Reduction of the titanium niobium oxides. II. TiNb24O62

Interpretation of the reduction path of TiNb₂₄O₆₂ is complicated by uncertainty about both the stoichiometric ranges of the possible block structures and the formation of TiNb solid solutions. Reduction forms the Me₁₂O₂₉ phase, probably from the outset, with an initial composition close to Ti₂Nb₁₀O₂₉, thereby rapidly depleting the Me₂₅O₆₂ phase of titanium. When log p_O2 (atm) has dropped to ?9.62, a phase approximately Ti_0.95Nb_11.05O₂₉ is in equilibrium with titanium-free Nb₂₅O₆₂ at its lower composition limit (NbO_2.471). Nb₂₅O₆₂ is then reduced to Nb₄₇O₁₁₆ without change in the Me₁₂O₂₉. At ?9.62>log p_O2 (atm) > ?10.0, niobium is transferred to the Me₁₂O₂₉ phase and Nb₄₇O₁₁₆ is consumed. A second univariant equilibrium is set up as Nb₄₇O₁₁₆ is reduced to Nb₂₂O₅₄. This is consumed in turn, to increase the niobium content of the Me₁₂O₂₉ until, at log p_O2 close to ?10.8, monophasic Ti_0.48Nb_11.52O₂₉ is formed. The (Ti,Nb)O₂ solid solution then appears and the final product is Ti_0.04Nb_0.96O₂, with the rutile superstructure cell reported for NbO₂.     

Structures of the reduced niobium oxides Nb12O29 and Nb22O54

The crystal structure of Nb₂₂O₅₄ is reported for the first time, and the structure of orthorhombic Nb₁₂O₂₉ is reexamined, resolving previous ambiguities. Single crystal X-ray and electron diffraction were employed. These compounds were found to crystallize in the space groups P2/m (, , , β=102.029(3)^°) and Cmcm (, , ), respectively and share a common structural unit, a 4×3 block of corner sharing NbO₆ octahedra. Despite different constraints imposed by symmetry these blocks are very similar in both compounds. Within a block, it is found that the niobium atoms are not located in the centers of the oxygen octahedra, but rather are displaced inward toward the center of the block forming an apparent antiferroelectric state. Bond valence sums and bond lengths do not show the presence of charge ordering, suggesting that all 4d electrons are delocalized in these compounds at the temperature studied, T=200 K.     

Some studies on the solid solutions in the systems Sr2Nb2O7Eu2Nb2O7 and Sr2Ta2O7Eu2Ta2O7

Preparation of new solid solutions containing divalent europium have been tried in the systems Eu₂Nb₂O₇Sr₂Nb₂O₇ and Eu₂Ta₂O₇Sr₂Ta₂O₇. These solid solutions described as Eu_2xSr_2(1?x)M₂O₇ (M = Nb and Ta) exist in a pure orthorhombic phase in a limited region of x from 0 to about 0.5. The compounds with compositions close to Eu₂M₂O₇ exist but techniques have not been found to prepare them in pure form.     

Coordination of cations in TiNb2O7 by Raman spectroscopy

The Raman spectrum of the compound TiNb₂O₇ prepared by a liquid mix technique was recorded at room temperature using the 530.98-nm line from a krypton-ion laser as exciter. The bands observed at 998 and 884 cm^?1 are assigned to the edge-shared and corner-shared NbO₆ octahedra, respectively. The relative intensities of these two bands are consistent with the structure of TiNb₂O₇ worked out by earlier investigators using X-ray and neutron diffraction. The strong band observed at 647 cm^?1 is assigned to the vibration of the TiO₆ octahedra. The octahedral coordination for both cations based on the results of the Raman spectrum measurements is in essential agreement with the available structural data for the compound TiNb₂O₇. The weak band observed at 840 cm^?1 is suggestive of the presence of NbO₄ tetrahedra in small concentrations in TiNb₂O₇.     

Heat capacity, enthalpy and entropy of strontium niobate Sr2Nb2O7 and calcium niobate Ca2Nb2O7

The heat capacity and the enthalpy increments of strontium niobate Sr₂Nb₂O₇ and calcium niobate Ca₂Nb₂O₇ were measured by the relaxation time method (2–300 K), DSC (260–360 K) and drop calorimetry (720–1370 K). Temperature dependencies of the molar heat capacity in the form C_pm = 248.0 + 0.04350T − 3.948 × 10⁶/T² J K⁻¹ mol⁻¹ for Sr₂Nb₂O₇ and C_pm = 257.2 + 0.03621T − 4.434 × 10⁶/T² J K⁻¹ mol⁻¹ for Ca₂Nb₂O₇ were derived by the least-square method from the experimental data. The molar entropies at 298.15 K, S_m°(298.15 K) = 238.5 ± 1.3 J K⁻¹ mol⁻¹ for Sr₂Nb₂O₇ and S_m°(298.15 K) = 212.4 ± 1.2 J K⁻¹ mol⁻¹ for Ca₂Nb₂O₇, were evaluated from the low-temperature heat capacity measurements.     

Preparation and comparison of the photoelectronic properties of Sr2Nb2O7 and Ba0.5Sr0.5Nb2O6

The two alkaline earth niobates Sr₂Nb₂O₇ and Ba_0.5Sr_0.5Nb₂O₆ have been prepared, their electronic properties measured, and their photoresponses compared. The indirect band gap in Sr₂Nb₂O₇ is 3.86 eV compared with 3.38 eV for Ba_0.5Sr_0.5Nb₂O₆. Hence, photoanodes composed of Sr₂Nb₂O₇ respond to much less of the “white” light spectrum than those made from Ba_0.5Sr_0.5Nb₂O₆. Nevertheless, their electrical outputs at an anode potential of 0.8 eV with respect to SCE in 0.2 M sodium acetate under “white” xenon arc irradiation of 1.25 W/cm² are comparable.     

Electronic parameters of Sr2Nb2O7 and chemical bonding

X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) measurements were carried out on a strontium pyroniobate (Sr₂Nb₂O₇) powder sample, which was synthesized using standard solid-state method. The binding energy (BE) differences between the O 1s and cation core levels, Δ(O-Nb)=BE(O 1s)-BE(Nb 3d_5/2) and Δ(O-Sr)=BE(O 1s)-BE(Sr 3d_5/2), were used to characterize the valence electron transfer on the formation of the Nb-O and Sr-O bonds. The chemical bonding effects were considered on the basis of our XPS results for Sr₂Nb₂O₇ and earlier published structural and XPS data for other Sr- or Nb-containing oxide compounds. The new data point for Sr₂Nb₂O₇ is consistent with the previously derived relationship for a set of Nb⁵⁺-niobates that Δ(O-Nb) increases with increasing mean Nb-O bond distance, L(Nb-O). A new empirical relationship between Δ(O-Sr) and L(Sr-O) was also obtained. Interestingly, the correlation between Δ(O-Sr) and L(Sr-O) was found to differ from that between Δ(O-Nb) and L(Nb-O). Possible cause for the difference is discussed.     

Investigation of mixed oxides CuxZn1?xNb2O6

The postulated miscibility gap for mixed oxides Cu_xZn_1–xNb₂O₆ (0.852O₆ transforms from its lower symmetric modification to Pbcn symmetry on grinding.     

Coherent interfaces: Efficient boundary conditions in solid state reactivity. Study in V2O5AlNbO4, V2O5GaNbO4, and V2O5TiNb2O7 systems

The thermodynamically unexpected reduction of V₂O₅ in the presence of the mixed oxides AlNbO₄, GaNbO₄, and TiNb₂O₇ under nitrogen at 630°C is reported and gives a supplementary example of the kind of interfacial reaction observed in the V₂O₅TiO₂ system. It is shown that this phenomenon comes from the establishment of coherent interfaces between the cleavage planes of two crystals belonging to the same crystallo-chemical family. The reduction enables the system to diminish the elastic stress created by the slight interfacial misfit. A thermodynamic and kinetic explanation, based on structural factors, is given.     

层状类钙钛矿结构新铌酸盐KSr2Nb3O10

A new niobate compound KSr₂Nb₃O₁₀ was synthesized for the first time. The chemical compositions, crystal structure, optical property, density and melting point of the new compound were characterized by EPMA, TEM, XRD, DTA and so on. KSr₂Nb₃O₁₀ crystallizes the orthorhombic system with unit cell parameters a=0.7816(1) nm, b=0.7764(2) nm, c=2.9995(2) nm, V=1.8114(4) nm³, and space group P2₁2₁2₁, Z=8. The structure may be described as treble perovskite sheets ［Sr₂Nb₃O₁₀］^- interleaved with K⁺. Further, it was found that KSr₂Nb₃O₁₀ has intercalation phenomenon. Na⁺, Li⁺, H⁺, NH⁺₄ could exchange the interlayer cations K⁺ of KSr₂Nb₃O₁₀, and n-hexylamine also could intercalate into the place between the layers of ［Sr₂Nb₃O₁₀］^-.     

Structural changes resulting from doping Ti2O3 with Sc2O3 or Al2O3

The crystal structures of (Ti_1?xSc_x)₂O₃, x = 0.0038, 0.0109, and 0.0413, and of (Ti_0.99Al_0.01)₂O₃, have been determined from X-ray diffraction data collected from single crystals using an automated diffractometer, and have been refined to weighted residuals of 25–34. Cell constants have also been determined for x = 0.0005, 0.0019, and 0.0232. The compounds are rhombohedral, space group $\text{R}\text{3}\text{c}$, and are isomorphous with α-Al₂O₃. The hexagonal cell dimensions range from a = 5.1573(2)Å, c = 13.613(1)Å for (Ti_0.9995Sc_0.0005)₂O₃ to a = 5.1659(4)Å, c = 13.644(1)Å for (Ti_0.9587Sc_0.0413)₂O₃, and a = 5.1526(2)Å, c = 13.609(1)Å for (Ti_0.99Al_0.01)₂O₃. Sc and Al substitution cause similar increases in the short near-neighbor metal-metal distance across the shared octahedral face; for Sc doping the increase is from 2.578(1) Å in pure Ti₂O₃ to 2.597(1) Å in (Ti_0.9587Sc_0.0413)₂O₃. By contrast, changes in the metal-metal distance across the shared octahedral edge appear to be governed by ionic size effects. The distance increases from 2.994(1) Å in Ti₂O₃ to 3.000(1) Å in (Ti_0.9587Sc_0.0413)₂O₃ and decreases to 2.991(1) Å in (Ti_0.99Al_0.01)₂O₃.     

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.     

Comparison of the force field in various pyrochlore families. I. The A2B2O7 oxides

A complete vibrational study of various pyrochlore compounds A₂B₂O₇ shows the role of the different chemical bonds in the structure and how the physico-chemical characteristics of the A and B cations influence these bonds and the rigidity of the two lattices of the structure. Relations between vibrational spectra and structural features are established.     

Binder-free carbon fiber/TiNb2O7 composite electrode as superior high-rate anode for lithium ions batteries

Carbon fibre supported titanium niobium oxide (TiNb₂O₇) composite electrodes are prepared via a simple solvothermal method and show superior high-rate performance with large capacity and good cycling performance.     

The crystal structures of Ti2O3, a semiconductor,and (Ti0.900V0.100)2O3, a semimetal

The crystal structures of the semiconductor Ti₂O₃ and the semimetal (Ti_0.900V_0.100)₂O₃ were determined from X-ray diffraction data collected from single crystals. The compounds are isostructural with Al₂O₃ of rhombohedral unit cell dimensions of a = 5.4325(8) Å and α = 56.75(1)° for Ti₂O₃, and a = 5.4692(8) Å and α = 55.63(1)° for the doped system. The effect of substitution of V⁺³ is to increase the metal-metal distance across the shared octahedral face from 2.579 Å in Ti₂O₃ to 2.658 Å in (Ti_0.900V_0.100)₂O₃, while decreasing the metal-metal distance across the shared octahedral edge from 2.997 to 2.968 Å. The metal-oxygen distances exhibit only small changes. These structural changes are consistent with the band theory proposed by Van Zandt, Honig, and Goodenough (9) to explain changes in electrical and other properties with increasing vanadium content in (Ti_1?xV_x)₂O₃.     

Thermal stability of osmium mixed oxides I. CaOsO3 decomposition products: A new orthorhombic phase Ca2Os2O7

The thermal decomposition of CaOsO₃ by differential thermal analyses, thermogravimetry and X-ray powder diffraction has been studied. In nitrogen CaOsO₃ decomposes at 880 ± 10°C into CaO, osmium metal and oxygen due to the reaction CaOsO₃ → CaO + Os + O₂. In static air the decomposition occurs in three stages: 2CaOsO₃ + 1/2O₂ → Ca₂Os₂O₇ (in region 775–808°C), Ca₂Os₂O₇ → Ca₂Os₂O_6,5 + 1/4O₂ (at a temperature interval of 850–1000°C) and in the third stage Ca₂Os₂O_6,5 → 2CaO + OsO₄ ÷ 1/4 O₂ (at 1005 ± 5°C). The first intermediate Ca₂Os₂O₇ is isostructural with orthorhombic Ca₂Nb₂O₇ and its cell parameters are: a₀ = 3.745 Å, b₀ = 25.1 Å, c₀ = 5.492 Å, Z = 4, space group Cmcm or Cmc2. Ca₂Os₂O₇ exhibits metallic conductivity and its electrical resistivity is 4.6 × 10⁻² ohm-cm at 296K.     

Extension of the La7Mo7O30 structural type with La7Nb3W4O30 and La7Ta3W4O30 compounds

Two compounds of formula La₇A₃W₄O₃₀ (with A=Nb and Ta) were prepared by solid-state reaction at 1450 and 1490 °C. They crystallize in the rhombohedric space group R-3 (No. 148), with the hexagonal parameters: , and , . The structure of the materials was analyzed from X-ray, neutron and electronic diffraction. These oxides are isostructural of the reduced molybdenum compound La₇Mo₇O₃₀, which are formed of perovskite rod along [111]. An order between (Nb, Ta) and W is observed.     

High-pressure synthesis and crystal structure of the mixed-valent titanium borate Ti5B12O26

The new titanium borate was synthesized under high-pressure/high-temperature conditions in a Walker-type multianvil apparatus at 7.5 GPa and 1350 °C. Ti₅B₁₂O₂₆ is built up exclusively from corner-sharing BO₄-tetrahedra and shows a structural relation to the Zintl phase NaTl. Consisting of B₁₂O₂₆-clusters as fundamental building blocks, the structure of Ti₅B₁₂O₂₆ can be described via two interpenetrating diamond structures as in NaTl, where each atom corresponds to one B₁₂O₂₆-cluster. The tetragonal titanium borate crystallizes with eight formula units in the space group I4₁/acd and exhibits lattice parameters of a=1121.1(2) pm and c=2211.5(4) pm. Ti₅B₁₂O₂₆ is a mixed-valent compound with Ti^III and Ti^IV cations. The environment of the titanium cations, as well as charge distribution calculations, leads us to the assumption that Ti^III and Ti^IV are located on different crystallographic sites.     

Phase equilibria in the system V2O3Ti2O3TiO2 at 1473°K

The phase equilibria in the V₂O₃Ti₂O₃TiO₂ system have been determined at 1473°K by the quench method, using both sealed tubes and controlled gaseous buffers. For the latter, $\text{CO}{}_2\text{H}{}_2$ mixtures were used to vary the oxygen fugacity between 10^?10.50 and 10^?16.73 atm. Under these conditions the equilibrium phases are: a sesquioxide solid solution between V₂O₃ and Ti₂O₃ with complete solid solubility and an upper stoichiometry limit of (V, Ti)₂O_3.02; an M₃O₅ series which has the V₃O₅ type structure between V₂TiO₅ and V_0.69Ti_2.31O₅ and the monoclinic pseudobrookite structure between V_0.42Ti_2.58O₅ and Ti₃O₅; series of Magneli phases, V₂Ti_n?2O_2n?1Ti_nO_2n?1, n = 4–8; and reduced rutile phases (V, Ti)O_2?x, where the lower limit for x is a function of the $\text{V}\text{(V + Ti)}$ ratio. The extent of the different solid solution areas and the location of the oxygen isobars have been determined.     

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.