Effect of electron correlation in Sr(Ca)Ru1−xCrxO3: Density functional calculation

We have investigated the electronic structure of Sr(Ca)Ru_1−xCr_xO₃ using the full potential linearized augmented plane wave method by different approximation such as LSDA and LSDA+U. The LSDA calculation suggest that Cr⁴⁺-Ru⁴⁺ hybridization is responsible for the high Curie temperature T_C in SrRu_1−xCr_xO₃, but it cannot completely describe its physical behavior. Our LSDA+U DOS results for SrRu_1−xCr_xO₃ clearly establishes renormalization of the intra-atomic exchange strength at the Ru sites, arising from the Cr-Ru hybridization. The antiferromagnetic coupling of Cr³⁺ with Ru^4+,5+ lattice increases the screening, which is consistent with the low magnetic moment of the Ru ions. The more distorted Ca-based compounds as compared to the Sr-based systems shows that the hybridization mechanism is not relevant for these compounds. The bigger exchange splitting of Ru 4d and Cr 3d at the Fermi level with Ru^4+,5+ and Cr^3+,4+ orbital occupancies of CaRu_0.75Cr_0.25O₃ in the LSDA+U calculation, compared with that of the LSDA calculation, shows that repulsion between electrons tend to keep the localized spins from overlapping. The low screening of the Ru t_2g electrons increases T_C in the Ca-based systems, which is consistent with the both high Ru exchange splitting and magnetic moment. The insulating behavior of the high Cr-doped systems can be explained by considering the Ru⁴⁺+Cr⁴⁺→Ru⁵⁺+Cr³⁺ charge transfer.     

Magnetic properties in the system BaCo1−xMnxO3 and SrCo1−xMnxO3 (0 ≦ x ≦ 1)

The compounds in the systems of BaCo_1?xMn_xO₃ (0 ≦ x ≦ 1) and SrCo_1?xMn_xO₃ (0 ≦ x ≦ 1) were prepared at an oxygen pressure of 1400 bars. The former had a two-layer hexagonal structure and that of the latter was cubic perovskite type. From the variation of the unit-cell parameters and of the magnetic properties, it is found that the Co⁴⁺ ions change from the low-spin to the high-spin state. In the system of SrCo_1?xMn_xO₃, the change of magnetic property from ferromagnet to antiferromagnet is related to the spin state of Co⁴⁺ ions located at the octahedral sites.     

Polaron morphologies in SrFe1−xTixO3−δ

The morphologies of the charge carriers in the perovskite system SrFe_1−xTi_xO_3−δ are explored by transport and magnetic measurements. Oxygen vacancies are present in all samples, but they do not trap out the Fe³⁺ ions they introduce. The x=0.05 composition was prepared with three different values of δ. They all show small-polaron conduction above 225 K; but where there is a ratio c=Fe⁴⁺/Fe<0.5, the polaron morphology appears to change progressively with decreasing temperature below 225 K to two-Fe polarons that become ferromagnetically coupled in an applied magnetic field at lower temperatures; With an applied field of 2500 Oe, divergence of the paramagnetic susceptibility for zero-field-cooled and field-cooled samples manifests a greater stabilization of ferromagnetic pairs on cooling in the applied field. With a c>0.5, the data are consistent with a disproportionation reaction 2Fe⁴⁺=Fe³⁺+Fe(V)O_6/2 that inhibits formation of two-Fe polarons and, on lowering the temperature, creates Fe³⁺-Fe(V)-Fe³⁺ superparamagnetic clusters.     

Structural and Transport Properties of Mg1−xMnxMn2O4±δ Spinels

The synthesis and structural properties of Mg_1−xMn_2+xO₄, for 0≤x≤1 are described. Complete miscibility in the solid state exists for this system. For the material with the correct stoichiometry, i.e. MgMn₂O₄, the effect of temperature on the cation distribution was investigated= above 600°C the inversion degree (m) starts increasing. The electrical conductivity shows a small dependence on P(O₂) which is consistent with the small oxygen non-stoichiometry determined by means of thermogravimetry. The main contribution to the transport properties arises from the inversion equilibrium. Two distinct conductivity regimes, below and above the inversion threshold, can be assumed to explain the electrical conductivity and thermoelectric power results.     

Structural Characterization of the Complex Perovskites Ba1−xLaxTi1−xCrxO3

The series Ba_1−xLa_xTi_1−xCr_xO₃ (0≤x≤1) was synthesized at 1400°C for about 60 h. Their structure was carefully analyzed by the use of powder X-ray diffraction and Rietveld analysis software GSAS (General Structure Analysis System). Four solid solutions are found in this series: tetragonal solid solution Ba_1−xLa_xTi_1−xCr_xO₃ (0≤x≤0.029), cubic solid solution Ba_1−xLa_xTi_1−xCr_xO₃ (0.0365≤x≤0.600), rhombohedral solid solution Ba_1−xLa_xTi_1−xCr_xO₃ (0.700≤x≤0.873), and orthorhombic solid solution Ba_1−xLa_xTi_1−xCr_xO₃ (0.956≤x≤1). There are corresponding two-phase regions between the adjacent two solid solutions. The detailed lattice parameters are presented. The relationship between the lattice parameters and the composition of the solid solutions is developed.     

Synthesis and Electrochemical Studies of Spinel LiNi1−xMnxVO4

Spinel compound LiNi_1−xMn_xVO₄ (0≤x≤0.4) had been prepared by using the moist chemical method. X-ray diffraction spectra showed that the lattice constant increased with x in the LiNi_1−xMn_xVO₄, XPS spectra indicating that Li1s had a chemical shift towards lesser binding energy, and manganese in LiNi_1−xMn_xVO₄ existing as the mixed valence of Mn²⁺ and Mn³⁺. The electrochemical charge and discharge testing at a current density of 0.1 mA/cm² between the potentials of 4.0 and 3.0 V vs Li/Li⁺ in 1 mol/dm³ LiPF₆/EC+DEC (1:1 by volume) at 25°C showed that LiNi_1−xMn_xVO₄ cell has a better rechargeability, but a lower cell voltage of 4.0 V vs Li/Li⁺ than that without the doping sample, and the capacity and the cycle efficiency of the Li/LiNi_1−xMn_xVO₄ cells increased with x in the LiNi_1−xMn_xVO₄.     

Electronic and magnetic properties of LaNi1−xCoxO3, LaCo1−xFexO3 and LaNi1−xFexO3

LaNi_1?xCo_xO₃ shows itinerant d-electron behavior similar to LaNiO₃ up to x = 0.5. In the range 0.5 < x < 1.0, the cobalt spin state equilibrium is markedly affected; the localized-itinerant electron transition of LaCoO₃ is not seen when x < 0.95. In LaCo_1?xFe_xO₃, itinerancy of d-electrons decreases with increase in x and the compositions with x > 0.5 are similar to LaFeO₃. If x > 0.1, the localized-itinerant electron transition is not seen and the cobalt spin state equilibrium is considerably altered. In LaNi_1?xFe_xO₃, itinerancy decreases with increase in x. These observations can be satisfactorily explained in terms of Goodenough's energy band schemes.     

Structural and spectroscopic studies of BiTa1−xNbxO4

Polycrystalline samples of type BiTa_1−xNb_xO₄ (0?x?1) in both the orthorhombic and triclinic phases have been characterized by a combination of powder X-ray diffraction, UV-Vis and Raman spectroscopy. The addition of Nb to BiTaO₄ subtly alters the structure and spectroscopic properties of both the orthorhombic and triclinic oxides. The difference in bonding from the Nb 4d and Ta 5d electrons results in an unusual variation in the cell parameters in the orthorhombic form. In both structural types the addition of Nb results in a shift of the strong UV-Vis absorption feature towards the visible region. This feature noticeably broadens and shifts towards lower energy in the triclinic structures.     

Solvothermal Synthesis of Superfine Li1−xMn2O4−σ Powders

Superfine Li_1−xMn₂O_4−σ powders were successfully synthesized by the alcohol-thermal method using 0.01 mol of MnO₂, 0.01mol of LiOH·H₂O, and 0.06mol of NaOH as starting materials at 160-200°C. The products are characterized by XRD, TEM, ED, BET, and ICP. Results show that the Li_0.74Mn₂O_3.74 powder prepared at 200°C has an average size of 180 nm with BET surface areas of 16.44 m²/g. A possible formation mechanism is proposed. It was concluded that the alcohol acts not only as the solvent but also as the reducing agent in the synthesis of Li_1−xMn₂O_4−σ powders. The effects of reaction temperature and the contents of NaOH and LiOH on the formation of single phase Li_1−xMn₂O_4−σ were investigated.     

Vacancy ordering and oxygen dynamics in oxide ion conducting La1−xSrxGa1−xMgxO3−x ceramics: Ga, Mg and O NMR

The oxygen vacancies distribution in the rigid lattice and the thermally activated motion of oxygen atoms are studied in La_1−xSr_xGa_1−xMg_xO_3−x (x=0.00; 0.05; 0.10; 0.15 and 0.20) compounds. For that ⁷¹Ga, ²⁵Mg and ¹⁷O NMR was performed from 100 K up to 670 K, and ion conductivity measurements were carried out up to 1273 K. The comparison of the electric field gradients at the Ga- and Mg-sites evidences that oxygen vacancies appear exclusively near gallium cations as a species trapped below room temperature in local clusters, GaO_5/2-□-GaO_5/2. These clusters decay at higher temperature into mobile constituents of the structural octahedra Ga(O_5/6□_1/6)_6/2. At the same time, the nearest octahedral oxygen environment of magnesium cations persists at different doping levels. The case of two adjacent vacant anion sites is found highly unlikely within the studied doping range. The thermally activated oxygen motion starts to develop above room temperature as is observed from both the motional narrowing of ¹⁷O NMR spectra and the ¹⁷O nuclear spin-lattice relaxation rate. The obtained results show that two types of motion exist, a slow motion and a fast one. The former is a long-range diffusion whereas the latter is a local back and forth oxygen jumps between two adjacent anion sites. These sites are strongly differentiated by the probability of the vacancy formation, like the vacant apical site and the occupied equatorial site in the orthorhombic compositions x <0.15.     

Chemical Synthesis and Properties of Spinel Li1−xCo2O4−δ

Spinel Li_1−xCo₂O_4−δ samples with 0.44≤(1−x)≤1 have been synthesized by chemically extracting lithium with the oxidizer NO₂BF₄ in acetonitrile medium from the LT-LiCoO₂ synthesized at 400°C. Rietveld analysis of the X-ray diffraction data reveals that the Li_1−xCo₂O_4−δ samples adopt the normal cubic spinel structure with a cation distribution of (Li_1−x)_8a[Co₂]_16dO_4−δ. Redox iodometric titration data indicate that the LT-LiCoO₂ tends to lose oxygen on extracting lithium and the spinel Li_1−xCo₂O_4−δ samples are oxygen-deficient. Both infrared spectroscopic and magnetic susceptibility data suggest that the LiCo₂O_4−δ spinel is metallic with itinerant electrons. The tendency to lose oxygen on extracting lithium from the LT-LiCoO₂ and the observed metallic behavior of the spinel LiCo₂O_4−δ are explained on the basis of a qualitative band diagram.     

Structural and magnetic properties of Nd18Li8Co4−xFexO39−y and Nd18Li8Co4−xTixO39−y

Nd₁₈Li₈Co₃FeO_39−y, Nd₁₈Li₈CoFe₃O_39−y and Nd₁₈Li₈Co₃TiO_39−y have been synthesised and characterised by neutron powder diffraction, magnetometry and Mössbauer spectroscopy. Their cubic structure (Pm3?n, a∼11.9 Å) is based on intersecting <1 1 1> chains comprised of alternating octahedral and trigonal-prismatic coordination sites. These chains lie within hexagonal-prismatic cavities formed by a Nd-O framework. Each compound has an incomplete oxide sublattice (y∼1), with vacancies located around the octahedral sites that lie at the points of chain intersection. These sites are fully occupied by a disordered arrangement of transition-metal cations but only 75% of the remaining octahedral sites are occupied. The trigonal-prismatic sites are fully occupied by lithium except in the case of Nd₁₈Li₈CoFe₃O_39−y where some iron is present. Antiferromagnetic interactions are present on the Nd sublattice in each composition, but a spin glass forms below 5 K when a high concentration of spins is also present on the octahedral sites.     

Homoatomic Clustering in the Intermediate Valence Compounds Yb1−yAl3−xSix and Yb1−yAl3−xGex

Two new phases, Yb_1−xAl_3−xSi_x and Yb_1−yAl_3−xGe_x, were found by systematic investigations of the according ternary systems. The crystal structures of Yb_1−yAl_2.8Si_0.2 and Yb_1−yAl_2.8Ge_0.2 (defect HT-PuAl₃ type) were studied by X-ray powder methods (CuKα₁ radiation, λ=1.54056 Å, hexagonal system, space group P6₃/mmc (No. 194), a=6.009(1) and 6.015(1) Å, c=14.199(2) and 14.241(5) Å, V=444.0(2) and 446.2(3) ų, 93 and 92 reflections, and 8200 and 8000 profile points for silicide and germanide, respectively). Full profile refinements with 11 and 13 structural parameters resulted in R_I=0.049 and 0.054, and R_p=0.088 and 0.104, respectively. The ternary structures are distorted closest packings in comparison with the binary YbAl₃ compound with AuCu₃-type structure. They are characterized by the formation of Al₃-, Si₃-, and Ge₃-homoatomic clusters and aluminum networks. Magnetization measurements show that both the silicide and germanide are valence fluctuation compounds with enhanced electronic density of states at the Fermi level similar to the binary YbAl₃. The characteristic maximum of the magnetic susceptibility increases from ≈120 K for YbAl₃ to ≈140 K for Yb_1−yAl_2.8Si_0.2or Yb_1−yAl_2.8Ge_0.2 and further to ≈150 K for Yb_1−yAl_2.75Si_0.25. The S-shape of the electrical resistivity curves is also characteristic of valence fluctuations.     

Modulated structure of the composite crystal InCr1−xTixO3+x/2

Incommensurately modulated structure of the composite crystal InCr_1−xTi_xO_3+x/2 was refined by the profile fitting of powder X-ray diffraction based on the four-dimensional superspace group. The crystal consists of two monoclinic subsystems mutually incommensurate in b. The first subsystem is the alternate stacking of an edge-shared InO₆ octahedral layer and a Cr/Ti triangle-lattice plane along c^*. A sheet of oxygen atoms constructing the second subsystem is also extending on the Cr/Ti plane. The whole structure is the alternate stacking of an edge-shared InO₆ octahedral layer and a Cr/Ti-O plane, where displacive modulation of O ions is prominent. Metal ions on the Cr/Ti-O plane are surrounded by three or four oxygen ions on the plane and, in addition, two axial ones.     

Comparison of the Chemical Stability of Li1−xCoO2 and Li1−xNi0.85Co0.15O2 Cathodes

The chemical stability of the layered Li_1−xCoO₂ and Li_1−xNi_0.85Co_O.15O₂ cathodes is compared by monitoring the oxygen content with lithium content (1−x) in chemically delithiated samples. The Li_1−xCoO₂ system tends to lose oxygen from the lattice at deep lithium extraction while the Li_1−xNi_0.85Co_0.15O₂ system does not lose oxygen at least for (1−x)>0.3. This difference seems to result in a lower reversible (practical) capacity (140 mA h/g) for LiCoO₂ compared to that for LiNi_0.85Co_0.15O₂ (180 Ma h/g). The loss of significant amount of oxygen leads to a sliding of oxide layers and the formation of a major P3 and a minor O1 phase for the end member CoO_2−δ with δ=0.33. In contrast, Ni_0.85Co_0.15O_2−δ with a small amount of δ=0.1 maintains the initial O3 layer structure.     

Variations of the FeGa3 Structure Type in the Systems CoIn3−xZnx and CoGa3−xZnx

We present an investigation of the quasibinary systems CoIn_3−xZn_x and CoGa_3−xZn_x which were structurally characterized by X-ray diffraction experiments and, in the case of CoGa_3−xZn_x, additionally by neutron powder diffraction experiments. The limiting compositions were found to be x=0.81(2) and x=0.73(2) for CoIn_3−xZn_x and CoGa_3−xZn_x, respectively. The isotypic binary compounds CoIn₃ and CoGa₃ crystallize with the FeGa₃ structure type (tetragonal, space group P4₂/mnm, Z=4) in which the p-block atoms form an array of columns of centered cubes defined by two different crystallographic sites. The substitution of In or Ga by Zn takes place in an ordered fashion and produces “colored” variants of the FeGa₃ parent structure: In both systems Zn enters exclusively the position corresponding to the cube centers. Additionally, in CoIn_3−xZn_x this position is substituted in such a way that for a composition CoIn_2.5Zn_0.5, columns of Zn- and In-filled In₈ cubes along the c axis alternate. The latter substitution pattern is accompanied by a symmetry lowering of the parent FeGa₃ structure: The structure of CoIn_3−xZn_x is described by the space group P4₂/m in which the cube center position is split into two separate sites. By performing first-principles electronic structure calculations we investigated the general bonding situation of the compounds CoIn₃ and CoGa₃ and the particular electronic effect when incorporating Zn. With respect to the density of states of the binary compounds the exchange of Ga or In by Zn virtually affects only the electronic states just below the Fermi level. On increasing Zn concentration a dip is created in the density of states which approximately coincides with the location of the Fermi level for an electron count corresponding to limiting composition of the two systems.     

Preparation and properties of the oxyfluoride systems V2O5−xFx and VO2−xFx

Partial substitution of fluorine for oxygen in VO₂ and V₂O₅ was achieved by reacting V and V₂O₅ under 1.33 kb pressure in the presence of concentrated or dilute solutions of HF. Two new phases having the composition V₂O_5−xF_x (0 < x < 0.025) and VO_2−xF_x (0 < x < 0.2) were prepared. X-Ray diffraction studies have been carried out on both phases and show the structure of V₂O_5−xF_x to be orthorhombic and isostructural to V₂O₅, while VO_2−xF_x has a tetragonal structure of the rutile type (for x ? 0.03). Single-crystal-resistivity data show V₂O_5−xF_x to be a semiconductor, whereas VO_2−xF_x undergoes a metallic to semiconductor transition at a temperature solely dependent upon the value of x.     

Temperature and composition dependent structural investigation of the defect perovskite series Sr1−xTi1−2xNb2xO3, 0≤x≤0.2

The crystal structure of the defect perovskite series Sr_1−xTi_1−2xNb_2xO₃ has been investigated over a range of temperatures using high-resolution synchrotron X-ray diffraction, neutron diffraction and electron diffraction. Three distinct regions were observed: 0<x≤0.125 was a solid solution of Sr_1−xTi_1−2xNb_2xO₃ with minor SrTiO₃ intergrowth, 0.125<x≤0.2 was a pure Sr_1−xTi_1−2xNb_2xO₃ solid solution adopting the cubic perovskite type structure (Pm3¯m) and for x>0.2 Sr_0.8Ti_0.6Nb_0.4O₃ and Sr₃TiNb₄O₁₅ formed a two phase region. The cubic structure for Sr_0.8Ti_0.6Nb_0.4O₃ was stable over the temperature range 90-1248 K and the thermal expansion co-efficient was determined to be 8.72(9)×10⁻⁶ K⁻¹. Electron diffraction studies revealed diffuse scattering due to local scale Ti/Nb displacements and slightly enhanced octahedral rotations that did not lead to long range order. The octahedral rotations were observed to ‘lock-in’ at temperatures below ∼75 K resulting in a tetragonal structure (I4/mcm) with anti-phase octahedral tilting about the c-axis.     

A Mössbauer study of oxygen vacancy and cation distribution in 6H-BaTi1−xFexO3−x/2

We have synthesized samples in the system BaTi_1−xFe_xO_3−x/2 with x=0.1−0.6 at temperatures of 1200-1300°C under reducing conditions of oxygen fugacity. After drop quenching, samples were characterized using the electron microprobe, X-ray diffraction and Mössbauer spectroscopy. All samples were hexagonal with a 6H-BaTiO₃ type structure. Mössbauer spectroscopy showed all iron to be present as Fe³⁺, occurring in octahedral and pentahedral sites. Analysis of area ratios indicates that oxygen vacancies are distributed randomly over O1 sites, and that a random distribution of Fe and Ti cations over M1 and M2 sites is consistent with the data. No evidence for ordering of oxygen vacancies was found. Results are consistent with conductivity results, which show generally increasing ionic conductivity with increasing oxygen vacancy concentration.