Crystal growth of a novel oxygen-deficient layered perovskite: Ba7Li3Ru4O20

Single crystals of both Ba₇Li₃Ru₄O₂₀ and Ba₄NaRu₃O₁₂ were grown from reactive molten hydroxide fluxes. Ba₇Li₃Ru₄O₂₀ is a 7L-layer perovskite-related phase resulting from the stacking of six [AO₃] layers and one oxygen deficient [AO₂] layer, thereby creating LiO₄ tetrahedra in addition to the LiO₆ octahedra and face-sharing Ru₂O₉ bi-octahedra formed from the [AO₃] layers. The compound crystallizes in the space group with a=5.7927(1) Å and c=50.336(2) Å, Z=3. Ba₄NaRu₃O₁₂ crystallizes in the space group P6₃mc with lattice parameters of a=5.8014(2) Å and c=19.2050(9) Å, Z=2. Ba₄NaRu₃O₁₂ is identical to a previously reported neutron refinement structure. The magnetic properties of Ba₇Li₃Ru₄O₂₀ are also reported.     

La3Ru8B6 and Y3Os8B6, new members of a homologous series R(A)nM3n−1B2n

Two new compounds, La₃Ru₈B₆ and Y₃Os₈B₆, were synthesized by arc melting the elements. Their structural characterization was carried out at room temperature on as-cast samples by using X-ray diffractometry. According to X-ray single-crystal diffraction results these borides crystallize in Fmmm space group (no. 69), Z=4, a=5.5607(1) Å, b=9.8035(3) Å, c=17.5524(4) Å, ρ=8.956 Mg/m³, μ=25.23 mm⁻¹ for La₃Ru₈B₆ and a=5.4792(2) Å, b=9.5139(4) Å, c=17.6972(8) Å, ρ=13.343 Mg/m³, μ=128.23 mm⁻¹ for Y₃Os₈B₆. The crystal structure of La₃Ru₈B₆ was confirmed from Rietveld refinement of X-ray powder diffraction data. Both La₃Ru₈B₆ and Y₃Os₈B₆ compounds are isotypic with the Ca₃Rh₈B₆ compound and their structures are built up from CeCo₃B₂-type and CeAl₂Ga₂-type structural fragments taken in ratio 2:1. They are the members of structural series R(A)_nM_3n−1B_2n with n=3 (R is the rare earth metal, A the alkaline earth metal, and M the transition metal). Structural and atomic parameters were also obtained for La_0.94Ru₃B₂ compound from Rietveld refinement (CeCo₃B₂-type structure, P6/mmm space group (no. 191), a=5.5835(9) Å, c=3.0278(6) Å).     

Preparation and structural study from neutron diffraction data of Pr5Mo3O16

The title compound has been prepared as polycrystalline powder by thermal treatments of mixtures of Pr₆O₁₁ and MoO₂ in air. In the literature, an oxide with a composition Pr₂MoO₆ has been formerly described to present interesting catalytic properties, but its true stoichiometry and crystal structure are reported here for the first time. It is cubic, isostructural with CdTm₄Mo₃O₁₆ (space group Pn-3n, Z=8), with a=11.0897(1) Å. The structure contains MoO₄ tetrahedral units, with Mo-O distances of 1.788(2) Å, fully long-range ordered with PrO₈ polyhedra; in fact it can be considered as a superstructure of fluorite (M₈O₁₆), containing 32 MO₂ fluorite formulae per unit cell, with a lattice parameter related to that of cubic fluorite (a_f=5.5 Å) as a≈2a_f. A bond valence study indicates that Mo exhibits a mixed oxidation state between 5+ and 6+ (perhaps accounting for the excellent catalytic properties). One kind of Pr atoms is trivalent whereas the second presents a mixed Pr³⁺-Pr⁴⁺ oxidation state. The similarity of the XRD pattern with that published for Ce₂MoO₆ suggests that this compound also belongs to the same structural type, with an actual stoichiometry Ce₅Mo₃O₁₆.     

Synthesis, crystal structure, infrared and Raman spectra of Sr4Cu3(AsO4)2(AsO3OH)4·3H2O and Ba2Cu4(AsO4)2(AsO3OH)3

The two new compounds, Sr₄Cu₃(AsO₄)₂(AsO₃OH)₄·3H₂O (1) and Ba₂Cu₄(AsO₄)₂(AsO₃OH)₃(2), were synthesized under hydrothermal conditions. They represent previously unknown structure types and are the first compounds synthesized in the systems SrO/BaO-CuO-As₂O₅-H₂O. Their crystal structures were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction [space group C2/c, a=18.536(4) Å, b=5.179(1) Å, c=24.898(5) Å, β=93.67(3)°, V=2344.0(8) Å³, Z=4 for 1; space group P4₂/n, a=7.775(1) Å, c=13.698(3) Å, V=828.1(2) Å³, Z=2 for 2]. The crystal structure of 1 is related to a group of compounds formed by Cu²⁺-(XO₄)³⁻ layers (X=P⁵⁺, As⁵⁺) linked by M cations (M=alkali, alkaline earth, Pb²⁺, or Ag⁺) and partly by hydrogen bonds. In 1, worth mentioning is the very short hydrogen bond length, D···A=2.477(3) Å. It is one of the examples of extremely short hydrogen bonds, where the donor and acceptor are crystallographically different. Compound 2 represents a layered structure consisting of Cu₂O₈ centrosymmetric dimers crosslinked by As1φ₄ tetrahedra, where φ is O or OH, which are interconnected by Ba, As2 and hydrogen bonds to form a three-dimensional network. The layers are formed by Cu₂O₈ centrosymmetric dimers of CuO₅ edge-sharing polyhedra, crosslinked by As1O₄ tetrahedra. Vibrational spectra (FTIR and Raman) of both compounds are described. The spectroscopic manifestation of the very short hydrogen bond in 1, and ABC-like spectra in 2 were discussed.     

Non-centrosymmetric Ba3Ti3O6(BO3)2

The compound previously reported as Ba₂Ti₂B₂O₉ has been reformulated as Ba₃Ti₃B₂O₁₂, or Ba₃Ti₃O₆(BO₃)₂, a new barium titanium oxoborate. Small single crystals have been recovered from a melt with a composition of BaTiO₃:BaTiB₂O₆ (molar ratio) cooled between 1100°C and 850°C. The crystal structure has been determined by X-ray diffraction: hexagonal system, non-centrosymmetric space group, a=8.7377(11) Å, c=3.9147(8) Å, Z=1, wR(F²)=0.039 for 504 unique reflections. Ba₃Ti₃O₆(BO₃)₂ is isostructural with K₃Ta₃O₆(BO₃)₂. Preliminary measurements of nonlinear optical properties on microcrystalline samples show that the second harmonic generation efficiency of Ba₃Ti₃O₆(BO₃)₂ is equal to 95% of that of LiNbO₃.     

Crystal growth, structural characterization and magnetic properties of Ca3CuRhO6, Ca3Co1.34Rh0.66O6 and Ca3FeRhO6

Single crystals of Ca₃CuRhO₆, Ca₃Co_1.34Rh_0.66O₆ and Ca₃FeRhO₆ were synthesized by high temperature flux growth in molten K₂CO₃ and structurally characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction. While Ca₃Co_1.34Rh_0.66O₆ and Ca₃FeRhO₆ crystallize with trigonal (rhombohedral) symmetry in the space group , Z=6: Ca₃Co_1.34Rh_0.66O₆a=9.161(1) Å, c=10.601(2) Å; Ca₃FeRhO₆a=9.1884(3) Å, c=10.7750(4) Å; Ca₃CuRhO₆ adopts a monoclinic distortion of the K₄CdCl₆ structure in the space group C2/c, Z=4: a=9.004(2) Å, b=9.218(2) Å, c=6.453(1) Å, β=91.672(5). All crystals of Ca₃CuRhO₆ examined were twinned by pseudo-merohedry. Ca₃CuRhO₆, Ca₃Co_1.34Rh_0.66O₆, and Ca₃FeRhO₆ are structurally related and contain infinite one-dimensional chains of alternating face-sharing RhO₆ octahedra and MO₆ trigonal prisms. In the monoclinic modification, the copper atoms are displaced from the center of the trigonal prism toward one of the rectangular faces adopting a pseudo-square planar configuration. The magnetic properties of Ca₃CuRhO₆, Ca₃Co_1.34Rh_0.66O₆, and Ca₃FeRhO₆ are discussed.     

La doping of the Sr2CoWO6 double perovskite: A structural and magnetic study

La-doped Sr₂CoWO₆ double perovskites have been prepared in air in polycrystalline form by solid-state reaction. These materials have been studied by X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD), neutron powder diffraction (NPD) and magnetic susceptibility. The structural refinement was performed from combined XRPD and NPD data (D2B instrument, λ=1.594 Å). At room temperature, the replacement of Sr²⁺ by La³⁺ induces a change of the tetragonal structure, space group I4/m of the undoped Sr₂CoWO₆ into the distorted monoclinic crystal structure, space group P2₁/n, Z=2. The structure of La-doped phases contains alternating CoO₆ and (Co/W)O₆ octahedra, almost fully ordered. On the other hand, the replacement of Sr²⁺ by La³⁺ induces a partial replacement of W⁶⁺ by Co²⁺ into the B sites, i.e. Sr_2−xLa_xCoW_1−yCo_yO₆ (y=x/4) with segregation of SrWO₄. Magnetic and neutron diffraction measurements indicate an antiferromagnetic ordering below T_N=24 K independently of the La-substitution.     

Crystal Growth and Structure Determination of LaMIn5 (M=Co, Rh, Ir)

The compounds CeMIn₅ (M=Co, Rh, Ir) have been shown to exhibit heavy fermion behavior. In order to better understand this effect and the nature of the observed superconductivity, we have synthesized and characterized the non-magnetic analogs, LaMIn₅ (M=Co, Rh, Ir). The structures of LaCoIn₅, LaRhIn₅, and LaIrIn₅ were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. CeMIn₅ and LaMIn₅ compounds are isostructural and adopt a tetragonal structure with space group P4/mmm, Z=1. Lattice parameters are a=4.6399(4) and c=7.6151(6) Å for LaCoIn₅, a=4.6768(3) and c=7.5988(7) Å for LaRhIn₅, and a=4.6897(6) and c=7.5788(12) Å for LaIrIn₅. We compare these experimental data with band structure computations and examine structural trends that affect the magnetic and transport properties of these compounds.     

Structure and magnetic properties of RE2Cu2Cd

The ternary intermetallic compounds RE₂Cu₂Cd (RE=Y, Sm, Gd-Tm, Lu) were synthesized by induction-melting of the elements in sealed tantalum tubes. The samples were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction. The structure of Gd₂Cu₂Cd was refined from single crystal X-ray diffractometer data: Mo₂FeB₂ type, space group P4/mbm, a=756.2(3), c=380.2(3) pm, wR2=0.0455, 321 F² values, 12 variables. The structures are 1:1 intergrowth variants of slightly distorted CsCl and AlB₂ related slabs of compositions RECd and RECu₂. The copper and cadmium atoms build up two-dimensional [Cu₂Cd] networks (257 pm Cu-Cu and 301 pm Cu-Cd in Gd₂Cu₂Cd) which are bonded to the rare earth atoms via short RE-Cu contacts (290 pm in Gd₂Cu₂Cd). Temperature dependent susceptibility measurements of RE₂Cu₂Cd with RE=Gd, Tb, Dy, and Tm show experimental magnetic moments which are close to the free RE³⁺ ion values. The four compounds show ferromagnetic ordering at T_C=116.7(2), 86.2(3), 48.4(1), and 14.5(1) K, respectively, as confirmed by heat capacity measurements. Dy₂Cu₂Cd shows a spin reorientation at T_N=16.9(1) K.     

LiLa6I12Os, a substitutional derivative of rhombohedral La(La6I12Os)

The series of quaternary rare-earth-metal halide cluster compounds ALa₆I₁₂Z with transition metal interstitials Z and alkali or alkaline-earth metal cations A has been expanded to include A=Li. The compounds synthesized by high-temperature solid-state techniques for Z=Os, Ir, Pt, Ru are isotypic with rhombohedral R₇X₁₂Z (, Z=3). The refined single X-ray crystal structure of (Li_0.967La_0.033)La₆I₁₂Os is reported, along with supportive results from a Rietveld analysis of neutron powder diffraction from a different sample, ⁷Li MAS-NMR, and electronic resistivity and magnetic susceptibility measurements. The samples show continuous Li_1−xLa_x cation compositions and are generally semiconductors, but their complex paramagnetic properties are not those of simple spin-only systems.     

Structure and properties of rhombohedral CePd3Ga8: A variant of the cubic parent compound with BaHg11 structure type

Single crystals of a new intermetallic gallide, R-CePd₃Ga₈, have been synthesized from excess molten gallium. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction reveals that R-CePd₃Ga₈ crystallizes in the R-3m space group with a=b=c=8.4903(10) Å and α=β=γ=89.993(17). R-CePd₃Ga₈ is a variant of the cubic BaHg₁₁ structure type with three structural units: a Ce-centered polyhedron, a distorted cube of Pd₂Ga₆ and a Pd-centered cuboctahedron. The distortions of these units are compared to undistorted analogous units in intermetallic compounds with BaHg₁₁ structure type. Field and temperature-dependent magnetization measurements on R-CePd₃Ga₈ reveal a paramagnetic material with strong antiferromagnetic correlations and a magnetization consistent with Ce³⁺. Electrical resistance measurements indicate Kondo behavior between localized Ce³⁺ magnetic moments.     

Synthesis, structure, and magnetism of Tb4PdGa12 and Tb4PtGa12

Single crystals of Tb₄MGa₁₂ (M=Pd, Pt) have been synthesized. The isostructural compounds crystallize in the cubic space group , with Z=2 and lattice parameters: a=8.5940(5) and 8.5850(3) Å for Tb₄PdGa₁₂ and Tb₄PtGa₁₂, respectively. The crystal structure consists of corner-sharing MGa₆ octahedra and TbGa₃ cuboctahedra. Magnetic measurements suggest that Tb₄PdGa₁₂ is an antiferromagnetic metamagnet with a Néel temperature of 16 K, while the Pt analog orders at T_N=12 K.     

Synthesis, characterization and crystal structure of K2Bi(PO4)(MoO4)

A new potassium bismuth phosphate-molybdate K₂Bi(PO₄)(MoO₄) has been synthesized by the flux method and characterized by single-crystal and powder X-ray diffraction, IR spectroscopic studies. The compound crystallizes in the orthorhombic system with the space group Ibca and the cell parameters: a=19.7037(10), b=12.4752(10), c=7.0261(10). This phase exhibits an original layered structure, in which the [Bi(PO₄)(MoO₄)]_∞ layers consist of [Bi₂Mo₂O₁₈]_∞ chains linked through single PO₄ tetrahedra. The K⁺ cations interleaved between these layers exhibit a monocapped distorted cubic coordination.     

Synthesis and structural study of a new NASICON-type solid solution: Li1−xLax/3Zr2(PO4)3

A new complete solid solution of NASICON-type compounds between LiZr₂(PO₄)₃ and La_1/3Zr₂(PO₄)₃ was evidenced with the general formula Li_1−xLa_x/3Zr₂(PO₄)₃ (0?x?1). These phases were synthesized by a complex polymerizable method and structurally characterized from Rietveld treatment of their X-ray and neutron powder diffraction data. This solid solution results from the substitution mechanism Li⁺→1/3La³⁺+2/3□ leading to an increase of the vacancies number correlated to an increase of the La content. According to this substitution mechanism, the general formula can then be written Li_1−xLa_x/3□_2x/3Zr₂(PO₄)₃ (0?x?1) in order to underline the correlation between the La content and the vacancies rate. For all the compounds, the structure is clearly related to that of the NASICON family with three crystallographic domains evidenced. For 0?x?0.5, all the members adopt at high temperature the typical NASICON-type structure (s.g. R3¯c), while at lower temperature, their structure distorts to a triclinic form (s.g. C 1¯), as observed for LiZr₂(PO₄)₃ prepared above 1100 °C. Moreover, in this domain, the reversible transition is clearly soft and the transition temperature strongly depends of the x value. For 0.6?x?0.9, the compounds crystallize in a rhombohedral cell (s.g. R3¯), while for x=1, the phase La_1/3Zr₂(PO₄)₃ is obtained (s.g. P3¯, Z=6, a=8.7378(2) Å, c=23.2156(7) Å).This paper is devoted to the structure analysis of the series Li_1−xLa_x/3Zr₂(PO₄)₃ (0?x?1), from X-ray and neutron powder thermo diffraction and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) studies.     

Self-powdering and nonlinear optical domain structures in ferroelastic β′-Gd2(MoO4)3 crystals formed in glass

Ferroelastic β′-Gd₂(MoO₄)₃, (GMO), crystals are formed through the crystallization of 21.25Gd₂O₃–63.75MoO₃–15B₂O₃ glass (mol%), and two scientific curious phenomena are observed. (1) GMO crystals formed in the crystallization break into small pieces with a triangular prism or pyramid shape having a length of 50–500 μm spontaneously during the crystallizations in the inside of an electric furnace, not during the cooling in air after the crystallization. This phenomenon is called “self-powdering phenomenon during crystallization” in this paper. (2) Each self-powdered GMO crystal grain shows a periodic domain structure with different refractive indices, and a spatially periodic second harmonic generation (SHG) depending on the domain structure is observed. It is proposed from polarized micro-Raman scattering spectra and the azimuthal dependence of second harmonic intensities that GMO crystals are oriented in each crystal grain and the orientation of (MoO₄)²⁻ tetrahedra in GMO crystals changes periodically due to spontaneous strains in ferroelastic GMO crystals.     

Analysis of magnetic and structural phase transition behaviors of La1−xSrxCrO3 for preparation of phase diagram

The phase transition behavior of perovskite-type compounds, La_1−xSr_xCrO₃, was investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), dilatometry, dc magnetic susceptibility measurement and X-ray diffraction analysis. Both second-order magnetic phase transition from antiferromagnetic to paramagnetic and first-order structural phase transition from orthorhombic to rhombohedral were observed in the DSC or dilatometric curve of every specimen. The temperatures of both these magnetic and structural phase transitions decreased linearly with an increase in Sr content. The structural phase transition temperature of La_1−xSr_xCrO₃ with x less than 0.11 is higher than the magnetic phase transition temperature; however, a larger decrease in structural phase transition temperature than in magnetic phase transition temperature was observed with an increase in Sr content, resulting in a structural phase transition temperature lower than the magnetic phase transition temperature for La_1−xSr_xCrO₃ with x of more than 0.12. It was also observed that the heat of absorption of the structural phase transition decreased with an increase in x. In the dependence of dc magnetic susceptibility on temperature, variations by not only magnetic but also structural phase transitions were observed. It was also revealed that thermal expansion coefficient is affected not only by structural phase transition but also magnetic phase transition. Magnetic and structural phase diagram of La_1−xSr_xCrO₃, suggesting the existence of two Sr contents and temperatures at which triple phases coexist, was proposed.     

Ion-beam irradiation of lanthanum compounds in the systems La2O3-Al2O3 and La2O3-TiO2

Thin crystals of La₂O₃, LaAlO₃, La_2/3TiO₃, La₂TiO₅, and La₂Ti₂O₇ have been irradiated in situ using 1 MeV Kr²⁺ ions at the Intermediate Voltage Electron Microscope-Tandem User Facility (IVEM-Tandem), Argonne National Laboratory (ANL). We observed that La₂O₃ remained crystalline to a fluence greater than 3.1×10¹⁶ ions cm⁻² at a temperature of 50 K. The four binary oxide compounds in the two systems were observed through the crystalline-amorphous transition as a function of ion fluence and temperature. Results from the ion irradiations give critical temperatures for amorphisation (T_c) of 647 K for LaAlO₃, 840 K for La₂Ti₂O₇, 865 K for La_2/3TiO₃, and 1027 K for La₂TiO₅. The T_c values observed in this study, together with previous data for Al₂O₃ and TiO₂, are discussed with reference to the melting points for the La₂O₃-Al₂O₃ and La₂O₃-TiO₂ systems and the different local environments within the four crystal structures. Results suggest that there is an observable inverse correlation between T_c and melting temperature (T_m) in the two systems. More complex relationships exist between T_c and crystal structure, with the stoichiometric perovskite LaAlO₃ being the most resistant to amorphisation.     

Raman scattering investigations on lanthanum-doped Bi4Ti3O12-SrBi4Ti4O15 intergrowth ferroelectrics

The ferroelectric ceramics of Bi₄Ti₃O₁₂, SrBi₄Ti₄O₁₅, and lanthanum-doped Bi₄Ti₃O₁₂-SrBi₄Ti₄O₁₅ were synthesized, and their Raman spectra were investigated. La-doping resulted in the enlargement of remnant polarization of Bi₄Ti₃O₁₂-SrBi₄Ti₄O₁₅. The structure of the Bi₂O₂ layers and TiO₆ octahedra of the intergrowth was found to be different from those of Bi₄Ti₃O₁₂ and SrBi₄Ti₄O₁₅. La³⁺ ions exhibit pronounced selectivity for the occupation of A site as La content is lower than 0.50, and tend to be incorporated into Bi₂O₂ layers when the La content is higher than 0.50. Lanthanum substitution brings about the structural phase transition in Bi₄Ti₃O₁₂-SrBi₄Ti₄O₁₅. The variation of ferroelectric property may be attributed to combined contribution from the decreasing of the oxygen vacancies, the relaxation of the lattice distortion, the destroying of the insulation and the space charge compensation effects of the Bi₂O₂ slabs.     

Z型异质结Cu2O/Bi2MoO6的构建及光催化降解性能

通过水热法制备出一系列Z型异质结Cu₂O/Bi₂MoO₆新型光催化剂。采用扫描电子显微镜、粉末X射线衍射、红外光谱、紫外可见吸收光谱等表征手段研究了催化剂的形貌、结构性质和光电化学性质,并以四环素(TC)为降解目标污染物,进一步探究了其催化效率。实验结果表明,Cu₂O的加入提高了复合催化剂的光催化性能,其中20% Cu₂O/Bi₂MoO₆复合催化剂(Cu₂O和Bi₂MoO₆的质量比为20%)降解效果最好,100 min内可降解95%的TC。Cu₂O与Bi₂MoO₆之间的协同作用使其可以吸收更多的可见光,所构建的Z型异质结改变了电子转移途径,提高了电子与空穴的分离效率,光催化活性显著提高。通过自由基捕获实验和能带结构,分析了Z型异质结Cu₂O/Bi₂MoO₆复合催化剂光催化降解TC可能的机理。     

Doping studies of the magnetic cobaltocuprate CoSr2Y2−xCexCu2O9±δ

A structural, magnetic and electronic study of the cobaltocuprate CoSr₂Y_2−xCe_xCu₂O_9±δ (x=0.5-0.8) has been performed. All materials crystallise in the orthorhombic Cmcm symmetry space group in which chains of corner linked CoO₄ tetrahedra run parallel to the 1 1 0 direction. An antiferromagnetic transition is observed for x=0.5-0.8; T_M increases with x. A change in the dimensionality of the magnetic order occurs at x=0.8 as the interchain distance increases to a critical value. There is charge transfer between the cuprate planes and cobaltate layer as Ce doping increases, so that Co³⁺ is partially oxidised to Co⁴⁺ with a concomitant reduction in the valence of Cu. Superconductivity is not observed in any of the samples and a crossover from Mott to Efros and Shklovskii variable range hopping behaviour is evidenced as x increases from 0.5 to 0.8.