First measurements of time-dependent nucleation as a function of composition in Na2O · 2CaO · 3SiO2 glasses

First measurements of the composition dependence of the time-dependent nucleation rate are presented. Nucleation rates of the stoichiometric crystalline phase, Na₂O · 2CaO · 3SiO₂, from quenched glasses made with different SiO₂ concentrations were determined as a function of temperature and glass composition. A strong compositional dependence of the nucleation rates and a weak dependence for the induction times were observed. Using measured values of the liquidus temperatures and growth velocities as a function of glass composition, these data are shown to be consistent with predictions from the classical theory of nucleation, assuming a composition-dependent interfacial energy.     

The effect of mixed alkaline earths on the diffusivity and the incorporation of iron in 5Na2O · xMgO · (15−x)CaO · yAl2O3 · (80−y)SiO2 melts

Diffusion coefficients of iron were measured in glass melts with the basic compositions 5Na₂O · xMgO · (15−x)CaO · yAl₂O₃ · (80−y)SiO₂ with x=5, 10 and y=0, 5, 7.5, 10 and 15. The melts were doped with 0.25 mol% Fe₂O₃ and studied in the temperature range from 1000 to 1600 °C using square-wave voltammetry. The voltammograms exhibited distinct peaks attributed to the reduction of Fe³⁺ to Fe²⁺, from which peak currents mixed diffusion coefficients of iron were calculated. Diffusion coefficients in all melt compositions which did not show crystallization could be fitted to Arrhenius equation. The diffusivities measured in different melt compositions were related to the same viscosity, i.e. not the same temperature. Increasing the alumina concentration from 5 to 10 mol% resulted in an increase of the viscosity corrected diffusivities. At further increasing alumina concentrations, the diffusivities get smaller again. This can be explained by the stabilizing effect of Na⁺ and Ca²⁺ on FeO⁻₄ and AlO⁻₄-tetrahedra, which strengthens the incorporation of Fe³⁺ into the glass structure.     

Mechanochemical metathesis synthesis and characterization of nano-structured MnV2O6·xH2O (x=2, 4)

A solid-state metathesis approach for the synthesis of hydrated MnV₂O₆·xH₂O (x=2, 4) materials driven by mechanochemical activation energy has been demonstrated. The metathesis pathway of forming the desired product is confirmed by the presence of high lattice energy by-product such as NaCl. The structural, optical, and chemical properties of the synthesized materials are examined by powder X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, thermo gravimetric analysis, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and diffused reflectance measurements in the UV–vis range. The valence state of Mn and V was determined to be +2 and +5, respectively, for the title compounds and the bandgap values determined showed these materials are likely to be semiconductors.     

A SAXS study of V2O5·nH2O sols and gels

Small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) measurements on V₂O₅·nH₂O sols and gels, prepared by dissolving V₂O₅ glass into water at room temperature, show that there are V₂O₅ polymeric fibers entangled like random coils in the sol of n 5000, while the deviation from the random coil behavior occurs in the dilute sol of n 6000.

A Bragg peak appears at the scattering vector h 0.02 Å⁻¹ to be superimposed on an asymptotic h⁻²-course in the SAXS curve of the concentrated sol of n 680. This means that the spatial correlation between V₂O₅ polymeric fibers takes place even in the fluid state.

V₂O₅·nH₂O sols completely lose fluidity at n 250 to transfer to the gel state, where V₂O₅ polymeric fibers begin to pile up in the parallel with a substrate surface. Such a layer structure is preserved up to the gel of n 4. However, V₂O₅ polymeric fibers are randomly oriented within each layer.     

Hydrothermal growth of single-crystal CaV6O16·3H2O nanoribbons

CaV₆O₁₆·3H₂O nanoribbons have been prepared by the hydrothermal method in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) at 160°C for 10 h. X-ray diffraction pattern indicates that the sample is monoclinic phase of CaV₆O₁₆·3H₂O with the lattice contents a=12.18 Å, b=3.598 Å, c=18.39 Å, β=118.03°. Field emission scanning electron microscopy shows that the nanoribbons have widths in the range of 150–500 nm, thicknesses of 30–60 nm and lengths of 500 mm X-ray photoelectron spectrum measurements further confirm the formation of the CaV₆O₁₆·3H₂O phase. The formation of CaV₆O₁₆·3H₂O nanoribbons is a self-assembling process, in which surfactant SDS plays the role of soft template.     

Crystallization and Characterization of Orthorhombic β‐MgSO4 · 7H2O

In solution, the growth rate and the crystal habit are influenced by a number of factors such as supersaturation, temperature, pH of the solution, cooling rate, agitation, viscosity, initial state of the seed crystal and the presence of impurities. The crystallization of orthorhombic β‐MgSO₄ · 7H₂O, from low temperature aqueous solution by slow cooling process was studied. The metastable zone width, the induction periods (τ) for different supersaturations and the effect of pH on the growth rate of the crystals were investigated. The increase of pH yielded bigger crystals. The structural, optical, thermal and mechanical properties of β‐MgSO₄ · 7H₂O have been studied using FT‐IR, X‐ray diffraction, TGA‐DTG and micro hardness analyses.     

Synthesis and crystal structure of a new inorganic – organic complex: (4‐ClC7H6NH3)9[Nd(P6O18)2]·9H2O

Single crystals of (4‐ClC₇H₆NH₃)₉[Nd(P₆O₁₈)₂]·9H₂O were synthesized in aqueous solution. This compound crystallizes in a triclinic P1 unit‐cell, with a = 14.898(6), b = 18.049(7), c = 20.695(6)Å, α = 102.04(3), β = 100.49(3), γ = 98.82(3)°, V = 5245(4) ų and Z = 2. The crystal structure has been solved and refined to R = 0.043 (Rw = 0.061) for 20420 observed reflections. The atomic arrangement of the title compound can be described as infinite layers built by complex of Neodyme [Nd(P₆O₁₈)₂] and nine water molecules. The organic cations are located in the space delimited by the successive inorganic layers. (© 2007 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Palladium (II) compounds with diaminocarboxylic acids: Crystal structures of [Pd(H2Cdta)] · H2O, [Pd(H3Edtp)Cl] · 2H2O, and (H6Edtp)[PdCl4] · 4H2O

The crystal structures of three Pd(II) compounds with diamine tetracarboxylates in different protonation states are determined, namely, [Pd(H₂ Cdta)] · H₂O (I), [Pd(H₃ EdtpCl] · 2H₂O (II), and (H₆ Edtp)[PdCl₄] · 4H₂O (III) (R ₁ = 0.0230, 0.0313, and 0.0277 for 3040, 3377, and 3809 reflections with I > 2σ(I) for I–III, respectively). Crystals I and II are built of neutral complexes [Pd(H₂ Cdta)] and [Pd(H₃ Edtp)Cl], respectively, and crystallization water molecules. Crystal III consists of [PdCl₄]²⁻ anionic complexes, H₆ Edtp ²⁺ cations, and water molecules. In I, one of the protonated acetate groups of the H₂ Cdta ²⁻ ligand forms a very weak additional Pd-O bond [2.968(2) Å] over the 2N + 2O coordination square. In II and III, the protonated propionate groups of the H₃ Edtp ⁻ ligand and the H₆ Edtp ²⁺ cation are not involved in Pd coordination and the coordination squares consist of the 2N + O + Cl and 4Cl atoms, respectively. __________ Translated from Kristallografiya, Vol. 48, No. 2, 2003, pp. 278–282. Original Russian Text Copyright ? 2003 by Polyakova, Poznyak, Sergienko.     

Crystal structure of R[UO2(CH3COO)3] (R = NH 4+ , K+, or Cs+)

The single crystal structure of NH₄[UO₂(CH₃COO)₃] (I), K[UO₂(CH₃COO)₃] (II), and Cs[UO₂(CH₃COO)₃] (III) is studied by X-ray diffraction. I and II crystallize in the tetragonal crystal system. The crystal data are as follows: a = 13.6985(3) and c = 27.5678(14) ?, V = 5173.1(3) ?³, space group I4₁/a, Z = 16, and R = 0.023 for I; a = 13.8890(5) and c = 26.0839(18) ?, V = 5031.7(4) ?³, space group I4₁/a, Z = 16, and R = 0.037 for II. Crystals III are orthorhombic, a = 18.176(2), b = 13.119(2), and c = 22.088(4) ?, V = 5267(1)?³, space group Pbca, Z = 16, and R = 0.0424. In structures I–III, the uranium-containing structural units are represented by discrete mononuclear [UO₂(CH₃COO)₃]⁻ groups, which belong to the AB ₃⁰¹ (A = UO₂²⁺, B ⁰¹=CH₃COO⁻) crystal chemical group of uranyl complexes.     

Crystal structure of a new basic nitrate of neodymium(III), [Nd6O(OH)8(H2O)14(NO3)6](NO3)2 · 2H2O

A new basic Nd³⁺ nitrate, [Nd₆O(OH)₈(H₂O)₁₄(NO₃)₆](NO₃)₂ · 2H₂O (I), is isolated in the crystal form and studied. Compound I differs from the basic Ln nitrates containing [Ln ₆O(OH)₈] clusters in that it involves a larger number of water molecules. The incorporation of additional water molecules is accompanied by changes in the coordination environment of one of the three crystallographically independent Nd³⁺ cations. Two cations have coordination polyhedra in the form of a monocapped tetragonal antiprism with a coordination number of 9, and the third cation has a polyhedron in the form of a bicapped tetragonal antiprism with a coordination number of 10. Original Russian Text ? I.A. Charushnikova, C. Den Auwer, 2007, published in Kristallografiya, 2007, Vol. 52, No. 2, pp. 248–251.     

Solubility of YBa2Cu3O7−δ and Nd1+xBa2−xCu3O7±δ in the BaO/CuO flux

The knowledge of the phase relations and solubilities in the Y–Ba–Cu–O and Nd–Ba–Cu–O systems are of fundamental importance for crystal growth and liquid-phase epitaxy of YBa₂Cu₃O_7−δ (YBCO) and Nd_1+xBa_2−xCu₃O_7±δ (NdBCO). The determination of the solubility curve of YBCO and NdBCO in a BaO/CuO flux containing 31 mol% BaO was done by observation of the formation and dissolution of crystals on the surface of the high-temperature solution. The heat of the solution of YBCO at 1000°C was found to be 34.7 kcal/mol, and for NdBCO at 1060°C, it was found to be 28.1 kcal/mol. The determination of the solubility curves requires special care, and the problems of the time-dependent shift of the solution composition due to the corrosion of the crucible is discussed. The scatter of the solubility data published by different authors could be due to the use of solutions with different Ba : Cu ratios, different determination methods, i.e. different crystallization mechanisms, different crucibles and starting chemicals.     

Structures of mixed-ligand Manganese(II) compounds [Mn(Heida)(Phen)]2 · 7H2O and [Mn2(Edta)(Phen)] · 4H2O

The crystal structures of [Mn(Heida)(Phen)]₂ · 7H₂O (I) and [Mn₂(Edta)(Phen)] · 4H2O (II) are studied by X-ray diffraction [R ₁ = 0.0375 (0.0283) and wR ₂ = 0.0954 (0.0662) for 5449 (3176) observed reflections in I (II), respectively]. Structure I contains mononuclear mixed-ligand complexes [Mn(Heida)(Phen)] and [Mn(Heida)(Phen)(H₂O)]. In structure II, the [Mn(Edta)]²⁻ anionic complexes and the [Mn(Phen)(H₂O)₂]²⁺ cationic complexes are linked by the bridging carboxyl groups into the tetramers with C ₂ symmetry. In both compounds, two independent Mn atoms have different coordination numbers (6 and 7). __________ Translated from Kristallografiya, Vol. 47, No. 2, 2002, pp. 280–285. Original Russian Text Copyright ? 2002 by Polyakova, Sergienko, Poznyak.     

Solubility phase diagrams of Me 2SO4-NiSO4-H2O systems and the growth of Me 2Ni(SO4)2 · n H2O crystals [ Me = Na, Rb, Cs; n = 4, 6]

On the basis of the physicochemical analysis of the solubility phase diagrams for the Me ₂SO₄-NiSO₄-H₂O ternary systems (Me = Na, Rb, or Cs), the optimum concentration and temperature conditions for the crystallization of the Me ₂Ni(SO₄)₂ · nH₂O solid phases were found. Techniques for growth of single crystals of these binary salts have been developed. Such techniques allow application of mother liquors containing hydrates or anhydrous sulfates of Na, Rb, Cs, and Ni as raw materials. Na₂Ni(SO₄)₂ · 4H₂O, Rb₂Ni(SO₄)₂ · 6H₂O, and Cs₂Ni(SO₄)₂ · 6H₂O single crystals (28–34) × (8–13) × (5–10) mm³ in size have been grown from aqueous solutions in the dynamic regime. Original Russian Text ? L.V. Soboleva, 2007, published in Kristallografiya, 2007, Vol. 52, No. 6, pp. 1141–1144.     

Single crystal growth of La2(SO4)3 · 9 D2O

Single crystals of La₂(SO₄)₃ · 9 D₂O were grown from saturated D₂O solutions. According to X-ray diffraction measurements, the crystals have a hexagonal structure with unit cell parameters a = 10.996 Å and c = 8.077 Å (space group C–P6₃/m). Several physical properties were also determined (density, refractive indices, dielectric constants, specific heat, coefficient of linear expansion, microhardness).     

1,6‐Hexanediammonium Dihydrogendecavanadate Dihydrate, (H3N—(CH2)6—NH3)2H2V10O28 · 2 H2O

The crystal structure of (H₃N—(CH₂)₆—NH₃)₂H₂V₁₀O₂₈ � 2 H₂O consists of dihydrogendecavanadate anion with C_i symmetry, two 1,6‐hexanediammonium cations and two water molecules. The structure has a P space group symmetry with one of the cations in special position; this cation is disordered. The polyanion of most usual protonation type is similar as formed in other known dihydrogendecavanadates.     

The triethyl ammonium salt of O,O′-bis(o-tolyl) dithiophosphate [Et3NH]+[(2-MeC6H4O)2PS2]?

The X-ray structure of the triethyl ammonium salt of O,O′-bis(o-tolyl)dithiophosphate, [Et₃NH]⁺[(2-MeC₆H₄O)₂PS₂]⁻, has been determined. Crystal data: Monoclinic, P2₁/c, a = 15.4342(6) Å, b = 10.1913(4) Å, c = 14.0729(6) Å, β = 100.855(1)^∘, V = 2174.0(2) Å⁻³, Z = 4. The immediate environment around phosphorous is distorted tetrahedral with two sulfur and two oxygen atoms in the coordination sphere, with N–H–S bonding involving only one of the sulfur atoms.     

Me2O-P2O5-H2O solubility phase diagrams and growth of MeH2PO4 single crystals (Me = Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs, NH4)

The Me ₂O-P₂O₅-H₂O solubility phase diagrams are used to determine the optimum compositions and the temperatures for growing crystals of MeH₂PO₄ solid phases (Me = Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs, NH₄). The optimum conditions for dynamic growth of dihydrophosphates of the elements of the first group and ammonium are determined. LiH₂PO₄, NaH₂PO₄, NaH₂PO₄ · 2H₂O, NaH₂PO₄ · H₂O, KH₂PO₄, K(H,D)₂PO₄, RbH₂PO₄, CsH₂PO₄, and (NH₄)H₂PO₄ single crystals are grown on seed from aqueous solutions by the methods of temperature lowering and isothermal evaporation. __________ Translated from Kristallografiya, Vol. 49, No. 4, 2004, pp. 773–777. Original Russian Text Copyright ? 2004 by Soboleva, Voloshin.     

Crystal Structure Study of Co(II) Complexes with 2,2′-(1,4-Ethylenedioxyl) Dibenzoic Acid-[Co · L · (H2O)3]n · nH2O· 0.2 nH2O

The structure ofS the title complex [Co. L. (H₂O)₃]_n. nH₂O. 0.2 nH₂O has been established by single crystal X-ray diffraction. Crystals of the complex are monoclinic, space group C2/c with cell constants α = 45.29(4), b=10.631(6), c = 8.015(6) Å, β = 90.65(8)°, Z = 8, D_c = 1.489 g. cm⁻³ The structure was solved and refined to R =0.0478 (wR = 0.0577). In the chain structure, Co(II) ions are hexacoordinated by 0 atoms in an octahedral arrangement. CoO₆ octahedra share corners (bridged) through O atoms of water, with each L^2--ligand binding two adjacent Co atoms.     

On the (MgxNi1–x)SeO4 · 6 H2O and (MgxCu1–x)SeO4 · 5 H2O mixed crystal formation

Mixed crystals (Mg_xNi_1–x)SeO₄ · 6 H₂O and (Mg_xCu_1–x)SeO₄ · 5 H₂O have been prepared studying the solubility in the MgSeO₄–NiSeO₄–H₂O and MgSeO₄–CuSeO₄–H_2O systems at 25 °C. It has been shown that the monoclinic structure of MgSeO₄ · 6 H₂O is unstable and undergoes a change into tetragonal structure due to the included nickel ions (about 4 at %). The lattice parameters of (Mg_{xNi 1–x})SeO₄ 6 H₂O have been calculated. It has been established that the magnesium ions incorporate isodimorphously in the crystal structure of CuSeO₄ · 5 H₂O which could be an indication of the existence of MgSeO₄ · 5 H₂O isostructural with the triclinic CuSeO₄ 5 H₂O. The distribution coefficients of the salt components between the liquid and solid phases have been calculated.     

Unidirectional growth of α‐NiSO4·6H2O crystal by Sankaranarayanan–Ramasamy (SR) method

Large cylindrical [001] direction α‐nickel sulphate hexahydrate crystal with 20 mm diameter and 140 mm length was grown from an aqueous solution by uniaxially solution‐crystallization method of Sankaranarayanan–Ramasamy (SR). The grown crystal was examined by X‐ray diffraction, UV‐Vis‐NIR spectroscopy and TGA/DTA analysis methods.