Structural phase transitions in elpasolite- and cryolite-type fluorides

The occurrence of phase transitions in elpasolite- and cryolite-type fluorides depends mainly on two factors: the electronic structure of the involved transition element and/or the value of the tolerance factor (t) close to the lower limit of the stability range. The phase transitions have been followed using low- and hightemperature X-ray diffraction. EPR signals of Ni¹¹¹ and Pd¹¹¹ compounds are characteristic of a doublet ground state. The trivalent species are located in axially elongated octahedra and a static ← dynamic Jahn-Teller transition can be observed in some of these phases.     

First order phase transition of Li3 ThF7 at 281 K: A comparative study between EPR and Raman scattering

Abstract

Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) and Raman Spectroscopy were used to study the low temperature phase transition of pulled Li₃ThF₇ single crystals, occurring at 281 K. In both cases, the room temperature spectra were very broad, owing to the statistical disorder and high ionic mobility of the lithium ions, which occupy only 3/4 of their structural sites. The results are compatible with a first order ferroelastic transition from the room temperature orthorhombic D_2h ²² phase to a monoclinic C_2h ^(x) one. The symmetry rules are well respected assuming a model with four lithium ions in average per chemical formula. The EPR spectra show also the appearing of additional ferroelastic domains.     

Proton NMR study of molecular dynamics and phase transitions in methylammonium hexachloro plumbate, [NH3CH3]2PbCl6

Proton spin lattice relaxation time (T₁), measured as a function of temperature in the range 375–77 K, shows slope changes at 333, 221 and 111 K, in addition to a first order phase transition at 150K. The observed T₁ behaviour and second moment (M₂) variation with temperature are explained on the basis of the different possible motions of CH₃ and NH₃ groups.     

Ferroelastic phase transitions in (NH4)2TaF7

The heat capacity, unit cell parameters, permittivity, optical properties, and thermal expansion of the (NH₄)₂TaF₇ compound with a seven-coordinated anion polyhedron have been measured. It has been found that the compound undergoes two successive phase transitions with the symmetry change: tetragonal → (T ₁ = 174 K) orthorhombic → (T ₂ = 156 K) tetragonal. The ferroelastic nature of structural transformations has been established, and their entropy and susceptibility to hydrostatic pressure have been determined.     

Synthesis, crystal structure, Cu doped EPR and voltammetric studies of bis[N-(2-hydroxyethyl)ethylenediamine]zinc(II) squarate monohydrate

Crystal structure of [Zn(hydet-en)₂]·C₄O₄·H₂O (ZHES) (hydet-en is N-(2-hydroxyethyl)ethylenediamine) complex has been synthesized and characterized by analytical, spectroscopic (IR, UV/Vis) and voltammetric techniques. After doping Cu²⁺ ion, its magnetic environment has been identified by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) technique. The title complex crystalizes in monoclinic system with space group P2₁/c and with Z=4. Each hydet-en ligand acts as a tridentate ligand through the two N atoms and the hydroxyl O atom, resulting in a six coordinate Zn(II) ion. The EPR spectra were recorded in three perpendicular planes of Cu²⁺ doped ZHES single crystal. The calculated g and A values indicated that the paramagnetic center is rhombic symmetry with the Cu²⁺ ion having distorted octahedral environment. The molecular orbital bond coefficients of the Cu(II) ion in d⁹ state is also calculated by using EPR and optical absorption parameters. The dianion SQ²⁻ is oxidized reversibly in two consecutive steps to the corresponding radical monoanion and neutral form.     

EPR studies on aqueous sucrose solutions using (Cu(H2O)6)2+ spin probe

EPR investigations using Cu²⁺ ion as a probe have been performed on supersaturated sucrose solution with percent concentration c = 66 as a function of temperature T, and at room temperature as a function of c. The motionally averaged spectrum of [Cu(H₂O)₆]²⁺ was used to monitor the changes in intermolecular interactions that occur as a function of [c, T]. A drastic increase in the line width, symptomatic of increase in the rotational correlation time of [Cu(H₂O)₆]²⁺, is observed between 293 and 288 K. The motionally averaged spectrum disappears below 281 K. The motionally averaged spectrum is also absent in the room temperature spectra of the solution with c= 85. Even in the [c, T] range where [Cu(H₂O)₆]² is found to be nearly static, these molecules appear to have an orientational fluctuation manifesting in the m ₁ dependence of the line width of the parallel component.     

Phase transitions in [NH(CH3)3]2MeCl4 (Me = Cd,Zn,Cu) crystals

Dielectric properties of the new [NH(CH₃)₃]₂ZnCl₄ and [NH(CH₃)₃]₂CdCl₄ crystals from the [(CH₃) _n NH_4-n ]₂MeCl₄ group have been investigated in a wide temperature range (4.2–320 K). A series of phase transitions has been discovered at T₃ = 325 K,T₄ = 251 K,T₅ = 193 K, for [NH(CH₃)₃]₂CdCl₄ and at T₃ = 309 K, T₄ = 282 K, T₅ = 269 K for [NH(CH₃)₃]₂ZnCl₄. A ferroelectric phase has been discovered in the temperature interval T₄—T₅ from the temperature and frequency dependence of the dielectric permittivity ε(T, v). According to optical investigations the existence of ferroelastic phases in the temperature interval T₁ = 349 K–T₂ = 391 K and below T₅ for [NH(CH₃)₃]₂CdCl₄ and both above T₃ and below T₅ for [NH(CH₃)₃]₂ZnCl₄ has been ascertained.     

Optical studies of the ferroelastic phase transitions in Rb3H(SeO4)2, (NH4)3H(SO4)2 and (NH4)3H(SeO4)2

Optical observations of growth twins and ferroelastic domains and measurements of the rotation of the optical indicatrix were carried out for Rb₃H(SeO₄)₂ and (NH₄)₃H(SO₄)₂ using an optical microscope. Taking into account the symmetry reduction from the rhombohedral (Rm) to the monoclinic phase (B2/a) the occurrence of domains and growth twins can be well described. The orientations of oblique ferroelastic walls are well determined by the spontaneous strains ^s e ₁₁ and ^s e ₂₃ at room temperature.     

EPR and optical-absorption studies of Cu2+-doped Zn(NH2(CH2)3NHOH)2Ni(CN)4 single crystals

Electron paramagnetic resonance of Cu²⁺-doped catena-trans-bis(N-(2-hydroxyethyl)-ethylenediamine) zinc(II)-tetra-μ-cyanonicelate(II) [Zn(NH₂(CH₂)₃NHOH)₂Ni(CN)₄] single crystals and powder are examined at room temperature. The spectra show the substitution of the Zn²⁺ ion with the Cu²⁺ ion. The crystal field around the Cu²⁺ ion is nearly axial. There is a single paramagnetic site withg _xx=2.073,g _yy=2.060,g _zz=2.248,A _xx=40.5 G,A _yy=50.8 G,A _zz=172.0 G. The ground-state wave function is an admixture of d _x ²−y ² and d _z ² states. The optical-absorption studies show two bands at 320 nm (31250 cm⁻¹) and 614 nm (16286 cm⁻¹) which confirm the axial symmetry. The crystal field parameters and the wave function are determined.     

Temperature evolution of the intra-ion absorption spectra of (NH2(C2H5)2)2CoCl4 crystals in the region of their phase transitions

On the basis of spectroscopic studies of (NH₂(C₂H₅)₂)₂CoCl₄ crystals, the absorption bands corresponding to the internal electronic transitions in the Co²⁺ ion were identified. The values of the crystal field and Racah parameters were calculated. The temperature evolution of the absorption spectra of (NH₂(C₂H₅)₂)₂CoCl₄ crystals reveals the anomalies of their parameters at the points of phase transitions. The corresponding changes of the absorption spectra were discussed in terms of distortion of the metal-halogen complex. The temperature dependences of the absorption spectra of (NH₂(C₂H₅)₂)₂CoCl₄ crystals confirm the presence of the thermochromic phase transitions at 255 and 330?K.     

Crystal growth and phase transitions of solid solutions in [N(CH3)4]2MX4 isomorph class

Abstract

Homogeneous single crystals of tetramethylammonium tetrahalogenometallate solid solutions have been grown: a temperature difference growth method with thermally enforced convection was used during the material transport from an equilibrated feed material to the growing crystals. The smallest crystals were mostly studied by differential scanning calorimetry and X-ray crystallography. Some bigger crystals were available for dielectric measurements and Raman scattering. The temperature-concentration phase diagrams of solid solutions look like the temperature-pressure phase diagrams of pure tetramethylammonium salts. The progressive substitution seems equivalent to a change of the pressure, and is understood as a distortion of the metal-halide tetrahedron and a change of interactions with the first, second and third neighbours. The structure instabilities seem to have their origin within the b?c layers, and the increase of pressure (or equivalent concentration) should correspond to a hardening of the Layer-Shift Mode.     

Optical studies of the ferroelastic phase transitions in KFe(MoO4)2

ABSTRACT

The ferroelastic phase transitions in KFe(MoO₄)₂ have been studied by means of polarized light microscopy. The crystal undergoes a sequence of ferroelastic phase transitions. It has been found that the second transition consists of two transitions separated by the temperature interval of about 0.4 K. Both these transitions are of the first order and are evidenced through a phase front passing, without the domain structure rebuilding. The disposition of optical indicatrix axes n_g, n_m has been established, and the birefringence has been measured in the plane (0001) in the temperature range covering all ferroelastic phases. From temperature studies of the morphic birefringence, a critical exponent of the order parameter has been estimated.     

Cu1-xHxZr2(PO4)3中Cu2+的EPR谱和局域结构研究

本文采用Cu²⁺斜方对称电子顺磁共振（EPR）参量的高阶微扰公式计算了晶体Cu_1-xH_xZr₂（PO₄）₃中Cu²⁺的EPR参量（g因子和超精细结构常数A因子）．计算结果表明,晶体Cu_1-xH_xZr₂（PO₄）₃中[CuO₆]^10-基团的Cu-O键长分别为R_||≈0.241 nm,R_⊥≈0.215 nm,平面键角τ≈80.1°;由于对称性降低,中心金属离子基态²A_1g（θ）和²A_1g（ε）有一定程度混合,混合系数α≈0.995．所得EPR谱图的理论计算值与实验数据符合得很好．     

Light scattering studies of phase transitions of (NH4)2SO4-type crystals

The mechanism of the ferroelectric transition of pure and rubidium-doped ammonium sulfate is investigated by means of Raman, Brillouin and dielectric measurements. The study contributes to spectroscopic evidences of temperature anomalies of lattice vibrations in the paraelectric and ferroelectric range. The different behaviour of rubidium-doped crystals with respect to their dielectric and elastic properties at the transition is interpreted as an indication that different order parameters might become active in this first order transformation.