Raman spectroscopy of synthetic,geological and biological vaterite: a Raman spectroscopic study

Raman spectroscopy was used to study vaterite samples of biological, geological and synthetic origin. The Raman band positions and the full width at half‐maximum (FWHM) of the lattice modes and the internal modes of the carbonate ion of all specimens show no significant differences between vaterites of different origin. With increasing Mg concentrations, synthetic vaterite samples show increasing FWHM in the region of the lattice modes and the three ν₁ bands, whereas no change in luminescence was detected. In contrast, in situ measurements of vaterite areas in freshwater cultured pearls (FWCPs) by laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA‐ICP‐MS) together with the Raman spectra obtained at the same points show that the luminescence intensity in biological samples is affected by the magnesium content. The Raman spectroscopic features of vaterite and parisite‐(Ce) are compared, and their similarities suggest that the structure of vaterite contains at least three crystallographically independent carbonate groups and similar carbonate group layers. A band at 263 cm⁻¹ is observed for the first time in this study, whereas it could be demonstrated that bands previously reported at 130 and 190 cm⁻¹ do not belong to vaterite. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Amorphous,nanocrystalline and crystalline calcium carbonates in biological materials

Raman spectroscopy is a powerful tool in identifying different calcium carbonate polymorphs. Here, the method is applied to cultured pearls from freshwater (genus Hyriopsis) and marine bivalve species (Pinctada maxima) as well as to shells of Diplodon chilensis patagonicus bivalves. Raman spectra for vaterite, detected for the first time in an adult shell, and amorphous calcium carbonate (ACC) are discussed. Results for ACC are compared with those of synthetically produced ACC and with the Raman spectroscopic features of stable biogenic ACC from the crustacean Porcellio scaber. Decomposition of the most intense signal of all calcium carbonate polymorphs—the ν₁ symmetric stretching mode of the carbonate ion—leads to the identification of two polymorphs within the ACC areas: a mixure of an amorphous and a crystalline fraction. The amorphous phase is characterised by a broad peak in the region of the lattice modes, which is composed of two distinct lattice modes with very high full‐widths at half‐maximum (FWHMs). The FWHMs of most of the crystalline fractions (in the range of 6.3–10.7 cm⁻¹) are too high for well‐crystallised materials and support reports of nanocrystalline calcium carbonate polymorph clusters in ACC. Crystallinity indices of different samples are calculated and found to be useful to describe roughly the state of crystallisation in the ACC areas. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The Nanosecond Laser Flash Photolysis (LFP) Transient Spectra of Aqueous CCl4 Solution

Abstract

The Raman spectrum of polycrystalline vaterite is presented and compared to spectra of calcite and aragonite, the other two common CaCO₃ polymorphs; Raman spectroscopy easily distinguishes between these three polymorphs. An important feature of the Raman spectrum of vaterite is splitting of both the ν₁ and ν₄ peaks. The splitting of the ν1 peak implies two distinct site symmetries for the CO₃ ^?2 groups. A definitive crystal structure determination of vaterite is not yet available, but none of the three proposed structures for vaterite show such a feature.     

碳酸钙在溶液中的演化机理

以EDTA作为添加剂,在CaCl₂/NaCO₃混合液中采用共沉淀法制备了碳酸钙,并探讨它在母液中的演化机理. 热力学和动力学计 算表明虽然形成无定形碳酸钙(ACC)的驱动力小于方解石和球霰石,但在共沉淀反应的初始阶段ACC的形核速率高于方解石和球霰石. 随着陈化时间的延长,最新生成的碳酸钙成为球霰石和方解石异相形核的活性点. 通过SEM发现ACC和球霰石在母液中通过溶解-再结晶机理转化成方解石. 此外,EDTA添加剂不仅提高了ACC和球霰石的稳定性,而且有助于碳酸钙在母液中陈化7天后转化成长棒状、菱形的方解石晶体. 如果将碳酸钙放置在空气介质中,ACC和球霰石也可以通过溶解-再结晶反应转化成方解石,但其转化速率低于溶液介质.     

Why to synthesize vaterite polymorph of calcium carbonate on the cellulose matrix via sonochemistry process?

Vaterite is an important biomedical material due to its features such as high specific surface area, high solubility, high dispersion, and small specific gravity. The purposes of this article were to explore the growth mechanism of vaterite on the cellulose matrix via sonochmistry process. In the work reported herein, the influences of experimental parameters on the polymorph of calcium carbonate were investigated in detail. The calcium carbonate crystals on the cellulose matrix were characterized by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Experimental results revealed that all the reactants, solvent, and synthesis method played an important role in the polymorph of calcium carbonate. The pure phase of vaterite polymorph was obtained using Na₂CO₃ as reactant in ethylene glycol on the cellulose matrix via sonochmistry process. Based on the experimental results, one can conclude that the synthesis of vaterite polymorph is a system process.     

Phase transformations in CaCO3/iron oxide composite induced by thermal treatment and laser irradiation

Calcium carbonate (CaCO₃)/iron oxide composites were synthesized through a simple one‐step impregnation procedure by mixing iron oxide nanoparticles (γ‐Fe₂O₃ and Fe₃O₄) of about 6 nm in size and CaCO₃ microparticles (Φ = 2 µm–8 µm, vaterite phase). The morphology and structural properties of CaCO₃, iron oxide nanoparticles and CaCO₃/iron oxide composites were characterized as a function of low iron content (0 %w to 3.2 %w) by scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy, X‐ray diffraction and ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer spectrometry. The phase transformations induced by thermal treatment and laser irradiation were investigated in situ by X‐ray thermodiffraction (XRTD) and Raman spectroscopy. We have shown that the phase transformations observed by XRTD are also observed under laser irradiation as a consequence of the absorption of the laser irradiation by iron oxide nanoparticles. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Ultrasound influence upon calcium carbonate precipitation on bacterial cellulose membranes

The effect of ultrasonic irradiation (40 kHz) on the calcium carbonate deposition on bacterial cellulose membranes was investigated using calcium chloride (CaCl₂) and sodium carbonate (Na₂CO₃) as starting reactants. The composite materials containing bacterial cellulose-calcium carbonate were characterized by means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and color measurements. The polymorphs of calcium carbonate that were deposited on bacterial cellulose membranes in the presence or in the absence of ultrasonic irradiation were calcite and vaterite. The morphology of the obtained crystals was influenced by the concentration of starting solutions and by the presence of ultrasonic irradiation. In the presence of ultrasonic irradiation the obtained crystals were bigger and in a larger variety of shapes than in the absence of ultrasounds: from cubes of calcite to spherical and flower-like vaterite particles. Bacterial cellulose could be a good matrix for obtaining different types of calcium carbonate crystals.     

鲤鱼耳石的拉曼及红外光谱特征研究

鱼耳石是存在于硬骨鱼内耳中的功能性沉积体,主要由碳酸钙和有机质构成,是一种典型的天然生物矿物。鱼的内耳中共有微耳石、星耳石、矢耳石各1对。利用FTIR光谱和Raman光谱对实验室中养殖锦鲤的星耳石和微耳石进行了对比分析,结果表明微耳石的矿物相为文石,而星耳石的矿物相则为球文石,微耳石中纯文石和星耳石中纯球文石的各自独立存在为文石/球文石的矿化机理研究提供了十分优异的天然样品。分别将其与无机和生物成因的文石、球文石的Raman及FTIR图谱进行比较,发现微耳石的FTIR和Raman图谱特征介于无机成因文石和其他生物成因文石之间,而星耳石的FTIR和Raman图谱特征则与其他生物成因的球文石更为接近,这可能是由于有机物参与了生物矿化过程并起到了稳定介稳相的球文石的结果。     

X-ray analysis of the actual structure of yttrium orthoborate YBO3

Detailed X-ray analysis of variations in the structure of yttrium orthoborate in the process of successive high-temperature isothermal anneals of an originally amorphous precursor state is performed. It is established that the diffraction reflex intensity distribution of YBO₃ measured at room temperature, obtained in the initial stages of crystallization, corresponds to the known low-temperature vaterite phase with the space group (sp. gr.) P6₃/m and, after a series of high-temperature anneals, it transforms into a distribution known for the vaterite modification with the sp. gr. P6₃/mmc and the same lattice parameters. This result is explained on the basis of the sphericity of X-ray waves and is connected with the transformation of the crystallites from a spherical shape upon low-temperature anneals to a dumbbell shape upon high-temperature anneals. As a result of in situ experiments conducted at 1250°C, it was established that the initial low-temperature hexagonal vaterite cell transforms above 1000°C into a monoclinic cell.

     

Cerussite,PbCO3 – a new Stimulated Raman Scattering (SRS)‐active crystal with high‐order Stokes and anti‐Stokes lasing

Orthorhombic PbCO₃, known as natural crystal cerussite, is presented as a new Stimulated Raman Scattering (SRS)‐active crystal. With picosecond laser pumping high‐order Raman‐induced χ⁽³⁾ generation is observed. All registered Stokes and anti‐Stokes sidebands in the visible and near‐IR are identified and attributed to the SRS‐promoting phonon mode A_1g of the carbonate group, with ω_SRS ≈ 1054 cm⁻¹. The first Stokes steady‐state Raman gain coefficient in the visible spectral range is estimated as well to a value not less than 4.6 cm·GW⁻¹.     

Raman spectroscopy of gallium‐ and zinc‐based hydrotalcites

Insight into the unique structure of hydrotalcites (HTs) has been obtained using Raman spectroscopy. Gallium‐containing HTs of formula Zn₄ Ga₂(CO₃)(OH)₁₂ · xH₂O (2:1 ZnGa‐HT), Zn₆ Ga₂(CO₃)(OH)₁₆ · xH₂O (3:1 ZnGa‐HT) and Zn₈ Ga₂(CO₃)(OH)₁₈ · xH₂O (4:1 ZnGa‐HT) have been successfully synthesised and characterised by X‐ray diffraction (XRD) and Raman spectroscopy. The d(003) spacing varies from 7.62 Å for the 2:1 ZnGa‐HT to 7.64 Å for the 3:1 ZnGa‐HT. The 4:1 ZnGa‐HT showed a decrease in the d(003) spacing, compared to the 2:1 and 3:1 compounds. Raman spectroscopy complemented with selected infrared data has been used to characterise the synthesised gallium‐containing HTs. Raman bands observed at around 1050, 1060 and 1067 cm⁻¹ are attributed to the symmetric stretching modes of the (CO₃²⁻) units. Multiple ν₃ (CO₃²⁻) antisymmetric stretching modes are found between 1350 and 1520 cm⁻¹, confirming multiple carbonate species in the HT structure. The splitting of this mode indicates that the carbonate anion is in a perturbed state. Raman bands observed at 710 and 717 cm⁻¹ and assigned to the ν₄ (CO₃²⁻) modes support the concept of multiple carbonate species in the interlayer. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Micro‐Raman spectroscopy of pigments contained in different calcium carbonate polymorphs from freshwater cultured pearls

The metastable calcium carbonate polymorph vaterite has recently been found to occur commonly in freshwater cultured pearls from Japan and China. Organic pigment molecules in these vaterite regions of freshwater cultured pearls were analysed by resonance and near‐resonance micro‐Raman spectroscopy, in single spectra and in mapping modes and are compared with their aragonitic counterparts. Four different excitation wavelengths (487.9, 514.5, 532.2 and 632.8 nm) were used, resulting in differential increase of resolution for the pigments. Although vaterite areas were always lightly coloured (light yellow, light brown or white), ten different pigments were identified and a single colour is formed by a combination of three and up to nine polyenes of different lengths. The molecules were identified as unmethylated polyenes with effective chain lengths between 8 and 12 conjugated double bonds and FWHMs of 10 ± 2 cm⁻¹. Additionally, and for the first time in pearls, methylated polyenes were detected together with unmethylated pigments in aragonite. Polyenes with chain lengths shorter than 8 or longer than 12 were not found in vaterite, whereas both shorter and longer pigment chains were observed in aragonite from the same pearls. Pigments have lower concentrations in vaterite and are distributed more homogeneously, while they have higher concentrations in aragonite and are arranged along the annual growth lines of the pearls. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Vibrational Spectroscopic Characterization of the Sulphate-Carbonate Mineral Burkeite: Implications for Evaporites

Burkeite formation is important in saline evaporites and in pipe scales. Burkeite is an anhydrous sulphate-carbonate with an apparent variable anion ratio. Such a formula with two oxyanions lends itself to vibrational spectroscopy. Two symmetric sulphate stretching modes are observed, indicating at least at the molecular level the nonequivalence of the sulphate ions in the burkeite structure. The strong Raman band at 1065 cm^?1 is assigned to the carbonate symmetric stretching vibration. The series of Raman bands at 622, 635, 645, and 704 cm^?1 are assigned to the ν₄ sulphate bending modes. The observation of multiple bands supports the concept of a reduction in symmetry of the sulphate anion from T _d to C _3v or even C _2v.     

Effect of amplitude and frequency of ultrasonic irradiation on morphological characteristics control of calcium carbonate

We have previously reported on the morphological control of calcium carbonate by changing synthetic conditions such as temperature, pH and degree of supersaturation in liquid reaction. The present study reports the effect of amplitude and frequency of ultrasonic irradiation on the particle size of calcium carbonate using a horn type ultrasonic apparatus at two different frequencies. The calcium carbonate precipitated by mechanical stirring had a particle size of about 20 μm. By contrast, the particle size of vaterite formed under ultrasonic irradiation was about 2 μm, with a specific surface area of 25–30 m²/g. The major polymorph of calcium carbonate formed by ultrasonic irradiation was vaterite with some calcite present. For 40 kHz ultrasonic irradiation, the specific surface area of the calcium carbonate increased with increasing amplitude. The particle size of vaterite formed at this frequency was about 2 μm, and its distribution was sharper than that obtained at 20 kHz. The mode diameter of the synthesized vaterite was found to decrease with increasing amplitude at 40 kHz.     

X‐ray Raman spectroscopy of lithium‐ion battery electrolyte solutions in a flow cell

The effects of varying LiPF₆ salt concentration and the presence of lithium bis(oxalate)borate additive on the electronic structure of commonly used lithium‐ion battery electrolyte solvents (ethylene carbonate–dimethyl carbonate and propylene carbonate) have been investigated. X‐ray Raman scattering spectroscopy (a non‐resonant inelastic X‐ray scattering method) was utilized together with a closed‐circle flow cell. Carbon and oxygen K‐edges provide characteristic information on the electronic structure of the electrolyte solutions, which are sensitive to local chemistry. Higher Li⁺ ion concentration in the solvent manifests itself as a blue‐shift of both the π* feature in the carbon edge and the carbonyl π* feature in the oxygen edge. While these oxygen K‐edge results agree with previous soft X‐ray absorption studies on LiBF₄ salt concentration in propylene carbonate, carbon K‐edge spectra reveal a shift in energy, which can be explained with differing ionic conductivities of the electrolyte solutions.     

Raman spectroscopic study of synthetic reevesite and cobalt substituted reevesite (Ni,Co)6Fe2(OH)16(CO3)·4H2O

Raman spectroscopy, complemented with infrared spectroscopy of compounds equivalent to reevesite, formula (Ni,Co)₆Fe₂(OH)₁₆(CO₃)·4H₂O, with the ratio of Ni/Co ranging from 0 to 1, have been synthesised and characterised based on the molecular structure of the synthesised mineral. The combination of Raman spectroscopy with infrared spectroscopy enables an assessment of bands attributable to water stretching and brucite‐like surface hydroxyl units to be obtained. Raman spectroscopy shows a reduction in the symmetry of the carbonate anion, leading to the conclusion that the carbonate anion is bonded to the brucite‐like hydroxyl surface and to the water in the interlayer. Variation in the position of the carbonate anion stretching vibrations occurs and is dependent on the Ni/Co ratio. Water bending modes are identified in both the Raman and infrared spectra at positions greater than 1620 cm⁻¹, indicating that water is strongly hydrogen bonded to both the interlayer anions and the hydrotalcite surface. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Raman spectroscopy of gallium‐based hydrotalcites of formula Mg6Ga2(CO3)(OH)16· 4H2O

Insight into the unique structure of hydrotalcites has been obtained using Raman spectroscopy. Gallium‐containing hydrotalcites of formula Mg₄Ga₂(CO₃)(OH)₁₂· 4H₂O (2:1 Ga‐HT) to Mg₈Ga₂(CO₃)(OH)₂₀· 4H₂O (4:1 Ga‐HT) have been successfully synthesized and characterized by X‐ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy. The d(003) spacing varied from 7.83 Å for the 2:1 hydrotalcite to 8.15 Å for the 3:1 gallium‐containing hydrotalcite. Raman spectroscopy complemented with selected infrared data has been used to characterize the synthesized gallium‐containing hydrotalcites of formula Mg₆Ga₂(CO₃)(OH)₁₆· 4H₂O. Raman bands observed at around 1046, 1048 and 1058 cm⁻¹ are attributed to the symmetric stretching modes of the CO₃²⁻ units. Multiple ν₃ CO₃²⁻ antisymmetric stretching modes are found at around 1346, 1378, 1446, 1464 and 1494 cm⁻¹. The splitting of this mode indicates that the carbonate anion is in a perturbed state. Raman bands observed at 710 and 717 cm⁻¹ assigned to the ν₄ (CO₃²⁻) modes support the concept of multiple carbonate species in the interlayer. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Raman spectra of shortite Na2Ca2(CO3)3 compressed up to 8 GPa

A rare mineral shortite, Na₂Ca₂(CO₃)₃, occurs among groundmass minerals in unaltered kimberlites, which suggests its participation in the evolution of kimberlite system. This work presents a high pressure Raman spectroscopic study of natural shortite (Udachnaya east kimberlites) compressed in KBr up to 8?GPa in a diamond anvil cell. At ambient pressure the spectrum contains two strong bands related to symmetric C-O stretching vibrations, four in-plane bending modes, and several low-frequency modes of lattice vibrations. Upon the pressure increase up to 8?GPa, almost all the bands exhibit positive shift with the rate of 1–4?cm^?1/GPa for the lattice modes and 3.6 and 3.9?cm^?1/GPa for the C-O stretching modes. The shifts of Raman modes are rather regular, which implies the absence of reconstructive phase transitions within the studied pressure range, similarly to the behavior of nyerereite, a related carbonate mineral. However, minor anomalies in the ν/P and FWHM/P dependences, observed at about 2?GPa, suggest some rearrangement and disordering of carbonate groups. The obtained data can be used for the estimation of residual pressure in shortite-bearing inclusions in deep-seated minerals.     

Ultrasonic-assisted eggshell extract-mediated polymorphic transformation of calcium carbonate

This study aimed to evaluate the combined effects of eggshell extract and ultrasonic irradiation on the polymorphic transformation of calcium carbonate (CaCO₃). In this context, XRD, Raman spectroscopy, SEM, AFM, TGA-FTIR, BET, and zeta potential analysis were used to identify and characterize the different polymorphs of CaCO₃ obtained in the absence and presence of eggshell extract in the media with and without ultrasonic irradiation. The morphology and polymorphic nature of the CaCO₃ crystals were observed to change, which indicated that the eggshell extract and ultrasonication influenced the structure and crystallization of CaCO₃. The structural analysis results indicated that the addition of eggshell extract to the media resulted in the full transformation of calcite to the vaterite polymorph. The results also showed that ultrasonic irradiation had a more significant influence on the BET specific surface area of the crystals compared to the eggshell extract media. Furthermore, a Box–Behnken design with response surface methodology was employed to determine the optimal operating conditions for CaCO₃ crystallization. The effects of stirring rate, extract concentration, and ultrasonic power on the BET surface area were investigated. The results show that the data sufficiently fit the second-order polynomial model. Understanding the eggshell extract-mediated polymorphic transformation with ultrasonic irradiation obtained in this study makes it possible to control the polymorphic formation and modify the product characteristics.     

Determination and imaging of binder remnants and aggregates in historic cement stone by Raman microscopy

We present to our knowledge the first application of Raman microscopic imaging to cementitious materials. This technique yielded the composition and phase distribution (spatial resolution ≈ 500 nm) in samples of cement stone taken from façade elements of four Swiss buildings covering the period of 1892–1924. Raman maps of Roman cement, a predecessor of modern Portland cement, reveal the chemical heterogeneity of clinker remnants consisting of various crystalline, polymorphic, and amorphous phases and visualize different crystal orientations. Our findings include the observation of the γ‐polymorph of Ca₂SiO₄ – previously, only detected in Portland cement – and Raman spectra of calcium aluminate (ferrite) interstitial phases in Roman cement showing significant differences to the corresponding phases in Portland cement clinker. Furthermore, calcite, vaterite, gypsum, and ettringite were identified in the rim of a nonhydrated residual nodule. Beyond binder remnants, aggregates in the form of spherical (≤500 µm diameter) slag and irregularly shaped pigment particles were analyzed. Here, we focused on the unambiguous identification of compounds in complex matrices by comparing sample spectra with database and own reference spectra. A Raman map collected on blast furnace slag in cement stone shows the spatial distribution of calcite, quartz glass and pyrite. Furthermore, several Fe‐containing, Si‐containing, and Pb‐containing phases were identified. The analysis of pigments partly confirmed and partly contradicted the bequeathed historic recipe of a cement stone façade. These results have direct implications in the field of conservation and restoration and generally demonstrate the potential of Raman imaging to provide deeper understanding of (historic) building materials. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.