Détermination de la structure cristalline du ferrite de baryum Ba2Fe6O11

The crystal structure of dibarium triferrite Ba₂Fe₆O₁₁ has been solved by direct methods, using intensity data collected by means of an automated diffractometer (MoKα radiation) and corrected for absorption. It crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group Pnnm: a = 23.024(10)Å, b = 5.181(3) Å, c = 8.900(4) Å, Z = 4. Program MULTAN was successfully used for locating Ba²⁺ and most of the Fe³⁺ ions. The structure was further refined by conventional Fourier and least-squares methods (full-matrix program) to a final R value of 0.045 for 1448 observed reflections. Fe³⁺ ions occur in both octahedral (FeO mean distance: 2.02 Å) and tetrahedral (FeO mean distance: 1.865 Å) coordination. Two types of Ba²⁺ ions are found, with six and seven neighboring oxygen atoms. The structure consists of sheets of edge-shared FeO₆ octahedra which are connected by means of corner-shared tetrahedra.     

Refinements of the six-layer structures of the R-type hexagonal ferrites BaTi2Fe4O11 and BaSn2Fe4O11

The structures of BaTi₂Fe₄O₁₁ and BaSn₂Fe₄O₁₁ have been determined from neutron powder diffraction data collected at 300 K using the Rietveld profile refinement. The compounds were found to be isostructural, space group $\text{P6}{}_3\text{mmc}$. BaTi₂Fe₄O₁₁: a = 5.8470(2) Å, c = 13.6116(9) Å, V = 403.01(5) ų, M = 632.6, Z = 2, D_calc. = 3.09 Mg m^?3, final R-factor = 3.77. BaSn₂Fe₄O₁₁: a = 5.9624(5) Å, c = 13.7468(14) Å, V = 423.23(10) ų, M = 774.2, Z = 2. D_calc. = 3.66 Mg m^?3, final R-factor = 2.41. The structure consists of h-stacked BaO₃ and O₄ layers in the ratio 1:2. The BaO₃ layers contain a mirror plane. Between the O₄ layers three octahedral sites are occupied, and between the BaO₃ and O₄ layers an octahedral site and a tetrahedral site are occupied. Because of the mirror plane in the BaO₃ plane the latter sites both share faces in the BaO₃ plane. The octahedral sites are occupied by Fe and Ti or Sn, the pair of tetrahedral sites is occupied by one Fe atom. This Fe atom may hop between these two tetrahedral sites. The structure is considered to be constructed by two R-blocks of the BaFe₁₂O₁₉ (M) structure. Unit-cell dimensions are given of a number of isostructural compounds of general formula A^IIB^IV₂C^III₃O₁₁. Mössbauer experiments on some of these compounds were focused on the tetrahedral positions that show an unusual quadrupole splitting. A brief review is given of the observed magnetic properties of some compounds with the R-structure.     

Interactions magnétiques dans des groupements binucléaires [Fe2O7]8− au sein de Na8Fe2O7

The magnetic interaction in the structural units [Fe₂O₇]^8?, built of two corner-sharing FeO₄ tetrahedra, in Na₈Fe₂O₇ ($\text{Na}{}_2\text{O}\text{Fe}{}_2\text{O}{}_3\text{=}\text{4}\text{1}$) has been studied by magnetic susceptibility measurements (4.2–500 K). An exchange integral $\text{J}\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>B</mtext>}}$ of ?37 K is obtained by comparison of the experimental values and the calculated ones using a Heisenberg-Dirac-Van Vleck-type Hamiltonian ? = $\text{?2J}\text{S}\text{?}{}_1\text{S}\text{?}{}_2$. The hypothesis of magnetically isolated [Fe₂O₇]^8? groups is corroborated by Mössbauer spectroscopy between 1.5 and 77 K. The susceptibility measurements of the solid solutions Na₈Fe_2?xM_xO₇ (M = Al, Ga; 0 ≤ x ≤ 0.2 for Al; 0 ≤ x ≤ 2 for Ga) leads to the same conclusion of the existence of isolated Fe³⁺Fe³⁺ pairs in Na₈Fe₂O₇. The type of substitution of Fe by Al or Ga is determined; homonuclear Fe³⁺Fe³⁺ and M³⁺M³⁺ pairs and heteronuclear Fe³⁺M³⁺ pairs are formed.     

Distorsion cristalline et distribution des cations dans les spinelles de la serie CoMnxFe2−xO4

By using neutron diffraction together with anomalous dispersion X-ray diffraction, it has been possible to ascertain the distribution of close atomic numbered cations in CoMn_xFe_2?xO₄ system spinels.At 950°C, these compounds have a cubic structure in the range 0 ? x ? 1.25 and exhibit a macroscopic tetragonal distortion as soon as 60% of the Mn³⁺ ions occupy octahedral sites.The great mobility of cobalt between both types of sites has been pointed out; it can be related to oxidation and reduction phenomena. In these compounds, Fe³⁺ iron remains neutral towards four or six coordinences.     

The phase relations in the In2O3A2O3BO systems at elevated temperatures [A: Fe or Ga, B: Cu or Co]

The phase relations in the In₂O₃Fe₂O₃CuO system at 1000°C, the In₂O₃Ga₂O₃CuO system at 1000°C, the In₂O₃Fe₂O₃CoO system at 1300°C, and the In₂O₃Ga₂O₃CoO system at 1300°C were determined by means of a classical quenching method. InFeCuO₄ (a = 3.3743(4) Å, c = 24.841(5) Å), InGaCuO₄ (a = 3.3497(2) Å, c = 24.822(3) Å), and InGaCoO₄ (a = 3.3091(2) Å, c = 25.859(4) Å) having the YbFe₂O₄ crystal structure, In₂Fe₂CuO₇ (a = 3.3515(2) Å, c = 28.871(3) Å), In₂Ga₂CuO₇ (a = 3.3319(1) Å, c = 28.697(2) Å), and In₂FeGaCuO₇ (a = 3.3421(2) Å, c = 28.817(3) Å) having the Yb₂Fe₃O₇ crystal structure, and In₃Fe₃CuO₁₀ (a = 3.3432(3) Å, c = 61.806(6) Å) having the Yb₃Fe₄O₁₀ crystal structure were found as the stable ternary phases. There is a continuous series of solid solutions between InFeCoO₄ and Fe₂CoO₄ which have the spinel structure at 1300°C. The crystal chemical roles of Fe³⁺ and Ga³⁺ in the present ternary systems were qualitatively compared.     

A structural model for barium platinum oxide,Ba3Pt2O7

A single crystal study of Ba₃Pt₂O₇ shows that the structure tolerates a variable composition which can be written Ba₃Pt_2+xO_7+2x. The crystal studied has a hexagonal cell of dimensions a = 10.108 ± 0.006 Å and c = 8.638 ± 0.009 Å, and a probable space group $\text{P}\text{6}\text{2c, Z = 4}$. The density determined by water displacement is 7.99 g/cm³; the theoretical density for Ba₃Pt₂O₇ is 7.94 g/cm³. The structure was determined from the set of 401 observed independent reflections obtained from 5189 reflections measured by automated counter methods. Refinement on F was carried to a conventional R of 8.0%. The structure has barium-oxygen layers with an essentially four-layer stacking sequence of the double hexagonal (ABAB) type. Platinum is found mainly in face-sharing octahedra, but is also distributed over some sites in which the coordination is nearly square planar and other sites in which the coordination is trigonal prismatic with three PtO bond lengths of 2.00 Å and three long PtO distances of 2.65 Å. The platinum with planar coordination is 0.08 Å from the plane of the four oxygen atoms.     

Crystal structure of Fe2P2O7

Fe₂P₂O₇ crystallizes in the $\text{C}\text{1}$ space group with lattice parameters a = 6.649(2)Å, b = 8.484(2)Å, c = 4.488(1)Å, α = 90.04°, β = 103.89(3)°, γ = 92.82(3)°, and ?_cal = 3.86 g/cc. It is essentially isostructural with β-Zn₂P₂O₇. As in the Zn compound, the bridging oxygen atom in the P₂O₇ group shows a high anisotropic thermal motion. It appears that the P-O-P bond angle is linear as a result of extensive π bonding with the p orbitals on the bridging oxygen atom. The high thermal motion is vibration of the atom into cavities in the structure.     

The six-layer structure of BaSn0.9Fe5.47O11

The crystal structure of BaSn_0.9Fe_5.47O₁₁ was determined using neutron powder diffraction data and the profile refinement method. The hexagonal compound, space group , has hcc-stacked BaO₃ and O₄ layers. A new building unit for this type of structure is introduced, the Q block with formula Ba₂M₇O₁₄, consisting of two c-stacked BaO₃ layers and two O₄ layers. Between the BaO₃ and O₄ layers one tetrahedral and one octahedral site is occupied; between the BaO₃ layers there are no other cations. BaSn_0.9Fe_5.47O₁₁ shows a magnetic behavior with an ordering temperature T_c of 420 K. Starting models for the structure determination were derived from the known structures of hexagonal ferrites and related compounds. Several isomorphs with formula Ba₂Sn₂M²⁺Fe₁₀O₂₂ could be prepared, in which a partial substitution of Fe by Ga is possible. The nonstoichiometry of BaSn_0.9Fe_5.47O₁₁ can be explained by the surplus of positive charge if the available tetrahedral and octahedral sites of the structure are completely occupied with Sn⁴⁺ and Fe³⁺. To achieve charge compensation either the occupation rates of Sn⁴⁺ and Fe³⁺ have to be lowered or a divalent ion has to be introduced, as is effected in the isomorphs.     

K2Fe2B2O7: A transparent nonlinear optical crystal with frustrated magnetism

A new noncentrosymmetric ferroborate crystal, K₂Fe₂B₂O₇, has been grown from high temperature melt. Structure solution from single crystal X-ray diffraction shows that the title compound crystallizes in a trigonal space group P321 with cell dimensions of a=8.7475(12) Å and c=8.5124(17) Å. In the structure, FeO₄ tetrahedron shares its three basal oxygen atoms with BO₃ triangles forming a two-dimensional layer in the ab plane and the layers are connected by the apical Fe-O bonds along the c direction. The crystal is transparent in the visible and near infrared region from 500 to 2000 nm with three pronounced absorption bands ascribed to d-d transitions of tetrahedrally coordinated Fe³⁺ ions. Though, structurally analog to K₂Al₂B₂O₇, the further twisting of the BO₃ groups between adjacent layers reduces its optical nonlinearity to a second-harmonic generation intensity of about 0.4 times that of KDP. Spin-glass behavior is observed at 20 K which is probably due to geometrically magnetic frustration of the triangular Fe net in the ab plane.     

Substitution of Co in YBa2Fe3O8

The accommodation of Co in the oxygen-saturated solid-solution phase YBa₂(Fe_1−zCo_z)₃O_8+w has been investigated by powder X-ray and neutron diffraction techniques, as well as by Mössbauer spectroscopy. Of the nominal composition range 0.00?z?1.00 tested, the solid-solution limit under syntheses at 950°C in is z=0.47(5). No symmetry change in the nuclear and magnetic structures is seen as a consequence of the Co substitution, and the Co atoms are distributed evenly over the two sites that are square-pyramidally and octahedrally coordinated for w=0. The oxygen-saturated samples maintain their oxygen content roughly constant throughout the homogeneity range, showing that Co³⁺ replaces Fe³⁺. Despite the nearly constant value of w, Mössbauer spectroscopy shows that the amount of tetravalent Fe slightly increases with increasing z, and this allows Co to adopt valence close to 3.00 to a good approximation. The magnitude of the antiferromagnetic moment (located in the a,b plane) decreases with z in accordance with the high-spin states of the majority Fe³⁺ and Co³⁺ ions. Bond-valence analyses are performed to illustrate how the structural network becomes increasingly frustrated as a result of the substitution of Fe³⁺ by the smaller Co³⁺ ion. A contrast is pointed out with the substitution of cobalt in YBa₂Cu₃O₇ where it is a larger Co²⁺ ion that replaces smaller Cu²⁺.     

Structural aspects of the metal-insulator transition in V4O7

V₄O₇ has a transition with decreasing temperature at 250 K and the structure has been refined at 298 and 200 K. The triclinic structure (A$\text{1}$) consists of rutile-like layers of VO₆ octahedra extending indefinitely in the a-b plane and four octahedra thick along the c-axis. The average VO distances for the four independent V atoms are 1.967, 1.980, 1.969, and 1.984 Å at 298K and 1.948, 1.992. 1.961, and 2.009 Å at 200K. At 200K there is a clear separation into strings of V³⁺ or V⁴⁺ ions running parallel to the pseudorutile c-axis. In addition, all of the 3+ and half of the 4+ sites are paired to form short VV bonds. The remaining V⁴⁺ atom is displaced toward one oxygen so as to balance its electrostatic charge. The distortion at the metal-insulator transitions in V₄O₇, Ti₄O₇, VO₂ + Cr, and NbO₂ are compared.     

Structure de La2Fe2S5 et de La2Fe1.87S5

The compound La₂Fe₂S₅ is orthorhombic. Cell parameters are: a = 3.997(2)Å; b = 16.485(5)Å; c = 11.394(4)Å. Space group is Cmc2₁ (Z = 4. In the cell, chains of polyedra comprised of sulfur atoms tetrahedrally or octahedrally coordinating centrally located iron atoms give a monodimensional character to the structure. This one is refined to R = 0.037. To complete the study of these chains, in the La₂Fe_2?xS₅ system, vacancies are introduced on iron atom sites. The ordered compound, La₂Fe_1.87S₅, having such vacancies, is an orthorhombic superstructure of the stoechiometric compound. Cell parameters are: a = 3.9996(5)Å; b = 49.508(3)Å; c = 11.308(3)Å. Space group is Cmc2₁ and Z = 12. The structure is refined to R = 0.068. Only two iron atom sites have vacancies. One is tetrahedral, the other octahedral. In this last case the chain deformations are the more important. The chain becomes a sort of tunnel made of atoms of sulfur, with in its center the short iron-iron separation of 2.82 Å.     

The crystal structure of Na7Mg4.5(P2O7)4

The crystal structure of Na₇Mg_4.5(P₂O₇)₄ has been solved by direct methods from the three-dimensional X-ray data. The space group is $\text{P}\text{1}$. The crystal structure consists of Mg²⁺, Na⁺, and P₂O^4?₇ ions. One magnesium atom at symmetry center (0,0,0) and two sodium atoms at ±(?0.0421, ?0.0596, 0.2230) display occupation factors 0.5 each. A short interatomic distance between these Na⁺ and Mg²⁺ ions (1.80 ± 0.01 Å) excludes the occupation of both sites in the same unit cell. The crystal structure of Na₇Mg_4.5(P₂O₇)₄ consists of unit cells containing Na₈Mg₄(P₂O₇)₄ or Na₆Mg₅(P₂O₇)₄ with a statistical occurrence 1:1.Each Mg²⁺ ion is octahedrally coordinated by six O^2? ions at distances 1.979 – 2.270 Å. The coordination polyhedra around the Na⁺ ions are ill-defined. The bond angles POP in the P₂O^4?₇ groups are 126.6 and 133.6° (±0.3°). The final reliability factor R is 7.1%.     

High-pressure silicate pyrochlores,Sc2Si2O7 and In2Si2O7

The silicate compounds Sc₂Si₂O₇ and In₂Si₂O₇ have been converted from thortveitite type to pyrochlore type at 1000°C, 120 kbar, with resulting cell constants of 9.287(3) and 9.413(3) Å, respectively. Invariant reflection intensities in the X-ray powder diffraction patterns allowed precise absorption corrections to be made, and refinement of thermal parameters and of the single structural parameter x gave values of 0.4313(21) and 0.4272(15), respectively. The corresponding six-coordinate SiO distances were 1.761(7) and 1.800(5) Å, and the average eight-coordinate distances for ScO₈ and InO₈ were 2.267 and 2.275 Å. Values of structure-refined bond lengths for compounds containing six-coordinate silicon are surveyed, and overall weighted average octahedral distances of 1.782(14) Å for SiO and 2.520(18) Å for OO are derived. Pyrochlore phases were not produced from rare-earth disilicate or monosilicate phases subjected to the same reaction conditions as the Sc and In compounds.     

Mild hydrothermal synthesis and ferrimagnetism of Pr3Fe5O12 and Nd3Fe5O12 garnets

Two pure light rare earth iron garnets Pr₃Fe₅O₁₂ and Nd₃Fe₅O₁₂ single crystals were synthesized under mild hydrothermal conditions and structurally characterized by single crystal and powder X-ray diffraction methods. Both compounds crystallize in cubic space group Ia3?d with lattice parameters a=12.670(2) Å for Pr₃Fe₅O₁₂ and a=12.633(2) Å for Nd₃Fe₅O₁₂, respectively. The synthesis of compounds was studied with regard to phase evolution and morphology development with hydrothermal conditions. We proposed the formation mechanisms and formulated a reasonable explanation for their growth habits. Ferrimagnetic Curie temperatures which have been inferred from thermo-magnetization curves were 580 K for Pr₃Fe₅O₁₂ and 565 K for Nd₃Fe₅O₁₂, and the transitions of long range order were also evidenced by differential scanning calorimetry method. The result of magnetic properties has shown that moments of the large radius Pr³⁺ and Nd³⁺ ions are parallelly coupled with net moments of iron ions.     

Structural and magnetic characterisation of Aurivillius material Bi2Sr2Nb2.5Fe0.5O12

The n=3 Aurivillius material Bi₂Sr₂Nb_2.5Fe_0.5O₁₂ is investigated and combined structural refinements using neutron powder diffraction (NPD) and X-ray powder diffraction data (XRPD) data reveal that the material adopts a disordered, tetragonal (I4/mmm) structure at temperatures down to 2 K. Significant ordering of Fe³⁺ and Nb⁵⁺ over the two B sites is observed and possible driving forces for this ordering are discussed. Some disorder of Sr²⁺ and Bi³⁺ over the M and A sites is found and is consistent with relieving strain due to size mismatch. Highly anisotropic thermal parameters for some oxygen sites suggest that the local structure may be slightly distorted with some rotation of the octahedra. Magnetic measurements show that the material behaves as a Curie-Weiss paramagnet in the temperature range studied with no evidence of any long-range magnetic interactions. Solid solutions including Bi_3−xSr_xNb₂FeO₁₂, Bi₂Sr_2−xLa_xNb₂FeO₁₂ and Bi₂Sr₂Nb_3−xFe_xO₁₂ were investigated but single-phase materials were only successfully synthesised for a narrow composition range in the Bi₂Sr₂Nb_3−xFe_xO₁₂ system.     

Etude cristallographique et par effet Mössbauer du fluorure ferrimagnétique Na5Fe3F14γ

The structure of ferrimagnetic γ-Na₅Fe₃F₁₄ has been determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The cell is tetragonal with space group P4₂2₁2 and parameters a = 7.345 ± 0.007 Å and c = 10.400 ± 0.007 Å. The iron atoms occupy a twofold and a fourfold position in the lattice and are octahedrally surrounded by fluorines. These octahedra share corners and form two-dimensional layers of formula (Fe₃F₁₄)^5n?_n. The Mössbauer spectra were measured from 4.2 to 293°K and the results are discussed in terms of the position and environment of iron atoms in the lattice.     

Crystal field effects on the magnetic behavior of Yb2V2O7 and Tm2V2O7

The bulk magnetic behaviors of the pyrochlores Yb₂V₂O₇ and Tm₂V₂O₇ were investigated. Calculated susceptibilities were adjusted to obtain the best fit to experimental data. A cubic crystal field Hamiltonian was used with B°₄ = ?0.633 and B°₆ = 0.000705 K for Yb³⁺ and B°₄ = 0.0297 and B°₆ = 0.000339 K for Tm³⁺. The calculated susceptibility for Yb³⁺ was found to be insensitive to the addition of an axial B°₂ parameter to the cubic Hamiltonian.     

Extension of the “1201” Family to Strontium-Rich Chromite and Ferrite, Bi0.4Sr2.5Cr1.1O4.9 and Bi0.4Sr2.5Fe1.1O5

Two new Sr-rich “1201”-type oxides, Bi_0.4Sr_2.5Cr_1.1O_4.9 and Bi_0.4Sr_2.5Fe_1.1O₅ have been synthesized. These compounds, intergrowths of double rock-salt layers with single perovskite layers, show a 1:1 ordering between (Bi,M) and Sr species within the intermediate rock-salt layer [Bi_0.4M_0.1Sr_0.5O]. The XANES study shows that bismuth is mainly trivalent, whereas iron is mixed valent containing 50% Fe³⁺ and 50% Fe⁴⁺ (also confirmed by Mössbauer), and chromium could be a mixture of Cr³⁺ and Cr⁶⁺ sitting in the perovskite and rock-salt-type sites, respectively. Both compounds exhibit antiferromagnetic interactions. The Cr-phase is a strong insulator, whereas the Fe-phase exhibits a semi-conductor-like resistivity whose value at room temperature is close to that of isotypic cobaltite.     

The pyrophosphate NaFeP2O7: A cage structure

The high-temperature form of NaFeP₂O₇ crystallizes in the monoclinic $\text{P2}{}_1\text{c}$ space group with a = 7.3244(13), b = 7.9045(7), c = 9.5745(15), Å, β = 111.858(13)°, and Z = 4. The structure has been refined from 3842 reflections leading to R = 0.040 and R_w = 0.047. The structure of II-NaFeP₂O₇ can be described by alternately stacking layers containing the FeO₆ octahedra and layers formed by the P₂O₇ groups, parallel to (001). Elongated cages are formed where two Na⁺ ions are located. The structure is compared with that of KAlP₂O₇. Both structures are built up from blocks of three polyhedra, [FeP₂O₁₁] or [AlP₂O₁₁], including a small O_octO_tetO_oct angle. These blocks are connected in such a way that several types of tunnels appear in each structure.