Fluorite-related phases Ln3MO7, Ln = rare earth,Y, or Sc, M = Nb,Sb, or Ta. I. Crystal chemistry

Compounds Ln₃MO₇, where Ln = La, Nd, Gd, Ho, Er, Y, or Sc, and M = Nb, Ta, or Sb have been examined by powder X-ray diffraction, electron diffraction, and electron microscopy. For large Ln cations, an orthorhombic fluorite-related superstructure is formed, of probable space group Cmcm for Ln = La and C222₁ for Ln = Nd, Gd, Ho, or Y, while for the smaller Ln cations, Er, and under some conditions, Ho and Y, the structure is defect fluorite containing microdomains of ordered, but undetermined, structure. The composition Sc₃MO₇ was not single phase under the conditions used. Compounds of the type Ln₂ScMO₇ have the pyrochlore structure.     

Synthesis, structure and VUV luminescent properties of rubidium rare-earth fluorides

RbF-LnF₃ (Ln=rare earth) systems were synthesized by hydrothermal technique. Under the hydrothermal condition, the light rare-earth elements form LnF₃ (Ln=La-Nd), while the heavy ones form RbLn₂F₇ (Ln=Y, Er, Yb and Lu) with the RbEr₂F₇ structure type. RbLn₃F₁₀ compounds were found for the in-between rare-earth cations (Ln=Eu-Tm and Y), which crystallize exclusively in the cubic γ-KYb₃F₁₀-type structure. The luminescent properties under vacuum ultraviolet light were studied for the Eu³⁺-doped RbLn₃F₁₀ (Ln=Y, Gd) and a high quantum efficiency of about 150% was observed for RbGd₃F₁₀:Eu³⁺.     

Multiband orange-red photoluminescence of Eu ions in new “114” LnBaZn3GaO7 and LnBaZn3AlO7 oxides

A new series of gallozincates LnBaZn₃GaO₇ (Ln=La, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Dy, Y) and new aluminozincates LnBaZn₃AlO₇ (Ln=Y, Eu, Dy) have been synthesized. Their structure refinements show that these phases belong to the “114” series, with hexagonal P6₃mc space group previously described for SmBaZn₃AlO₇. The photoluminescence study of these oxides shows that the Eu³⁺ activated LnBaZn₃MO₇ oxides with Ln=Y, La, Gd; and M=Al, Ga exhibit strong magnetic and electric dipole transitions (multiband emission) which is of interest for white light production. These results also confirm that the site occupied by Eu³⁺ is not strictly centrosymmetric. The electric dipole transition intensity is the highest in GdBaZn₃MO₇ [M=Al, Ga]: 0.05Eu³⁺ as compared with other Eu³⁺ activated compositions. This is due to the layer distortion around GdO₆ octahedra when compared with YO₆ and LaO₆ octahedra.     

Synthesis, characterization and thermal studies on solid compounds of 2-chlorobenzylidenepyruvate of heavier trivalent lanthanides and yttrium(III)

Solid-state compounds of general formula LnL_3⋅nH₂O, where Ln represents heavier lanthanides and yttrium and L is 2-chlorobenzylidenepyruvate, have been synthesized. Chemical analysis, simultaneous thermogravimetry-differential analysis (TG-DTA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray powder diffractometry, elemental analysis and infrared spectroscopy have been employed to characterize and to study the thermal behaviour of these compounds in dynamic air atmosphere. On heating these compounds decompose in four (Gd, Tb, Ho to Lu, Y) or five (Eu, Dy) steps. They lose the hydration water in the first step and the thermal decomposition of the anhydrous compounds up to 1200°C occurs with the formation of the respective oxide, Tb₄O₇ and Ln₂O₃ (Ln=Eu, Gd, Dy to Lu and Y) as final residue. The dehydration enthalpies found for these compounds (Eu, to Lu and Y) were: 65.77, 55.63, 86.89, 121.65, 99.80, 109.59, 131.02, 119.78, 205.46 and 83.11 kJ mol^-1, respectively.     

Thermal decompositions of light lanthanide aconitates

The conditions of thermal decomposition of Y, La, Ce(III), Pr, Nd, Sm, and Gd aconitates have been studied. On heating, the aconitate of Ce(III) loses crystallization water to yield anhydrous salt, which then is transformed in to oxide CeO₂. The aconitates of Y, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu and Gd decompose in three stages. First, aconitates undergo dehydration to form the anhydrous salts, which next decompose to Ln₂O₂CO₃. In the last one the thermal decomposition of Ln₂O₂CO₃ to Ln₂O₃ is accompanied by endothermic effect. Dehydration of aconitate of La undergoes in two stages. The anhydrous complex decomposes to La₂O₂CO₃; this subsequently decomposes to La₂O₃.     

Сrystal structure and physical properties of the new ternary antimonides Ln3Pd8Sb4 (Ln=Y, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm)

The ternary antimonides Ln₃Pd₈Sb₄ (Ln=Y, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm) have been synthesized for the first time. The crystal structure of Er₃Pd₈Sb₄ has been solved from the X-ray single crystal data: own type structure, space group Fm3¯m, a=1.3050(1) nm, R_F=0.0484, R_W=0.0524 for 17 free parameters and 401 reflections with F(hkl)>4σ(F). The structure of Er₃Pd₈Sb₄ can be viewed as a ternary ordered version of the Sc₁₁Ir₄-type. The lattice parameters of the isotypic compounds Ln₃Pd₈Sb₄ (Ln=Y, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Tm) have been refined from the X-ray powder diffraction data. The magnetic and electrical properties of the compounds Ln₃Pd₈Sb₄ (Ln=Tb, Ho, Er) have been studied down to 1.75 K. The Ho- and Er-based phases have been found to order antiferromagnetically at 2.5 and 2.0 K, respectively. For all three compounds, the magnetic susceptibility follows in the paramagnetic region the Curie-Weiss behavior with the effective magnetic moments close to the respective free trivalent ion values. All three antimonides studied exhibit metallic character of the electrical conductivity.     

Synthesis, Characterization, and Thermal Decomposition of Double Rare Earth Monomethylammonium Selenates

 Double rare earth monomethylammonium selenates of the general formula CH₃NH₃ Ln (SeO₄)₂·5H₂O (Ln = Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Ho, Y) were synthesized and characterized using X-ray powder diffraction and infrared spectroscopy. The thermal decomposition of the compounds were investigated using TG, DTG, and DTA techniques.     

Magnetic and calorimetric studies on rare-earth iron borates LnFe3(BO3)4 (Ln=Y, La-Nd, Sm-Ho)

A series of rare-earth iron borates having general formula LnFe₃(BO₃)₄ (Ln=Y, La-Nd, Sm-Ho) were prepared and their magnetic properties have been investigated by the magnetic susceptibility, specific heat, and ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer spectrum measurements. These borates show antiferromagnetic transitions at low temperatures and their magnetic transition temperatures increase with decreasing Ln³⁺ ionic radius from 22 K for LaFe₃(BO₃)₄ to 40 K for TbFe₃(BO₃)₄. In addition, X-ray diffraction, specific heat, and differential thermal analysis (DTA) measurements indicate that the phase transition occurs for the LnFe₃(BO₃)₄ compounds with Ln=Eu-Ho, Y, and its transition temperature increases remarkably with decreasing Ln³⁺ ionic radius from 88 K for Ln=Eu to 445 K for Ln=Y.     

Synthesis,characterization and thermal behaviour of solid 2-methoxybenzoates of trivalent metals

Solid-state Ln(L)₃ compounds, where Ln stands for trivalent Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu and Y and L is 2-methoxybenzoate have been synthesized. Simultaneous thermogravimetry and differential thermal analysis (TG-DTA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray powder diffractometry, infrared spectroscopy and complexometry were used to characterize and to study the thermal behaviour of these compounds. The results provided information on the composition, dehydration, coordination mode, structure, thermal behaviour and thermal decomposition.     

4,4′-Dipyridyl complexes of rare-earth thiocyanates

4,4-Dipyridyl complexes of rare-earth thiocyanates of the formulaLn(4-dipy)₂(NCS)₃·5H₂O (Ln = La, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Yb, Lu, Y, 4-dipy = 4,4-dipyridyl) have been synthesized. The IR spectra of these compounds and other physical properties are discussed. The thermal decomposition of some compounds (in the order Gd ÷ Lu) has been investigated.

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4,4-Dipyridylkomplexe von Seltenerdmetallthiocyanaten

Zusammenfassung Es wurden 4,4-Dipyridylkomplexe des TypesLn(4-dipy)₂(NCS)₃·5H₂O mitLn = La, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Yb, Lu und Y dargestellt. Die IR-Spektren und andere physikalische Eigenschaften werden diskutiert und die thermische Zersetzung von einigen Verbindungen (in der Reihe Gd ÷ Lu) untersucht.

     

Rare earth niobate systems and the phosphor GdNbO4:Bi

An investigation to determine the compounds present in the Ln₂O₃Nb₂O₅ systems (Ln = La, Gd, and Y) and attempts to activate such compounds with Ti, In, Sb, Bi, Eu, and Tb revealed that only the orthoniobate (LnNbO₄) compound was a suitable host lattice and LnNbO₄:Bi under 2537 Å excitation produced the best phosphors. GdNbO₄:Bi is a brighter phosphor than the La and Y analogs, emitting at slightly higher energies. The position of the GdNbO₄:Bi peak emission at 4500 Å is independent of the activator concentration whereas peak emissions for LaNbO₄:Bi and YNbO₄:Bi move to lower energies with increasing Bi concentration.     

Détermination des chaleurs de formation des orthovanadates de certains éléments des terres rares par la méthode d'analyse thermique différentielle

The heats of formation of LnVO₄-type salts (whereLn=Y, La, Sm, Nd, Gd and Dy) were determined by thermal analysis in the reactions of melts of stable lanthanides and V₂O₅ in a 1 ∶ 1 mole ratio. Heats of formation of LnVO₄-type salts can be determined using non-stoichiometric mixtures of the substrates as well. With the aid of DTA the apparent activation energies of the syntheses of the orthovanadates of these lanthanides were calculated.     

Phase diagrams of systems SrF2(Y,Ln)F3. II. Fusibility of systems and thermal behavior of phases

The phase diagrams of 14 SrF₂(Y,Ln)F₃ systems are given, where Ln are all the lanthanides except Pm and Eu. The diagrams have been constructed for temperature intervals from 850°C to the melting points according to the thermal and X-ray analysis. The fusibility diagrams for 12 systems have been obtained for the first time. The oxygen content in the specimens before and after thermal treatment was checked. The thermal behavior of the three types of solid solutions has been studied: (1) with the fluorite-type defective structure and its derivatives; (2) with the defective structure of the lanthanum fluoride, and (3) α-YF₃(α-UO₃) types. Maxima reflecting a noticeable effect of thermal stabilization on the fluorite-type structure by the heterovalent isomorphous substitution have been found for the majority of systems (with Ln = LaHo). The Sr_1?xLn_xF_2+x nonstoichiometric fluorite phases are formed in all the systems. Similar maxima corresponding generally to irrational compositions are present on the fusibility curves of the Ln_1?ySr_yF_3?y nonstoichiometric phases with the LaF₃-type structure (tysonite). Tysonite solid solutions are in all the systems, too. Nonstoichiometric phases with the α-YF₃-type structure are formed in the systems with Ln = ErLu. They are decomposed in the process of cooling and are the most unstable. The structure of the phase diagrams in the regions adjacent to lanthanide trifluorides are determined by polymorphism and morphotropy of the above-named compounds. Changes in the thermal stability of the nonstoichiometric phases and double chemical compounds in the series of lanthanides have been observed. The SrF₂(Y,Ln)F₃ systems studied give examples of the formation of phases with the highest concentrations of point defects among all the known binary fluoride systems (up to 50 at.%). The thermal stabilization effect of the nonstoichiometric phases with the fluorite structure results in the fact that the series of the two-component compositions is melted at considerably higher temperatures as compared with scandium fluoride, the most refractory single-component fluoride compound. This effect leads to formation of tysonite-type solid solutions with melting points exceeding 1500°C (mp of LaF₃—the most refractory fluoride material with tysonite-type structure).     

Thermal decomposition of light lanthanide diglycolates

The conditions of thermal decomposition of La, Ce(III), Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu and Gd diglycolates have been studied. On heating, the diglycolates of Ce(III), Pr, Eu and Gd lose crystallization water and yield anhydrous salts, which are then transformed into oxides. The diglycolates of La, Nd and Sm are decomposed in three stages. First, the diglycolates undergo dehydration to form the anhydrous salts, which are next decomposed to Ln₂O₂CO₃. In the last step the thermal decomposition of Ln₂O₂CO₃ to Ln₂O₃ takes place, accompanied by an endothermic effect.     

Magnetic properties of La0.5−xLnxSr0.5MnO3 (Ln=Pr, Nd, Gd and Y)

Magnetic and electron transport properties of four series of manganates of the composition La_0.5−xLn_xSr_0.5MnO₃ (Ln=Pr, Nd, Gd and Y) have been investigated to examine how the ferromagnetic metallic nature of the parent La compound changes over to antiferromagnetic insulating behavior, with change in Ln and x due to the associated changes in the A-site cation radius as well as the size disorder. When Ln=Pr and Nd, there is a transition from the tetragonal I4/mcm structure to the orthorhombic Immm and Imma structures at x=0.2 and 0.35, respectively. There is a gradual evolution of the properties from those of La_0.5Sr_0.5MnO₃ to those of Pr_0.5Sr_0.5MnO₃ or Nd_0.5Sr_0.5MnO₃ with increase in x. Thus, when x>0.2 and >0.35, respectively, the Pr- and Nd-substituted manganates show ferromagnetic transitions followed by antiferromagnetic transitions at low temperatures, with the ferromagnetic T_C decreasing with increasing x. The Gd and Y series of compounds are all orthorhombic and show a decrease in T_C with the increase in x, the ferromagnetism disappearing at high x. At a value of x corresponding to the A-site cation radius of Pr_0.5Sr_0.5MnO₃, the Gd and Y series of compounds exhibit ferromagnetism in the 250-300 K region and undergo an antiferromagnetic transition on cooling. The T_C−T_N gap is sensitive to the disorder arising from the size mismatch.     

Synthesis, Characterization, and Thermal Decomposition of Double Rare Earth Monomethylammonium Selenates

Summary.  Double rare earth monomethylammonium selenates of the general formula CH₃NH₃ Ln (SeO₄)₂·5H₂O (Ln = Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Ho, Y) were synthesized and characterized using X-ray powder diffraction and infrared spectroscopy. The thermal decomposition of the compounds were investigated using TG, DTG, and DTA techniques. Corresponding author. E-mail: vrajgaonkar@yahoo.com, vrajgaonkar@mail.mu.ac.in Received November 5, 2001. Accepted (revised) March 6, 2002     

Synthesis and magnetic properties of rare earth ruthenates, Ln5Ru2O12 (Ln=Pr, Nd, Sm-Tb)

Single crystals of Ln₅Ru₂O₁₂ (Ln=Pr, Nd, Sm-Tb) were grown out of either NaOH or KOH fluxes in sealed silver tubes. The crystals of all the phases were observed to be twinned as confirmed by TEM studies. The series crystallize in the C2/m monoclinic system with lattice parameters, a=12.4049(4)-12.7621(6) Å, b=5.8414(2)-5.9488(3) Å, c=7.3489(2)-7.6424(4) Å, β=107.425(3)-107.432(2)° and Z=2. The crystal structure is isotypic with the defect/disorder model of Ln₅Re₂O₁₂ (Ln = Y, Gd) and consists of one dimensional edge shared RuO₆ octahedral chains separated by a two dimensional LnO_x polyhedral framework. Magnetic measurements indicate paramagnetic and antiferromagnetic behavior for Ln=Nd, Sm-Gd and Ln=Tb, respectively.     

Studies on the Thermal Decomposition of Rare Earth Caproates

The thermal decomposition of rare earth caproates with general formula Ln(C₅H₁₁COO)₃ nH₂O, (where Ln=Y, La-Pr, n=l; Ln=Nd-Er, n=2; Ln=Tm-Lu, n=3) were studied in an air atmosphere. On heating, the hydrated caproates are dehydrated in one step and then the anhydrous complexes decompose to the oxides (Ln₂O₃, Pr₆O₁₁) with formation of the intermediate Ln₂O₂CO₃ (La, Pr-Gd) or directly to the oxides Ln₂O₃, CeO₂, Tb₄O₇(Y, Ce, Tb-Lu). Caproates of rare earth elements are liquefied during dehydration.     

New insight into the symmetry and the structure of the double perovskites Ba2LnNbO6 (Ln=lanthanides and Y)

Structures of the double perovskites Ba₂LnNbO₆ (Ln=La, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Tb, Dy, Ho, and Y) at room temperature have been re-examined by Rietveld profile analysis of X-ray diffraction data. It was shown that the correct phase sequence across the lanthanides is I2/m (Ln=La, Pr, Nd, and Sm), I4/m (Ln=Eu, Gd, Tb, and Dy), and (Ln=Ho and Y), respectively. All phases can be derived from the ideal cubic perovskite by ordering the Ln(III) and Nb(V) ions and by out-of-phase tilting the LnO₆/NbO₆ octahedra around either the primitive two-fold [110]_p-axis (I2/m) or the four-fold [001]_p-axis (I4/m). The monoclinic P2₁/n structure that contains both out-of-phase and in-phase tilt around the primitive [110]_p- and [001]_p-axis, respectively, has not been observed for this series of compounds.     

Ln2BaZnO5 and Ln2BaZn1−xCuxO5: A series of zinc oxides with zinc in a pyramidal coordination

A series of zinc oxides Ln₂BaZnO₅ has been synthesized for Ln = Sm, Eu, Gd, Dy, Ho, and Y. Theses phases are orthorhombic and isostructural with the copper compounds Ln₂BaCuO₅ previously described, as shown from the structural study of one member Y₂BaZnO₅. In this structure, whose framework is built up from edge- and face-sharing LnO₇ polyhedra, the Zn²⁺ ions exhibit an unusual pyramidal coordination ZnO₅. The solid solution Y₂BaZn_1?xCu_xO₅ has been studied by infrared spectroscopy and electron spin resonance (ESR). The distorted square-based pyramidal configuration of Zn²⁺ and Cu²⁺ is confirmed. The ESR spectra of diluted samples exhibit a hyperfine structure and are typical of individual Cu(II) ions. For higher Cu(II) contents, they exhibit an anisotropic broad signal which is interpreted in terms of CuCu interactions.