On the ordering in [(C2H5)4N]2CuCl4 crystal: an X-ray study and theoretical considerations

The crystal structure [(C₂H₅)₄N]₂CuCl₄ has been determined by X-ray diffraction at 243K. The room temperature phase (phase I) belongs to the space group P4₂/nm [1] whereas the low temperature phase (phase II) is orthorhombic and belongs to the space group Pnna. The phase transition at T_c=258K is of improper ferroelastic type and it is associated with the ordering of the CuCl₄ ^2? and a partial ordering of the [(C₂H₅)₄N]⁺ ions which are disordered in the high temperature tetragonal phase. At lower temperature, there occurs another instability which could correspond to a complete ordering in the crystal.     

X-ray diffraction investigation of the thermochromic phase transition in an [NH2(C2H5)2]2CuCl4 crystal

The unit cell parameters of an [NH₂(C₂H₅)₂]₂CuCl₄ crystal are determined using x-ray diffraction analysis, and the thermal expansion coefficients along the principal crystallographic directions are calculated in the temperature range 100–330 K. The behavior of the intensities of the diffraction reflections from the (100), (010), and (001) crystallographic planes is studied in the vicinity of the thermochromic phase transition temperature. The occurrence of a first-order phase transition in the [NH₂(C₂H₅)₂]₂CuCl₄ crystal at T ≈ 324 K is confirmed experimentally.     

Infrared and Dielectric Studies of [(C2H5)4N]2SiF6

The infrared spectrum of [(C₂H₅)₄N]₂SiF₆ was recorded and discussed in relation to its crystal structure. This spectrum indicates that cations and anions are distorted and are not hydrogen bonded. Two structural phase transitions were observed in the tetraethylammonium compound [(C₂H₅)₄N]₂SiF₆ by means of dielectric measurements. High-frequency dielectric dispersion phenomena in this compound were also analysed. The evolution of the dielectric constant with the temperature indicates the presence of two phase transitions, at high temperatures, which are of order-disorder character.     

Raman study of (NH4)2CuCl4·2H2O—I: Dynamics and structure in low temperature phase

We report the results of a Raman scattering study of (NH₄)₂CuCl₄2H₂O at 300, 205 and 100°K, in order to elucidate the dynamics and phase transition in this double salt. A group theoretical calculation of the symmetry vectors, in the high temperature phase (D_4h¹⁴), is made and the various modes are identified. The deuterated compound (ND₄)₂CuCl₄·2D₂O has also been investigated to help in identifying the modes involving motion of the ammonium ions and water molecules. Through a careful analysis of the spectra at 100°K, the space group in the low temperature phase has been established as D_2d³. The important consequence of this result is that this leads to parallel spatial ordering of ammonium tetrahedra in this compound in the low temperature phase.     

Structure and phase transitions in chloroantimonate(V) crystals: [(C2H5)3NH]SbCl6 and [(C2H5)3NH]SbCl6·1/2[(C2H5)3NH]Cl

New triethylammonium salts: [(C₂H₅)₃NH]SbCl₆ (TCA) and [(C₂H₅)₃NH]SbCl₆·1/2[(C₂H₅)₃NH]Cl (TCAT) have been synthesized. The compounds crystallise in monoclinic symmetry: space groups P2₁/n and P2₁/c, for TCA at 293 K and TCAT at 100 K, respectively. The crystal structure of [(C₂H₅)₃NH]SbCl₆ consists of discrete ionic pairs—triethylammonium cations and hexachloroantimonate anions—linked via the bifurcated N-H?Cl hydrogen bonds. The crystal structure of [(C₂H₅)₃NH]SbCl₆·1/2[(C₂H₅)₃NH]Cl is composed of three symmetrically independent triethylammonium cations, chlorine anion and two symmetrically independent hexachloroantimonate anions. TCA undergoes a structural phase transition at 336 K (on heating) into the orthorhombic C222 space group, whereas TCAT reveals a structural phase transition at 332 K. The phase transitions are of the first order type. TCA shows a ferroelastic domain structure below 336 K. Differential scanning calorimetry, dilatometric, dielectric dispersion and Raman scattering measurements have been used to study the phase transition mechanisms in these triethylammonium salts.     

Thermochromic Phase Transition in [NH2(C2H5)2]2CuCl4 Crystals

The absorption spectra of [NH₂(C₂H₅)₂]₂CuCl₄ crystals in the visible spectral region in the vicinity of the thermochromic phase transition at T ₁ = 311 K are investigated. It is shown that in these crystalline compounds the phenomenon of thermochromism is primarily associated with the change of the plane-quadratic geometry of the coordination environment of Cu²⁺ to the tetrahedral form. The influence of ionizing irradiation on the phase-transition temperature and on the thermochromic properties of this crystal is studied.     

Temperature‐dependent vibrational studies of [N(C2H5)4]2MnCl4

Room‐temperature polarized Raman spectra of a single crystal and IR spectra of a polycrystalline sample were measured for [N(C₂H₅)₄]₂MnCl₄ and the assignment of the observed bands to the respective modes has been proposed. Temperature‐dependent Raman and far‐IR studies were also performed for the polycrystalline sample in order to obtain information on changes occurring in this material as a result of phase transitions at T₁ = 227 K and at T₂ = 199 K. These studies revealed that the higher‐temperature ferroelastic phase transition is associated with significant modification of vibrational properties due to ordering of tetraethylammonium groups. The lower‐temperature phase transition does not lead to any clear changes in the spectra. However, our results suggest that disorder of MnCl₄²⁻ ions decreases with decreasing temperature. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Electrical properties and conduction mechanism of [N(C2H5)4][N(CH3)4]CuCl4 compound

The [N(CH₃)₄][N(C₂H₅)₄]CuCl₄ single crystal has been synthetized in order to determinate the temperatures transition and to study the electrical properties and the conduction mechanism. At room temperature, this compound crystallizes in the tetragonal system with P-42₁m space group. The calorimetric study shows three anomalies at 248, 284 and 326 K. Electrical conduction and dielectrical relaxation mechanisms at various frequencies and temperatures were analyzed by impedance spectroscopy and the equivalent circuit based on the Z-View-software was proposed. The variation of f_p relaxation determinate by the modulus study and σ_dc specific to the AC conductivity as a function of temperature and confirm the all transitions for our sample. The values of the activation energy are determined and compared by those, which are found in the similar compound. Frequencies dependence of alternative current (AC) conductivity is interpreted in terms of Jonscher's law and the conduction mechanisms for each phase are determined with the Elliot's theory.     

Phase transitions and temperature changes of the optical absorption edge in (NH2(C2H5)2)2CoCl4 layered crystal

This work was devoted to X-ray diffraction study and investigations of temperature changes of the optical absorption edge of (NH₂(C₂H₅)₂)₂CoCl₄ crystals in the region of possible phase transitions. The X-ray powder diffraction data revealed the monoclinic phase at room temperature – space group P2/n. The cobalt atom was found to be square-plane coordinated by four chlorine atoms resulting [CoCl₄]^2– anion, which is surrounded by two DEA⁺ cations. It was shown that the low-energy tail of the absorption edge in these materials possesses an exponential shape. In the temperature range above 255?K it follows the empirical Urbach’s rule. The obtained experimental data confirmed the existence of the ferroelastic phase in (NH₂(C₂H₅)₂)₂CoCl₄ in the temperature range between 255 and 326?K. The anomalous behaviour of the investigated parameters observed at the temperatures below 255?K would be related to earlier unknown phase transitions.     

NQR Study of Phase Transition and Cationic Motion in 4-NH2C5H4NHBiBr4·H2O

Four ⁸¹Br NQR lines in 4-NH₂C₅H₄NHBiBr₄·H₂O were observed in the temperature range between 77 and ca. 380 K; with increasing temperatures the respective sets of higher and lower two resonance lines coalesced into single lines discontinuously at 274 K, showing the occurrence of a first-order type phase transition of this crystal. The transition was confirmed with heat anomaly on a DTA curve. Each higher and lower line of high-temperature phase is assignable to the terminal Br atoms and the bridging ones of one-dimensional poly anions (BiBr₄ ⁻) _n in the crystal structure (C2/c), which was investigated by a X-ray structure analysis at room temperature. The 1/T ₁ temperature dependence of ⁸¹Br NQR follows the usual T ² law in the temperature range between 77 and ca. 140 K, being explained by fluctuation of the EFG at Br nucleus due to lattice vibrations. The T ₁ vs. 1/T curve in the temperature range between about 160 and 190 K was describable by the exponential curves, allowing us the estimation of activation energies. These exponential behaviors of T ₁ of ⁸¹Br NQR are attributable to the fluctuations caused by the thermal motion of 4-NH₂C₅H₄H⁺ ions. Echo signals of the ⁸¹Br NQR could not be detected above 190 K owing to poor S/N with very short T ₂.     

Effect of γ irradiation on the thermochromic phase transition in [(C<Subscript>2</Subscript>H<Subscript>5</Subscript>)<Subscript>2</Subscript>NH<Subscript>2</Subscript>]<Subscript>2</Subscript>CuCl<Subscript>4</Subscript> crystals (as derived from heat capacity measurements)

The heat capacity of [(C₂H₅)₂NH₂]₂CuCl₄ crystals, both nonirradiated and γ-irradiated to a dose of 10⁷R, was studied in the temperature interval 90–330 K by adiabatic calorimetry. The temperature dependence of C_p(T) was found to have a peak-shaped anomaly in the region of the thermochromic phase transition (PT) at T = 322.7 K. Smoothened experimental heat capacity data were used to calculate the changes in the thermodynamic functions. The changes in the entropy and enthalpy of the thermochromic PT were determined to be ΔS = 42 J K^?1 mol^?1 and ΔH = 13653 J mol^?1 for the nonirradiated crystals and ΔS = 39 J K^?1 mol^?1 and ΔH = 12120 J mol^?1 for the irradiated crystals, respectively. Irradiation of a [(C₂H₅)₂NH₂]₂CuCl₄ crystal by γ rays to a dose of 10⁷ R was shown to shift the PT point toward lower temperatures by ΔT ≈ 1.7 K.     

Structural and magnetic phase transitions in (Chloroanilinium)2CuX4 (X = Cl, Br)

Successive structural phase transitions of (4-ClC₆H₄NH₃)₂CuCl₄, which occur in a very narrow temperature range were reinvestigated by Fourier transform nuclear quadrupole resonance (FT NQR) measurements. The phase transitions at 275.5 and 277.0 K were confirmed. The effect of the deuteration of the ammonium end on these transitions was studied. The³⁵Cl NQR frequencies of organic cation were observed to decrease by about 4 kHz and the phase transition temperatures to decrease by about 2 K by the deuteration, suggesting that the ?NH₃ ⁺ … Cl hydrogen bond is weakened by the deuteration. The magnetic phase transition temperature of 8.6 K showed no remarkable change within experimental error by the deuteration. It was found that the magnetically ordered state is broken by the radio-frequency magnetic field of about 15–35 Oe usually employed in pulsed NQR. However, in the deuterated compound (4-ClC₆H₄ND₃)₂CuCl₄, the ordered state was found to be stabler for the usual radiofrequency power. By combining with the NQR data of (4-ClC₆H₄NH₃)₂CuBr₄ and (3,5-Cl₂C₆H₃NH₃)₂CuCl₄, the possibility is discussed of tuning the interlayer interaction between the organic cation layer and the inorganic complex anion layer by the halogen substitution in the organic cation as well as by the halogen replacement in the inorganic complex anion.     

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.     

DSC study of superionic phase transition in (NH4)4H2(SeO4)3 single crystals

DSC and complex impedance studies of the protonic conductor (NH₄)₄H₂(SeO₄)₃, which undergoes a superionic phase transition of first order at T_s = 378 K show that the activation energy of ionic conductivity d(lg σ)/dt and the ordering enthalpy ΔC_p of the crystal are proportional: d(lg σ)/dT = XΔC_p/RT_s + const, as found for MAg₄I₅ crystals undergoing a second-order superionic phase transition. Thus the short-range order environment of the species involved in fast-ion transport plays the main role in the superionic phase transition. This is also supported by the value of the entropy change at T_s, ΔS = 43 J/mole·K. A new metastable phase was found to be induced on heating the (NH₄)₄H₂(SeO₄)₃ crystal above T_s.     

Spin-glass behavior and magnetic splitting in molecular magnetic materials {[N(n-C4H9)4][MIIFeIII(C2O4)3]}n (M = Co, Mn)

The mixed valence character and the antiferromagnetic coupling in the molecular magnetic materials {[N(n-C₄H₉)₄][M^IIFe^III(C₂O₄)₃]}_n (M = Co, Mn) were investigated by Mössbauer spectroscopy and magnetic measurements. In the material {[N(n-C₄H₉)₄][CoFe(C₂O₄)₃]}_n, the appearence of the spin-glass phase transition temperature and the magnetic phase transition under zero-field-cooled AC magnetic measurements were studied in the temperature range 5–100 K. In the Mössbauer spectra of {[N(n-C₄H₉)₄][MnFe(C₂O₄)₃]} a magnetic splitting was observed below 30 K. The appearance of the magnetic splitting indicates the occurrence of magnetic ordering in this complex. The hyperfine parameters show that the electronic state of iron is high-spin Fe³⁺.     

Low-temperature magnetic properties of the 2D molecular ferrimagnet N(n-C5H11)4 [FeIIFeIII(C2O4)3]

⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer and magnetometric studies of the molecular ferrimagnet N(n-C₅H₁₁)₄ [ Fe^IIFe^III(C₂O₄)₃] are indicative of a 2D magnetic character with strong uniaxial anisotropy in the basal plane of the crystal. It is established that the change in the sign of the net magnetization of this compound is related to a compensation between Fe^III and Fe^II sublattice magnetizations at T _comp=31.2 K. The form and parameters of the magnetic Hamiltonian describing the temperature dependence of the Fe^III sublattice and the net magnetizations are determined.     

Crystal structure and ferromagnetism of (n-C3H7)4N[CoFe(dto)3] (dto=C2O2S2)

Recently, we have discovered a new type of first order phase transition around 120 K for (n-C₃H₇)₄N[Fe^IIFe^III(dto)₃] (dto=C₂O₂S₂), where the charge transfer transition between Fe^II and Fe^III occurs reversibly. In order to elucidate the origin of this peculiar first order phase transition. Detailed information about the crystal structure is indispensable. We have synthesized the single crystal of (n-C₃H₇)₄N[Co^IIFe^III(dto)₃] whose crystal structure is isomorphous to that of (n-C₃H₇)₄N[Fe^IIFe^III(dto)₃], and determined its detailed crystal structure. Crystal data: space group P6₃, a=b=10.044(2) Å, c=15.960(6) Å, α=β=90°, γ=120°, Z=2 (C₁₈H₂₈NS₆O₆FeCo). In this complex, we found a ferromagnetic transition at T_c=3.5 K. Moreover, on the basis of the crystal data of (n-C₃H₇)₄N[Co^IIFe^III(dto)₃], we determined the crystal structure of (n-C₃H₇)₄N[Fe^IIFe^III(dto)₃] by simulation of powder X-ray diffraction results.     

The pressure influence on the incommensurate-commensurate ferroelectric phase transition in [4-NH2C5H4NH][SbCl4]

The dielectric properties of the [4-NH₂C₅H₄NH] SbCl₄ (abbreviated as 4-APCA) crystal were investigated under hydrostatic pressure up to 300 Mpa. The pressure-temperature phase diagram was given. The paraelectric-ferroelectric phase transition (II→III) temperature (T_c) increases linearly with increasing pressure with a slope dT_c/dp=21×10⁻² K/MPa. The pressure dependence of Curie-Weiss constants has been evaluated also. In the paraelectric phase (II) the Curie constant (C₊) was pressure dependent whereas the C₋ constant over the ferroelectric phase (III) was almost constant. The results are interpreted in terms of improper and displacive type phase transition model with a soft phonon at a zone boundary.     

EPR studies of linewidth anomalies at phase transitions in [N(C2H5)4]2MnCl4

We have studied [N(C₂H₅)₄]₂MnCl₄ crystal by X-band CW EPR spectra in the temperature range 170-300 K. The angular dependences of linewidth ΔH were measured and described in the light of a double-layer system (2D) with exchange interactions. Two temperature anomalies of linewidth ΔH were found at T₁=225 K and T₂=192 K on cooling. Different behaviors of ΔH anomalies recorded for an external magnetic field parallel and perpendicular to the ab crystallographic plane indicate ordering/disordering of MnCl₄ groups in this plane and their displacement along the c-axis which occurs in the temperature of about 225 K.     

Synthesis,crystal structure and electrical properties of (C5H13NCl)2 SnCl6

In this work, a novel compound Bis(2-chloropropyl-N,N-dimethyl-1-ammonium) hexachloridostannate(IV) was synthesized and characterized by; single X-ray diffraction, Hirshfeld surface analysis, differential scanning calorimetric and dielectric measurement. The crystal structure refinement at room temperature reveled that this later belongs to the monoclinic compound with P2₁/n space group with the following unit cell parameters a = 7.2894(7) Å, b = 12.9351(12) Å, c = 12.2302(13) Å and β = 93.423 (6) °. The structure consists of isolated (SnCl₆)^2? octahedral anions connected together into layers via hydrogen bonds N–H….Cl between the chlorine atoms of the anions and the hydrogen atoms of the NH groups of the [C₅H₁₃NCl]⁺ cations. Hirschfeld surface analysis has been performed to gain insight into the behavior of these interactions. The differential scanning calorimetry spectrum discloses phase transitions at 367 and 376.7 K. The electrical properties of this compound have been measured in the temperature range 300–420 K and the frequency range 209 Hz–5 MHz. The Cole–Cole (Z′ versus Z″) plots are well fitted to an equivalent circuit model. The transition phase observed in the calorimetric study is confirmed by the change as function of temperature of electrical parameter such as the conductivity of grain (σ_g) and the σ_dc.