes of the basic characteristics of this peak (H^C, T_M^C) it has been confirmed that dislocation lines surrounded by the Cottrell-like atmospheres can be considered as polarizable entities related with the high-temperature dielectrical response of as cleaved NaCl and KCl crystals doped with divalent impurities. The Maxwell/Wagner model of polarization effects in heterogeneous dielectrics satisfactory accounts for the majority of the experimental data. The quantitative analysis of the results obtained yields some additional informations concerning the interaction- and motion-parameters of the defects considered.     

Growth,dielectric and photoconducting studies of tetrathiourea mercury(II) tetrathiocyanato zinc(II) NLO single crystals

A highly efficient nonlinear optical single crystals of tetrathiourea mercury (II) tetrathiocyanato zinc(II), Hg(N₂H₄CS )₄Zn(SCN)₄, (TMTZ) were conveniently grown from mixture solvent of ethanol–water by slow evaporation technique. The grown crystals exhibited needle-shaped morphology. The cell parameters of TMTZ single crystals were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The grown crystals were subjected to optical characterization by FT-IR, FT-Raman and UV–Vis–NIR techniques. The dielectric study of TMTZ showed low dielectric loss in the high-frequency region. The photoconductivity studies confirm that the TMTZ crystal has negative photoconducting nature.     

Cobalt(II) and nickel(II) complexes ofN-protected amino acids. Crystal and molecular structure of bis (N-acetylglycinato)tetraaquocobalt(II)

Binary complexes of formula [M(II)(acgly)₂(H₂O)₄] (M(II)=Co(II), Ni(II), acgly=N-acetylglycinate ion) were synthesized, and for the Co(II) complex the crystal and molecular structure was determined. The crystals are monoclinic, space groupP2₁/c,a=4.838(1),b=10.785(2),c=14.340(6) Å,=96.96(2)°,Z=2. The structure was solved by the heavy-atom method and refined through full-matrix least-squares calculations toR=0.0394 for 1069 observed reflections. The coordination around the cobalt atom is slightly elongated octahedral arising from one carboxylate oxygen of each of the two centrosymmetrically related monodentateN-acetylglycinate anions and four water molecules.     

Crystal and molecular structures of trichloro (π-cis-but-2-en- 1,4-diammonium) platinum(II) chloride and trichloro(π-cis-pent-2-enylammonium) platinum(II)

The structures of the olefinic complexes of platinum(II) withcis-but-2-en-1,4-diammonium, [PtCl₃(C₄H₁₂N₂)]⁺, and withcis-pent-2-enylammonium, [PtCl₃(C₅H₁₂N)], the first one as its chloride, have been determined by single-crystal X-ray methods. The compounds form yellow monoclinic crystals, witha=11.238(3),b=12.234(4),c=7.769(1) Å, = 112.99(2) ° anda= 11.530(3),b=9.037(3),c= 10.067(3) Å, =105.50(2) °, respectively; both crystallize in the space groupP2₁/c withZ=4. The structures, solved by standard methods, have been refined anisotropically by full-matrix least-squares methods, both toR=0.040, on, respectively, 1808 and 1849 independent reflections collected by counter methods.In both complexes, platinum is four-coordinate to the three chlorine atoms and the double bond of the olefinic ligand. The structures are discussed, and comparison with the analogous platinum(II)-olefin complexes with the trans isomers of the olefinic ligands is made.     

EPR spectra of (L-aspartate)di(2-pyridyl)aminezinc(II) hydrate substitutionally copper(II) doped complex

The [(L-aspartate)di(2-pyridyl)aminezinc(II)]hydrate doped with traces of copper was prepared. Electron paramagnetic resonance spectra of the polycrystalline sample were recorded at room temperature by using the X-band of the EPR spectrometer. The observedg factors for the complex areg _‖=2.258 andg _⊥=2.066. TheA _‖ value is 165.10⁻⁴ cm⁻¹. The crystal and molecular structure of the complex are also reported. The complex crystallizes in the monoclinic system; space groupP2₁ witha=7.2053(11),b=10.447(2),c=10.812(2) Å, β=108.489(14)° andZ=2. The structure can be described in the crystal lattice as polymeric chains.     

EPR spectra of (L-aspartate)di(2-pyridyl)aminezinc(II) hydrate substitutionally copper(II) doped complex

The [(L-aspartate)di(2-pyridyl)aminezinc(II)]hydrate doped with traces of copper was prepared. Electron paramagnetic resonance spectra of the polycrystalline sample were recorded at room temperature by using the X-band of the EPR spectrometer. The observedg factors for the complex areg _‖=2.258 andg _⊥=2.066. TheA _‖ value is 165.10⁻⁴ cm⁻¹. The crystal and molecular structure of the complex are also reported. The complex crystallizes in the monoclinic system; space groupP2₁ witha=7.2053(11),b=10.447(2),c=10.812(2) Å, β=108.489(14)° andZ=2. The structure can be described in the crystal lattice as polymeric chains.     

Crystal structure of bis(4-dimethylaminopyridinium) tribromocuprate(I) and bis(4-dimethylaminopyridinium) tetrabromocuprate(II)

The synthesis and crystal structures of two copper bromide salts of the 4-dimethylaminopyridinium (4DMAP⁺) cation are reported. The Cu(I) salt, (4DMAP)₂CuBr₃, crystallizes in the monoclinic space group C2/c, with a = 11.724(2), b = 11.055(3), c = 15.763(3) Å, = 107.64(3)°, and Z = 4. It contains isolated planar 4DMAP⁺ cations and trigonal planar CuBr₃ ^2– anions. Small distortions from idealized D _3h symmetry are observed for the anion. For the Cu(II) salt, (4DMAP)₂CuBr₄, a triclinic cell is observed with a = 8.2373(2), b = 9.2428(2), c = 14.4391(1) Å, = 93.760(1), = 94.576(1), = 105.249(1)°, and Z = 2. This compound contains discrete planar 4DMAP⁺ cations and flattened tetrahedral CuBr₄ ^2– anions. Small distortions are observed for ideal D _2d symmetry.     

Crystal and molecular structure of tetrakis(N,N′-diallylthiourea)nickel(II) iodide

Summary The crystal structure of tetrakis(N,N-diallylthiourea)nickel(II) iodide [Ni(C₇H₁₂N₂S)₄I₂] has been determined by a three-dimensional X-ray analysis. FinalR, after anisotropic least-squares refinement, is 8·8%. The crystals are tetragonal (P4/n):a = 11·24(1),c = 15·43(1) Å,Z = 2. Ni(II) is on a 4-fold axis; the coordination around it is flattened pyramidal and involves four sulphur atoms from four diallylthiourea molecules (Ni-S = 2·221 Å). Ni(II) is out of the plane through the sulphur atoms by 0·40 Å. Two I^- ions lie on opposite sides with respect to the nickel atom along the 4-fold axis, at distances Ni...I(1) = 3·74 Å, Ni...I(2) = 6·64 Å. The orientation of the allylthiourea molecules is determined mainly by a hydrogen bond formed by one nitrogen (N(1)) with the iodine which is nearer to the nickel.The authors are indebted to Prof. C. Furlani who kindly supplied the crystals of the compound.     

Metal-betaine interactions. IV. Crystal structures of trans-tetraaquabis(betaine)nickel(II) nitrate and trans-diaquatetrakis(pyridine betaine)cobalt(II) bis[trichloro(pyridine betaine)cobaltate(II)]

Two transition metal(II) complexes of betaine (Me₃N⁺CH₂COO^–, designated as BET) and pyridine betaine (C₅H₅N⁺CH₂COO^–, pyBET) have been prepared and investigated by X-ray crystallography and infrared spectroscopy. [Ni(BET)₂(H₂O)₄] (NO₃)₂ (1), (R _F=0.054 for 2518 observed MoK data) comprises slightly distorted octahedral [Ni(BET)₂(H₂O)₄]²⁺ cations in which the Ni(II) atom is centrosymmetrically coordinated by four aqua ligands and twotrans-related unidentate BET ligands, and the uncoordinated carboxy oxygens form intramolecular hydrogen bonds with the aqua ligands. [Co(pyBET)₄(H₂O)₂]·2[Co(pyBET)Cl₃] (2) (R _F=0.029 for 4696 observed data) consists of discrete octahedral [Co(pyBET)₄(H₂O)₂]²⁺ cations and tetrahedral [Co(pyBET)Cl₃]^– anions. In the centrosymmetric cation each of the twotrans-related aqua ligands form a pair of intramolecular hydrogen bonds with the uncoordinated oxygen atoms of two unidentate pyBET ligands. In the anion the cobalt atom is coordinated by one unidentate pyBET ligand and three chloro ligands.     

Growth and Raman spectroscopic characterization of As4S4 (II) single crystals

As described by Kutoglu (1976 [16]), single crystals of As₄S₄ (II) phase have been grown using a new two-step synthesis that drastically increases the reproducibility that is attainable in synthetic experiments. First, through photo-induced phase transformation, pararealgar powder is prepared as a precursor instead of AsS melt. Then it is dissolved and recrystallized from CS₂ solvent. Results show that single crystals of the As₄S₄ (II) phase were obtained reproducibly through the dissolution–recrystallization process. Single crystals of As₄S₄ (II) obtained using this method were translucent and showed a uniform yellow-orange color. The crystal exhibits a platelet-like shape as a thin film with well-developed faces (0 1 0) and (0 1¯ 0). The grown crystals are as large as 0.50×0.50×0.01 mm. They were characterized using powder and single crystal X-ray diffraction techniques to confirm the phase identification and the lattice parameters. The As₄S₄ (II) phase crystallizes in monoclinic system with cell parameters a=11.202(4) Å, b=9.954(4) Å, c=7.142(4) Å, β=92.81(4)°, V=795.4(6) Å³, which shows good agreement with the former value. Raman spectroscopic studies elucidated the behavior of the substance and the relation among phases of tetra-arsenic tetrasulfide.     

Crystal structure of bis(benzimidazolium) tetrabromocuprate(II)

Stable, dark-violet crystals of (C₇H₇N₂)₂CuBr₄ were obtained from an aqueous solution of CuBr₂, HBr, and benzimidazole. The crystal structure was determined by three-dimensional X-ray analysis. The crystals are monoclinic:C2/c, a=15.651(4),b=7.945(1),c=15.775(4) Å,=91.44(2)°,Z=4,V _c=1960.96 ų,D _x=2.105 g cm^–3. The structure was refined by full-matrix least squares to giveR=0.042 andR _w=0.048 for 1254 intensities above 3(I). The copper(II) ions are four-coordinated in the form of a distorted tetrahedron CuBr₄ ofC ₂ symmetry. Two different Cu-Br bond lengths are observed: Cu-Br(1)=2.426(2), Cu-Br(2)=2.330(2) Å. Only one flattened angle [Br(2)-Cu-Br(2)=132.71(9)°] in the CuBr₄ tetrahedron is noted. The angles Br(1)-Cu-Br(1)=108.83(7), Br(2)-Cu-Br(1)=99.92(5) and Br(2)-Cu-Br(1)=107.13(5)° have been found. Hydrogen bonds explain the deformation of the CuBr ₄ ^2– coordination polyhedron. The structure is compared with other CuX ₄ ^2– complexes.     

Synthetic and structural studies of the trans bis(2-N-H-pyrrolylcarbaldimine) complexes of nickel(II) and palladium(II)

The molecular bis(2-N-H-pyrrolylcarbaldimine)nickel(II) and palladium(II) complexes are isolated in moderate yield (30–35%) from in situ assembly of the Schiff base with metal(II) salt, base, and pyrrole-2-carbaldehyde in aqueous ammonia solution. The nickel(II) complex, 1, is monoclinic, space group P2₁/c, with a=11.289(6) ?, b=5.611(3) ?, c=8.287(5) ?, β=111.620(6)°, and V=488.0(5) ?³ with Z=2, for d _calc=1.667 Mg/m³. The palladium analog, 2, is isomorphous, space group P2₁/c, with a=11.481(3) ?, b=5.5738(10) ?, c=8.276(2) ?, β=110.923(12)°, and V=494.7(2) ?³ with Z=2, for d _calc=1.965 Mg/m³. In both crystal structures, the metal resides on an inversion center. In the IR spectra, ν(C=N) appears at 1561 cm⁻¹ in 1, and 1557 cm⁻¹ in 2, while ν(N–H) shows at 3345 cm⁻¹ and 3335 cm⁻¹, respectively. The ¹H-nmr spectra reveal the C–H and N–H protons of the imine group as sharp and broad doublets, respectively, at 7.62 and 8.38 δ in 1 and at 7.92 and 9.73 δ in 2.     

Enhancement of thermoelectric efficiency in vapor deposited Sb2Te3 and Sb1.8In0.2Te3 crystals

Pure and indium doped antimony telluride (Sb₂Te₃) crystals find applications in high performance room temperature thermoelectric devices. Owing to the meagre physical properties exhibited on the cleavage faces of melt grown samples, an attempt was made to explore the thermoelectric parameters of p‐type crystals grown by the physical vapor deposition (PVD) method. The crystal structure of the grown platelets (9 mm× 8 mm× 2 mm) was identified as rhombohedral by x‐ray powder diffraction method. The energy dispersive analysis confirmed the elemental composition of the crystals. The electron microscopic and scanning probe image studies revealed that the crystals were grown by layer growth mechanism with low surface roughness. At room temperature (300 K), the values of Seebeck coefficient S (⊥ c) and power factor were observed to be higher for Sb_1.8In_0.2Te₃ crystals (155 μVK⁻¹, 2.669 × 10⁻³ W/mK²) than those of pure ones. Upon doping, the thermal conductivity κ (⊥ c) was decreased by 37.14% and thus thermoelectric efficiency was improved. The increased figure of merit, Z = 1.23 × 10⁻³ K⁻¹ for vapour grown Sb_1.8In_0.2Te₃ platelets indicates that it could be used as a potential thermoelectric candidate.