On the (MgxNi1–x)SeO4 · 6 H2O and (MgxCu1–x)SeO4 · 5 H2O mixed crystal formation

Mixed crystals (Mg_xNi_1–x)SeO₄ · 6 H₂O and (Mg_xCu_1–x)SeO₄ · 5 H₂O have been prepared studying the solubility in the MgSeO₄–NiSeO₄–H₂O and MgSeO₄–CuSeO₄–H_2O systems at 25 °C. It has been shown that the monoclinic structure of MgSeO₄ · 6 H₂O is unstable and undergoes a change into tetragonal structure due to the included nickel ions (about 4 at %). The lattice parameters of (Mg_{xNi 1–x})SeO₄ 6 H₂O have been calculated. It has been established that the magnesium ions incorporate isodimorphously in the crystal structure of CuSeO₄ · 5 H₂O which could be an indication of the existence of MgSeO₄ · 5 H₂O isostructural with the triclinic CuSeO₄ 5 H₂O. The distribution coefficients of the salt components between the liquid and solid phases have been calculated.     

The Thermal Decomposition of Polyhalite K2SO4 · MgSO4 · 2 CaSO4 · 2 H2O

The thermal decomposition of polyhalite (K₂SO₄ · MgSO₄ · 2 CaSO₄ · 2H₂O) was investigated by DSC/TG and X-ray powder diffraction. The decomposition of the polyhalite starts at 285 °C in releasing the crystal water within one step. Simultaneously the decomposition of the polyhalite into anhydrite and two solid solutions of the compositions K₂SO₄ · 1.76 MgSO₄ · 0.24 CaSO₄ and K₂SO₄ · 0.64 MgSO₄ · 1.36 CaSO₄ is taking place. The mechanism of decomposition runs through K₂SO₄ · MgSO₄ CaSO₄. This phase reacts immediately to the solid solutions, mentioned above.     

Ferroelectric and ferroelastic properties of Rb2MnCl4·2H2O

Rb₂MnCl₄·2H₂O crystal belonging to the family of tetrahalogeno‐metallates dihydrates has been subjected to thermal, optical and dielectric studies. At room temperature the optical study under a polarization microscope has revealed a ferroelastic domain structure. At 240 K a dielectric anomaly, characteristic of the week ferroelectric phase transition, has been also observed. Moreover, below the temperatures of the phase transitions dielectric dispersion has appeared. Ferroic properties of Rb₂MnCl₄·2H₂O crystal have been compared to those of other tetrachlorides dehydrates. (© 2006 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Hydrothermal synthesis and formation of 4ZnO·B2O3·H2O whiskers via a new route

4ZnO·B₂O₃·H₂O whiskers were prepared from 2ZnO·3B₂O₃·3.5H₂O under hydrothermal process at 160 °C for 10 h. The synthesized product was characterized by XRD, SEM, TG‐DSC and FT‐IR. SEM results showed that the synthesized 4ZnO·B₂O₃·H₂O whiskers' length was about 3–10 μm and the diameter was 0.2–0.3 μm. Further study on the whiskers' growth process and mechanism showed that the formation of the whiskers went through three stages and the morphology of 4ZnO·B₂O₃·H₂O changed from irregular particles to rod‐like structures and finally to whiskers. The variation of the morphology of the 4ZnO·B₂O₃·H₂O whisker with the concentration of the starting material was investigated. (© 2012 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Structural features of a new [Fe(nicotinamide)2(H2O)4]·[Fe(H2O)6]·(SO4)2·2H2O complex

A new nicotinamide complex of Fe(II) cation was prepared by reaction between ferrous sulfate and nicotinamide in aqueous solution. The complex was characterized on the basis of elemental analysis, FT IR and UV–VIS spectroscopy, electrochemistry (cyclic voltammetry) and X–ray crystallography. The complex consists of the molecular composition of [Fe(nicotinamide)₂(H₂O)₄]· [Fe(H₂O)₆]·(SO₄)₂·2H₂O. The complex crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P 2₁/c [a = 12.862(3), b = 7.110(3), c = 16.382(3) Å; β = 95.79(2)°]. It has been proven that nicotinamide is coordinated to Fe(II) through the nitrogen atom of its heterocyclic ring. © 2006 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim     

Crystalloluminescence and Mechanoluminescence Spectra of Ba(ClO3)2 · H2O and 2 K2SO4 · Na2SO4 Crystals

Crystalloluminescence and mechanoluminescence of Ba(ClO₃)₂ · H₂O and 2 K₂SO₄ · Na₂SO₄ crystals are investigated. The crystalloluminescence spectra are almost similar to the photoluminescence spectra; however, they differ completely from the mechanoluminescence spectra. The crystalloluminescence excitations may take place due to the various processes: (i) the recombination of ions, (ii) from amorphous to crystalline transition, (iii) from the phase change during the crystallization, and (iv) from the dielectric breakdown by the electric field produced due to the creation of microfracture during the crystal growth. It is concluded that the crystalloluminescence excitation in Ba(ClO₃)₂ · H₂O and 2K₂SO₄ · Na₂SO₄ crystals may be chemical in origin.     

Nonlinear optical properties of strontium tartrato‐antimonate(III) dihydrate,Sr[Sb2{(+)‐C4H2O6}2]·2H2O

The tensor of nonlinear optical susceptibility for second harmonic generation [d^SHG _ijk ] of hexagonal (point group 6) strontium tartrato‐antimonate(III) dihydrate, Sr[Sb₂{(+)‐C₄H₂O₆}₂]·2H₂O, was determined using the Maker fringes method and a Nd:YAG laser with a wavelength of 1064 nm. The largest component of the tensor d^SHG ₃₃₃ amounts two times d^SHG ₁₁₁ of α‐quartz. Effective nonlinear optical susceptibility d^SHG _eff is given for phase matching type I for several wavelengths (for type II d^SHG _eff is nearly zero). The thermal stability of crystals of Sr[Sb₂{(+)‐C₄H₂O₆}₂]·2H₂O was determined in the temperature range from 153 K to 573 K by means of thermal expansion measurements and thermogravimetry. The temperature dependence of thermal expansion coefficients is given in the range from 153 K to 293 K. (© 2008 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Growth and Physical Characterization of Double Cation Hydrogen Double Sulphate System Li2NaH(SO4)2 · H2O

Single crystals of Li₂NaH(SO₄)₂ H₂O are grown from aqueous solution, containing equimolar amounts of Li₂SO₄ H₂O and NaHSO₄ from 80°C down to 30°C over a period of 15 days, resulting in large good quality crystals. The as-grown crystals are verified by using XRD powder technique. The local structure is discussed in the light of vibrational spectroscopy. Water of crystallization is evidenced from both IR and Raman spectra. Several endothermic and an exothermic phase transition anomalies have been observed from DTA scan. Considerable weight loss is observed at 108°C from thermogravimetric study (TGA). The melting point of the material is found to be 450 °C. The density of the compound is measured to be 2.5217 g/cm³.     

Room‐temperature synthesis and characterization of cross‐like Pr2(C2O4)3·10H2O micro‐particles

Cross‐like Pr₂(C₂O₄)₃·10H₂O micro‐particles were synthesized through a simple precipitation method at room temperature. The products were characterized by X‐ray diffraction (XRD), X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), field‐emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), thermogravimetry–differential thermal analysis (TG‐DTA) and photoluminescence (PL). The possible formation mechanism of the cross‐like Pr₂(C₂O₄)₃·10H₂O micro‐particles was discussed, and Pr₆O₁₁ with similar morphology was obtained by calcining the oxalate precursor. (© 2010 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Elastic properties of the dithionates Na2S2O6 · 2 H2O,K2S2O6, Rb2S2O6, CaS2O6 · 4H2O and SrS2O6 · 4 H2O

Single crystals of the title compounds having optical quality and dimensions of several cm were grown from aqueous solutions. The elastic and thermoelastic constants were determined from ultrasonic resonance frequencies of thick plates. The true point symmetry of K₂S₂O₆ and Rb₂S₂O₆, which is screened by a hexagonal hypermorphy, could be clearly revealed to be trigonal (32) by the existence of the elastic constant c₁₄. In the case of CaS₂O₆ · 4H₂O and SrS₂O₆ · 4H₂O the constant c₁₄ of the specimens appeared too small to confirm the trigonal symmetry group required from electrooptic and non-linear optic effects unambiguously. The isotypy of K₂S₂O₂ and Rb₂S₂O₆ as well as that of CaS₂O₆ · 4H₂O and SrS₂O₆ · 4H₂O is confirmed by their elastic behaviour. The mean elastic stiffness of dithionates is closely related to that of the corresponding sulphates. In the vicinity of the second-order phase transition of K₂S₂O₆ near 235 K weak anomalies of the temperature derivatives of the longitudinal elastic stiffnesses are observed.     

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.     

Crystal Structure Determination of Nickel (2,2-Dipyridyl) Sulphate Hexahydrate [Ni(C10H8N2) · 4 H2O]SO4 · 2H2O

[Ni(C₁₀H₈N₂) · 4 H₂O]SO₄ · 2 H₂O, Mr = 418.7, monoclinic, P1 , a = 7.781(3), b = 9.421(3), c = 11.457(4) Å, α = 87.54(2)º, β = 96.40(2)º, γ = 102.58(2)º, ν = 814.5 Å, D_x = 1.26 g/cm³, Z = 2, (MoKx) = 0.71073 Å, μ = 7.0 cm⁻¹: T = 23 °C, R = 0.047 for 2139 reflections having intensities greater than 36. The structure was solved using the Patterson heavy-atom method and the remaining atoms were located in succeeding difference Fourier syntheses. The structure was then refined by full matrix least-squares using anisotropic temperature factors. Hydrogen atoms were located and their positions and isotropic parameters were refined.     

Optical properties of non‐centrosymmetric mixed crystals K2(La1‐x Cex)(NO3)5 · 2 H2O (x = 0.0 – 1.0)

Large single crystals of optical quality of the non‐centrosymmetric orthorhombic potassium rare earth nitrate mixed crystals K₂(La_1–x Ce_x)(NO₃)₅ · 2 H₂O were grown at 38 °C from diluted HNO₃. For crystals with x = 0.0, 0.19, 0.38 and 0.66 refractive indices and their dispersion were determined with an error less than 1 · 10^–4 in the wavelength range 0.404 – 1.083 μm by the prism method. Phase matching conditions for collinear SHG frequency conversion were analysed in detail, including calculation of the effective nonlinear optical susceptibility. By an appropriate choice of the fraction x of cerium the mixed crystals K₂(La_1–x Ce_x)(NO₃)₅ · 2 H₂O allow an adjustment of non‐critical type I phase matching conditions to a desired wavelength of the fundamental wave within the range 1.055(4) – 1.107(6) μm. Non‐critical type II phase matching can be tuned in the wavelength range 0.949(2) – 0.931(2) μm. (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Synthesis of radial‐like ZnO structure by hydrothermal method with ZnSO4·7H2O and Zn(CH3COO)2·2H2O as zinc sources

Radial‐like ZnO structures were prepared using zinc sulfate (ZnSO₄·7H₂O) and zinc acetate [Zn(CH₃COO)₂·2H₂O] as zinc sources by a facile template‐free hydrothermal method in this paper. Structural and optical properties of radial‐like ZnO structures are characterized by X‐ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), UV‐vis spectrophotometer and photoluminescence measurement (PL). It has been found that the distinct surface morphologies of radial‐like ZnO structures grown by different zinc sources. Slim radial‐like ZnO with a hexagonal wurtzite structure is grown by using ZnSO₄·7H₂O as zinc sources, whereas coarse radial‐like ZnO with zincite structure is achieved by zinc acetate. The UV‐vis absorption spectra of them both display an obvious and significant absorption in the ultraviolet region. The room temperature PL spectra of ZnO structures grown by two different zinc sources possess a common feature that consists of a strong ultraviolet (UV) peak and visible emission band.     

Thermal dehydration of the double salts K2Be(XO4)2·2H2O (X = S,Se)

The thermal dehydration of the title compounds was studied by TG, DTA and DSC methods and the enthalpies of dehydration were calculated (87.6 kJ mol^–1 and 167.5 kJ mol^–1 for the sulfate and selenate compound, respectively). The larger value of ΔH_deh of K₂Be(SeO₄)₂·2H₂O is due to the stronger hydrogen bonds formed in the selenate as compared to those formed in the respective sulfate owing to the stronger proton acceptor capabilities of the SeO₄^2– ions. The enthalpies of formation (ΔH_f⁰) of the dihydrates are also calculated from the DSC measurements (– 4467.4 kJ mol^–1 and – 3447.1 kJ mol^–1 for the sulfate and selenate compound, respectively). The anhydrous double salt, K₂Be(SO₄)₂, forms tetragonal crystals with lattice parameters: a = 7.232(2) Å; c = 14.168(2) Å; V = 741.0 ų, while the anhydrous salt, K₂Be(SeO₄)₂, forms monoclinic crystals with lattice parameters: a = 9.217(3) Å; b = 10.645(3) Å; c = 8.989(2) Å; β = 108.52(4)°; V = 836.2 ų. Vibrational spectra (infrared and Raman) of both the dihydrates and the anhydrous compounds are also presented and discussed. (© 2007 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Crystallization and Characterization of Orthorhombic β‐MgSO4 · 7H2O

In solution, the growth rate and the crystal habit are influenced by a number of factors such as supersaturation, temperature, pH of the solution, cooling rate, agitation, viscosity, initial state of the seed crystal and the presence of impurities. The crystallization of orthorhombic β‐MgSO₄ · 7H₂O, from low temperature aqueous solution by slow cooling process was studied. The metastable zone width, the induction periods (τ) for different supersaturations and the effect of pH on the growth rate of the crystals were investigated. The increase of pH yielded bigger crystals. The structural, optical, thermal and mechanical properties of β‐MgSO₄ · 7H₂O have been studied using FT‐IR, X‐ray diffraction, TGA‐DTG and micro hardness analyses.     

Crystal chemistry of the salts Me+Cl · Me2+Cl2 · 2 H2O

The crystal chemistry of the double salts Me⁺Cl · Me²⁺Cl₂ · 2 H₂O (where (Me⁺ = K, Rb, Cs; Me²⁺ = Mn, Fe, Co, Ni) is considered. It is concluded that these salts crystallize in three types of structures, the Me⁺ ion size being decisive for the structure type. Salts containing the large Cs⁺ ions crystallize in an orthorhombic structure in which [Me²⁺ (H₂O)₂Cl₄] octahedra form chains having common Cl⁻ corners. Salts with the smaller K⁺ ions crystallize in a tricline system, the [Me²⁺ (H₂O)₂Cl₄] octahedra being connected by a common Cl–Cl edge and forming dimers. When the intermediate in size Rb⁺ ions are present in the salts, either of the above structures is possible as well as a monoclinic structure which is intermediate in symmetry. The expected isostructure of the cesium salts was checked by studing the CsCl · NiCl₂ · 2 H₂O–CsCl · MnCl₂ · 2H₂O–H₂O system. A continuous series of mixed crystals is found.     

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.     

Studies on the preparation and characterization of the Ce2(SO4)3 · 8(H,D)2O

Cerium Sulfate octohydrate crystals were crystallized from aqueous solutions under controlled conditions. The solubility measurements were carried out on temperatures between 10 and 80°. Thermoanalytical methods were applied for the study of the thermal behaviour of this compound. Raman spectra of polycrystalline Ce₂(SO₄)₃ · 8H₂O and Ce₂(SO₄)₃ · 8D₂O recorded at 80 K are reported. The vibrational modes have been assigned by comparing the spectrum of both compounds and using structural considerations.     

Studies on fabrication of urchin‐like WO3·H2O hollow spheres and their photocatalytic properties

Urchin‐like tungsten oxide hydrate (WO₃ · H₂O) hollow spheres were successfully synthesized via a self‐sacrifice template method at low temperature. The effects of reaction parameters on the preparation were studied in solution. The growth mechanism was also proposed on the basis of experimental results. In addition, the acid amount and temperature have important effects on size control of the as‐obtained samples. The achieved nanoarchitectures have typical diameters of 4–6 μm with nanoflakes of several nanometers at surface. Crystal structure, morphology, and composition of final nanostructures were characterized by X–ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Degradation experiments of organic contaminant were also performed on samples of hollow spheres and walnut‐like structures under visible‐light illumination. Hollow sphere sample exhibited better photocatalytic capability than walnut‐like sample. Possible mechanism was studied for WO₃ · H₂O assisted photocatalytic degradation of organic contaminant under visible light.