Avrami exponent of crystallization in tellurite glasses

Nucleation process and crystal growth for three samples of the (20-x)Li₂O–80TeO₂–xWO₃ glass system were studied using X-ray diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry techniques. X-ray diffraction data confirmed the amorphous characteristic of the as-quenched samples and indicated the growth of crystalline phases formed due to the thermal treatment for annealed samples. These results reveal the presence of three distinct γ-TeO₂, α-TeO₂ and α-Li₂Te₂O₅ crystalline phases in the TL sample, and two distinct α-TeO₂ and γ-TeO₂ crystalline phases in the TLW5 and TLW10 samples. The activation energy and the Avrami exponent were determined from DSC measurements. The activation energy values X-ray diffraction data of the TLW10 glass sample suggest that γ-TeO₂ phase occur before the α-TeO₂. The results obtained for the Avrami exponent point to that the nucleation process is volumetric and that the crystal growth is two or three-dimensional.     

Synthesis, characterization and dielectric properties of new unidimensional quaternary tellurites: LaTeNbO6, La4Te6Nb2O23, and La4Te6Ta2O23

Three new tellurites, LaTeNbO₆ and La₄Te₆M₂O₂₃ (M=Nb or Ta) have been synthesized, as bulk phase powders and crystals, by using La₂O₃, Nb₂O₅ (or Ta₂O₅), and TeO₂ as reagents. The structures of LaTeNbO₆ and La₄Te₆Ta₂O₂₃ were determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction. LaTeNbO₆ consists of one-dimensional corner-linked chains of NbO₆ octahedra that are connected by TeO₃ polyhedra. La₄Te₆M₂O₂₃ (M=Nb or Ta) is composed of corner-linked chains of MO₆ octahedra that are also connected by TeO₄ and two TeO₃ polyhedra. In all of the reported materials, Te⁴⁺ is in an asymmetric coordination environment attributable to its stereo-active lone-pair. Infrared, thermogravimetric, and dielectric analyses are also presented. Crystallographic information: LaTeNbO₆, triclinic, space group P−1, a=6.7842(6) Å, b=7.4473(6) Å, c=10.7519(9) Å, α=79.6490(10)°, β=76.920(2)°, γ=89.923(2)°, Z=4; La₄Te₆Ta₂O₂₃, monoclinic, space group C2/c, a=23.4676(17) Å, b=12.1291(9) Å, c=7.6416(6) Å, β=101.2580(10)°, Z=4.     

Magnetic structures of the α-Li3Fe2(PO4)3−x(AsO4)x (x=1, 1.5, 2, 3) solid solution

Mössbauer spectroscopy and neutron diffraction studies have been carried out for the α-Li₃Fe₂(PO₄)_3−x(AsO₄)_x (x=1, 1.5, 2, 3) solid solution, potential candidate for the cathode material of the lithium secondary batteries. The crystal and magnetic structures of all these phases are based on the structural and magnetic model corresponding to the α-Li₃Fe₂(PO₄)₃ phosphate parent, but with some differences promoted by the arsenate substitution. The PO₄ and AsO₄ groups have a random distribution in the structure. In all compounds the coupling of the magnetic moments takes place in the (001) plane, but the value of the angle between the moments and the x direction decreases from 38.3° (α-Li₃Fe₂(AsO₄)₃) to 4.7° (α-Li₃Fe₂(PO₄)₂(AsO₄)₁). This rotation arises from the change in the tilt angle between the Fe(1)O₆ and Fe(2)O₆ crystallographically and magnetically independent octahedra in the structures, and affects the effectiveness of the magnetic exchange pathways. The ordering temperature T_N decreases with the increase of phosphate amount in the compounds. The existence of a phenomenon of canting and the evolution of the ferrimagnetic behavior in this solid solution is also discussed.     

Synthesis, crystal and band structures, and optical properties of a new lanthanide-alkaline earth tellurium(IV) oxide: La2Ba(Te3O8)(TeO3)2

A new quaternary lanthanide alkaline-earth tellurium(IV) oxide, La₂Ba(Te₃O₈)(TeO₃)₂, has been prepared by the solid-state reaction and structurally characterized. The compound crystallizes in monoclinic space group C2/c with a=19.119(3), b=5.9923(5), c=13.2970(19) Å, β=107.646(8)°, V=1451.7(3) Å³ and Z=4. La₂Ba(Te₃O₈)(TeO₃)₂ features a 3D network structure in which the cationic [La₂Ba(TeO₃)₂]⁴⁺ layers are cross-linked by Te₃O₈⁴⁻ anions. Both band structure calculation by the DFT method and optical diffuse reflectance spectrum measurements indicate that La₂Ba(Te₃O₈)(TeO₃)₂ is a wide band-gap semiconductor.     

Infrared spectroscopic and DFT investigations of the vanadate–tellurate glasses structures

Vanadate–tellurate vitreous systems with composition (1 ? x)TeO₂·xV₂O₅ where x = 0.3 and 0.4 have been prepared by the conventional melt-quench method. The structural aspects have been investigated using FTIR spectroscopy and the density functional theory (DFT) calculations.The present study provides the interesting information concerning devitrification behavior of the vanadate–tellurate vitreous system which occur Te₂V₂O₉ crystalline phase. The structure of the heat-treated glasses was found to consist mainly of rings containing [TeO₃], [TeO₄], [VO₄] and some [VO₅] structural units.     

Thermal characteristics, Raman spectra and structural properties of new tellurite glasses within the Bi2O3-TiO2-TeO2 system

Within the Bi₂O₃-XO₂-TeO₂ (X=Ti, Zr) systems, a large glass-forming domain was found for X=Ti, but no glass formation was evidenced for X=Zr. Densities, glass transition (T_g), crystallization (T_c) temperatures and Raman spectra of the relevant glasses were studied as functions of the composition. The Raman spectra of the glasses were interpreted in terms of the structural transformations produced by the modifiers. It was established that the addition of Bi₂O₃ and TiO₂ content to TeO₂ glass influences the T_g temperature in a similar manner: this value progressively increases with the increase of the modifier concentration. However, the structural evolutions are different: (a) the addition of TiO₂ to TeO₂ glass keeps the polymerized framework structure in transforming a number of Te-O-Te bridges into the Te-O-Ti ones without producing any tellurite anions (i.e., the [TeO₃]²⁻ groups); (b) on the contrary, the addition of Bi₂O₃ destroys the glass framework by giving rise to the island-type [Te_nO_m]^2(m−2n)− complex tellurites anions, thus causing a depolymerization of the glass.     

TeO2-WO3 Glasses: Infrared, XPS and XANES Structural Characterizations

Transparent (1−x)TeO₂-xWO₃ glasses with 0≤x≤0.325 mol were synthesized by the fast quenching technique. Several complementary techniques as infrared, X-ray photoelectron and X-ray absorption spectroscopies were used to approach the structure of these tungsten oxide-tellurite glasses. Special attention was paid to the oxidation state and the coordination state of tungsten atoms. The structural results show that (1−x)TeO₂-xWO₃ glasses present characteristic tellurium environments which vary with their chemical composition while tungsten ions always adopt an octahedral configuration.     

[R-C7H16N2][V2Te2O10] and [S-C7H16N2][V2Te2O10]; new polar templated vanadium tellurite enantiomers

New polar vanadium tellurite enantiomers have been synthesized under mild hydrothermal conditions through the use of sodium metavanadate, sodium tellurite and enantiomerically pure sources of either R-3-aminioquinuclidine or S-3-aminioquinuclidine. [R-C₇H₁₆N₂][V₂Te₂O₁₀] and [S-C₇H₁₆N₂][V₂Te₂O₁₀] contain [V₂Te₂O₁₀]_n²ⁿ⁻ layers constructed from [(VO₂)₂O(TeO₄)₂] monomers. Steric effects associated with the hydrogen-bonding network between the [V₂Te₂O₁₀]_n²ⁿ⁻ layers and [C₇H₁₆N₂]²⁺ result in polar structures and crystallization in the space group P2₁ (no. 4). Electron localization functions were calculated to visualize the tellurite stereoactive lone pairs. Both iterative and non-iterative Hirshfeld techniques were evaluated as means to determine atomic partial charges, with iterative Hirshfeld charges more accurately representing charge distributions in the reported enantiomers. These charges were used to calculate both component and net dipole moments. [R-C₇H₁₆N₂][V₂Te₂O₁₀] and [S-C₇H₁₆N₂][V₂Te₂O₁₀] exhibit dipole moments of 17.37 and 16.62D, respectively. [R-C₇H₁₆N₂][V₂Te₂O₁₀] and [S-C₇H₁₆N₂][V₂Te₂O₁₀] both display type 1 phase-matching capabilities and exhibit second harmonic generation activities of ∼50×α-SiO₂.     

Crystallographic shear in the Nb2O5WO3 and Ta2O5WO3 systems

Crystallographic shear (CS) phases occurring in the Nb₂O₅WO₃ and Ta₂O₅WO₃ systems near to WO₃ were characterized by X-ray diffraction and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. The Nb₂O₅WO₃ samples were heated at 1600K. They contained ordered {104} and {001} CS planes and wavy CS which were composed of intergrowths of {104} and {001} CS segments. The composition range over which the {104} CS series extended was from (Nb,W)O_2.954 i.e., (Nb,W)₆₅O₁₉₂, to (Nb,W)O_2.942, i.e., (Nb,W)₅₂O₁₅₃. The composition range over which the {001} CS series extended was from (Nb,W)O_2.9375, i.e., (Nb,W)₁₆O₄₇ to (Nb,W)O_2.875, i.e., (Nb,W)₈O₂₃. The Ta₂O₅WO₃ samples were prepared at 1593, 1623, and 1672K. At lower temperatures ordered {103} CS phases were found, with a composition range extending between (Ta,W)O_2.960, i.e., (Ta,W)₅₀O₁₄₈, to (Ta,W)O_2.944, i.e., (Ta,W)₃₆O₁₀₆. At 1673K ordered {103} CS phases occurred, as did wavy CS composed of intergrowths of {103} and {104} CS segments.     

Sol-gel powder synthesis in the TiO2-TeO2-ZnO system: Structural characterization and properties

The present study deals with the gel formation tendency in the ternary TeO₂-TiO₂-ZnO system. Depending on the TiO₂ amount, the gelation occurred at different times and subsequently several gel formation regions have been determined. Homogeneous, transparent and monolithic gels were obtained using combination of organic and inorganic precursors during the synthesis. Using XRD analysis it was established that upon the heating composites were obtained which contain an amorphous phase and different crystalline phases: TiO₂ (anatase), TiO₂ (rutile), α-TeO₂ and ZnTeO₃, depending on composition. The IR results showed that the short range order of the amorphous phases which are part of the composite materials consist of TiO₆, ZnO₄ and TeO₄ structural units. Using UV–Vis spectroscopy it was established that the absorption edge of the gels varied from 330 nm to 364 mm and the increase in TiO₂ content caused a red shifting of the cut-off. The calculated Eg values are in the range 3.41–3.75 eV higher than that of pure TiO₂, TeO₂ and ZnO oxides. The XPS results showed that the Te atoms in the surface layers of the samples studied exist in several chemical states as Te²⁺, Te⁰, but Te⁶⁺ dominates. Octahedrally coordinated Ti⁴⁺ ions are observed in the gels and in the samples annealed at 200 °C but a small amount of tetrahedrally coordinated Ti⁴⁺ is also detected, which indicates the incomplete polymerization of TiO₆ units.     

Evolution and characterization of fluorite-like nano-SrBi2Nb2O9 phase in the SrO-Bi2O3-Nb2O5-Li2B4O7 glass system

Transparent glasses of various compositions in the system (100−x)Li₂B₄O₇−x(SrO-Bi₂O₃-Nb₂O₅) (where x=10, 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60, in molar ratio) were fabricated via splat quenching technique. The glassy nature of the as-quenched samples was established by differential thermal analyses. X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopic studies confirmed the amorphous nature of the as-quenched and crystallinity in the heat-treated samples. Fluorite phase formation prior to the perovskite SrBi₂Nb₂O₉ phase was analyzed by both the XRD and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. Dielectric and the optical properties (transmission, optical band gap and Urbach energy) of these samples have been found to be compositional dependent. Refractive index was measured and compared with the values predicted by Wemple-Didomemenico and Gladstone-Dale relations. The glass nanocomposites comprising nanometer-sized crystallites of fluorite phase were found to be nonlinear optic active.     

Chiolite-like Ca5Te3O14: An X-ray and neutron diffraction study

The crystal structure of Ca₅Te₃O₁₄ at room temperature was studied by the Rietveld method using combined X-ray and neutron powder diffraction data. The compound crystallizes in the space group Cmca with the lattice parameters a=10.4268(2) Å, b=10.3908(2) Å and c=10.4702(2) Å. The structure of Ca₅Te₃O₁₄ is chiolite-like and consists of a framework of corner-linked TeO₆ octahedral layers in which a linear TeO₂ group of every fourth octahedron is substituted by a Ca atom. This type of structure was previously observed in BaSr₄U₃O₁₄. The relationship between the chiolite-like structure and the fluorite structure is discussed.     

Synthesis and characterization of NixMg1−xAl2O4 nano ceramic pigments via a combustion route

MgAl₂O₄ was successfully used as a crystalline host network for the synthesis of nickel-based nano cyan refractory ceramic pigments. Different compositions of Ni_xMg_1−xAl₂O₄ (0.1 ? x ? 0.8) powders have been prepared by using a low temperature combustion reaction (LTCR) of the corresponding metal nitrates with urea (U) as a fuel at 300 °C in an open air furnace. The as-synthesized samples were characterized by thermal analysis (TG-DTG/DTA), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). UV-Vis and diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) using CIE- L^∗a^∗b^∗ parameters methods have been used for color measurements. The results show that the Ni_xMg_1−xAl₂O₄ samples are the crystalline phase with a particle size of 8.85-43.66 nm in the temperature range 500-1200 °C. The density, particle size, shape and color are determined for all the prepared samples with different calcination times and temperatures.     

Synthesis and evaluation as CO_2 chemisorbent of the Li_5(Al_(1-x)Fe_x)O_4 solid solution materials: Effect of oxygen addition

Pentalithium aluminate(β-Li_5AlO_4) and the corresponding iron-containing solid solution(Li_5(Al_(1-x)Fe_x)O_4)were synthetized by solid-state reaction. All the samples were characterized structural and microstructurally by X-ray diffraction, solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance, scanning electron microscopy, N_2 adsorption-desorption and temperature-programmed desorption of CO_2. Results showed that 30 mol% of iron can be incorporated into the β-Li_5AlO_4 crystalline structure at aluminum positions. Moreover, iron addition induced morphological and superficial reactivity variations. Li_5(Al_(1-x)Fe_x)O_4 samples chemisorbed CO_2 between 200 and 700 °C, where the superficial chemisorption presented the highest enhancement,in comparison to β-Li_5AlO _4. Additionally, Li_5(Al_(1-x)Fe_x)O_4 samples sintered at higher temperatures thanβ-Li_5AlO_4. Isothermal CO_2 chemisorption experiments of β-Li_5AlO_4 and Li_5(Al_(1-x)Fe_x)O_4 were fitted to a first order reaction model, corroborating that iron enhances the CO_2 chemisorption, kinetically. When oxygen was added to the gas flow, CO_2 chemisorption process was mainly enhanced between 400 and 600 °C for the Li_5(Al_(0.8)Fe_(0.2))O_4 sample in comparison to β-Li_5AlO_4. Hence, Li_5(Al_(1-x)Fe_x)O_4 solid solution presented an enhanced CO_2 chemisorption process, in the presence and absence of oxygen, in comparison to β-Li_5AlO_4.     

Crystal structure of a new gallium tellurite: Ga2Te4O11

Ga₂Te₄O₁₁ crystallises with triclinic symmetry (space group P1) and unit cell parameters: a = 5.125(1) Å, b = 6.559(1) Å, c = 8.173(2) Å, α = 75.06(2), β = 89.25(2), γ = 69.62(2), Z = 1. Its crystal structure has been refined by a full matrix least-squares process to R₁ = 0.023 and wR₂ = 0.060 values, on the basis of 2931 independent single crystal X-ray reflections. It can be described as a three-dimensional polyhedral network of independent Te₂O₆ groups of TeO₃ trigonal pyramids and TeO₄ disphenoids sharing corners, and infinite (Te₂O₅)_∞ quasi-linear chains of the same corner-sharing TeO₃ and TeO₄ units, linked one to the other via common corner or common edge by GaO₄ and GaO₅ polyhedra. The stereochemical activity of the lone pair of each Te atom has been analysed and a comparison is made with all the known other M₂Te₄O₁₁ crystal structures.     

Phase diagram and infrared-spectral investigation of the 2TeO2 · V2O5-Na2O · V2O5 · 2TeO2 system

The phase diagram of the 2TeO₂ · V₂O₅-Na₂O · V₂O₅ · 2TeO₂ system is studied by X-ray diffraction, ir spectroscopy, and DTA. A new compound with a composition of Na₂O · 3V₂O₅ · 6TeO₂ is established. The ir spectra of the alkaline trivanadates are interpreted. They are considered as structural analogs of the new phase. As a result of this comparison, the postulate is made that the main structural units in the Na₂O · 3V₂O₅ · 6TeO₂ compound are V₂O₈ groups, while tellurium is present both in the TeO₃ and TeO₄ groups. Contrary to the crystal phases, in glasses the transition from VO₅ toward VO₄ does not proceed through the formation of new structural units of vanadium; but rather a gradual transition of the structure is observed with a change in the composition from 2TeO₂ · V₂O₅ to Na₂O · V₂O₅ · 2TeO₂.     

Cation ordering in the fluorite-like transparent conductors In4+xSn3−2xSbxO12 and In6TeO12

The cation ordering in the fluorite-like transparent conductors In_4+xSn_3−2xSb_xO₁₂ and In₆TeO₁₂, was investigated by Time of Flight Neutron Powder Diffraction and X-ray Powder Diffraction (tellurate). The structural results including atomic positions, cation distributions, metal-oxygen distances and metal-oxygen-metal angles point to a progressive cation ordering on both sites of the Tb₇O₁₂-type structure with a strong preference of the smaller 4d¹⁰ cations (Sn⁴⁺, Sb⁵⁺, Te⁶⁺) for the octahedral sites. The corresponding increase of the overall structure-bonding anisotropy is analyzed in terms of the crystal chemical properties of the OM₄ tetrahedral network of the antistructure. The relationships between the M₇O₁₂ and the M₂O₃ bixbyite-type structures are explored. Within the whole series of compositions In_4+xM_3−xO₁₂ (M=Sn, Sb, Te) there exists an increase of the symmetry gap between the more symmetrical bixbyite structure and the M₇O₁₂ type. This is tentatively correlated with the progressive weakening of thermal stability of these compositions from Sn to Te via Sb.     

Non-isothermal studies on crystallization kinetics of tellurite 20Li<Subscript>2</Subscript>O-80TeO<Subscript>2</Subscript> glass

Structural and thermal properties of the 20Li₂O-80TeO₂ glass were studied using X-ray diffraction analysis and differential scanning calorimetry techniques to understand and control the crystallization process on this glass. The γ-TeO₂, α-TeO₂ and α-Li₂Te₂O₅ phases were identified during the crystallization in this glass. Activation energies and Avrami exponent n were calculated from non-isothermal measurements for glasses with different particle size. The mean values of Avrami exponent were obtained for glasses with 63–75 and 45–63 μm particle sizes such as , but glasses with particle size 38–45 μm and smaller than 38 g,m presented .     

Structural, microstructural and surface properties of a specific CeO2-Bi2O3 multiphase system obtained at 600 °C

Polycrystalline samples of (1−x) CeO₂−x/2 Bi₂O₃ phases, where x is the atom fraction of bismuth have been synthesized by the precipitation process and after the thermal treatment at 600 °C, under air. Samples are first characterized by the X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. To determine the samples specific surface areas, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) analyses have been performed. In the composition range 0≤x≤0.20, a cubic solid solution with fluorite structure is obtained. For compositions x comprised between 0.30 and 0.90, two types of T′ (or β′) and T (or β) tetragonal phases, similar to the well-known β′ or β Bi₂O₃ metastable structural varieties, are observed. However, the crystal cell volumes of these β′ or β Bi₂O₃ phases increase with the composition x in bismuth: this might be due to the presence of defects or substitution by cerium atoms, in the tetragonal lattices. Using X-ray diffraction profile analyses, correlations between bismuth composition x and crystal sizes or lattice distortions have been established. The solid-gas interactions between these polycrystalline materials and air-CH₄ and air-CO flows have been studied as a function of temperature and composition x, using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analyses of the conversions of CH₄ and CO gases into the CO₂ gas. The transformations of CH₄ and CO molecules as a function of time and temperature are determined through the intensities of FTIR CO₂ absorption bands. Using the specific surface areas determined from BET analyses, these FTIR intensities have been normalized and compared. For all bismuth compositions, a low catalytic reactivity is observed with air-CH₄ gas flows, while, for the highest bismuth compositions, a high catalytic reactivity is observed with air-CO gas flows.     

A rare multi-coordinate tellurite, NH4ATe4O9·2H2O (ARb or Cs): The occurrence of TeO3, TeO4, and TeO5 Polyhedra in the same material

Two new tellurites, NH₄RbTe₄O₉·2H₂O and NH₄CsTe₄O₉·2H₂O have been synthesized and characterized. The compounds were synthesized hydrothermally, in near quantitative yields, using the alkali metal halide, TeO₂, and NH₄OH as reagents. The iso-structural materials exhibit layered, two-dimensional structural topologies consisting of TeO_x (x=3, 4, or 5) polyhedra separated by NH₄⁺, H₂O, Rb⁺ or Cs⁺ cations. Unique to these materials is the presence of TeO₃, TeO₄, and TeO₅ polyhedra. Thermogravimetric and infrared spectroscopic data are also presented. Crystal data: NH₄RbTe₄O₉·2H₂O: Monoclinic I2/a (no. 15), a=18.917(3) Å, b=6.7002(11) Å, c=21.106(5) Å, β=101.813(2)°, V=2618.5(9) Å³, Z=8; NH₄CsTe₄O₉·2H₂O: Monoclinic I2/a (no. 15), a=18.9880(12) Å, b=6.7633(4) Å, c=21.476(2) Å, β=102.3460(10)°, V=2694.2(3) Å³, Z=8.