The isotropic temperature factors of Sr(Co1−xMnx)O3 (x = 0, 0.1, 0.5, 0.8, and 1.0)

The cubic perovskite Sr(Co_1?xMn_x)O₃ has a maximum value of a-axis at x = 0.3 and a change of spin state of Co⁴⁺ ion from low to high. To elucidate these properties, the isotropic temperature factor (B) of strontium, cobalt, manganese, and oxygen atoms for x = 0, 0.1, 0.5, 0.8, and 0.1 have been derived from powder X-ray diffraction measurements. The isotropic temperature factor of oxygen for x = 0, 0.1, and 1.0 is small and that for x = 0.5 and 0.8 is large. This fact suggests that the oxygen ion deviates from the center of the CoOMn bond in the solid solutions with $\text{x ≧ 0.3}$. Larger CoO₆ octahedra and smaller MnO₆ octahedra, which are connected by corner sharing of oxygens of the octahedron, are distributed statistically.     

XAFS characterization of La1−xSrxMnO3±δ catalysts prepared by Pechini’s method

XAFS experiments at the Mn and Sr K-edges were carried out in order to investigate the short-range arrangement of Mn and Sr sites on La_1−xSr_xMnO_3±δ highly doped perovskites (x = 0, 0.2, 0.4 and 0.6). The Mn K-edge EXAFS spectra show a static Jahn–Teller distortion of the MnO₆ for x = 0 and 0.2, which is drastically reduced as x increases. The distortion of perovskite, characterized by the Mn–O–Mn tilt angle, progressively decreases with increasing Sr contents. Sr K-edge results indicated a decrease on the Sr–Mn coordination number upon Sr doping. Based on this and TPD results, a charge compensating mechanism is proposed suggesting a partial Mn oxidation and formation of Mn defect vacancies due to the introduction of Sr.     

Valence and coordination state of cobalt atoms in bulk and deposited lanthanum cobaltates

The valence and coordination state of paramagnetic cobalt atoms in bulk phases of perovskite cobaltate LaCoO₃ and cobalt oxide Co₃O₄ and in nanosized LaCoO₃ deposited inside the mesoporous molecular sieve MCM-41 matrix has been studied using ESR. Cobalt(II) cations in deposited cobaltates have octahedral coordination, which is characteristic of perovskite-like structures.     

Structural and Chemical Properties of NiOx Thin Films: Oxygen Vacancy Formation in O2 Atmosphere

NiO_x films on Si(111) were put in contact with oxygen at elevated temperatures. During heating and cooling in oxygen atmosphere Near Ambient Pressure (NAP)-XPS and -XAS and work function (WF) measurements reveal the creation and replenishing of oxygen vacancies in dependence of temperature. Oxygen vacancies manifest themselves as a distinct O1s feature at 528.9 eV on the low binding energy side of the main NiO peak as well as by a distinct deviation of the Ni2p_3/2 spectral features from the typical NiO spectra. DFT calculations reveal that the presence of oxygen vacancies leads to a charge redistribution and altered bond lengths of the atoms surrounding the vacancies causing the observed spectral changes. Furthermore, we observed that a broadening of the lowest energy peak in the O K-edge spectra can be attributed to oxygen vacancies. In the presence of oxygen vacancies, the WF is lowered by 0.1 eV.     

On the novel double perovskites A2Fe(Mn0.5W0.5)O6 (A= Ca,Sr, Ba). Structural evolution and magnetism from neutron diffraction data

New A₂Fe(Mn_0.5W_0.5)O₆ (A = Ca, Sr, Ba) double perovskite oxides have been prepared by ceramic techniques. X-ray diffraction (XRD) complemented with neutron powder diffraction (NPD) indicate a structural evolution from monoclinic (space group P2₁/n) for A = Ca to cubic (Fm-3m) for A = Sr and finally to hexagonal (P6₃/mmc) for A = Ba as the perovskite tolerance factor increases with the A²⁺ ionic size. The three oxides present different tilting schemes of the FeO₆ and (Mn,W)O₆ octahedra. NPD data also show evidence in all cases of a considerable anti-site disordering, involving the partial occupancy of Fe positions by Mn atoms, and vice-versa. Magnetic susceptibility data show magnetic transitions below 50 K characterized by a strong irreversibility between ZFC and FC susceptibility curves. The A = Ca perovskite shows a G-type magnetic structure, with weak ordered magnetic moments due to the mentioned antisite disordering. Interesting magnetostrictive effects are observed for the Sr perovskite below 10 K.     

Positron lifetime study of Pr1−xCaxMnO3 (x=0.5, 0.3) during magnetic transition

We measured the positron lifetime in perovskite manganites Pr_1−xCa_xMnO₃ (x=0.3, 0.5). Two lifetime components were observed for each compound; they were attributed to the annihilation of free positrons and positrons trapped at the A-site vacancies. The positron lifetime at the A-site vacancies changed significantly during the antiferromagnetic transition in both the compounds, whereas it was constant around the charge-ordering transition. This change indicates that the electron distribution at the vacancies changed possibly due to the change in the electron distribution of neighboring oxygen atoms. This result indicates that positron lifetime measurements can provide unique information on electronic states during a spin-related phase transition in various oxide materials.     

Effect of Nitrogen Substitution in V2O3 on the Metal–Insulator Transition

The effect of N‐doping on the paramagnetic–antiferromagnetic transition associated with the metal–insulator (M–I) transition of V₂O₃ at 150 K has been studied in bulk samples as well as in nanosheets. The magnetic transition temperature of V₂O₃ is lowered to ～120 K in the N‐doped samples. Electrical resistivity data also indicate a similar lowering of the M–I transition temperature. First‐principles DFT calculations reveal that anionic (N) substitution and the accompanying oxygen vacancies reduce the energy of the high‐temperature metallic corundum phase relative to the monoclinic one leading to the observed reduction in Nèel temperature. In the electronic structure of N‐substituted V₂O₃, a sub‐band of 2p states of trivalent anion (N) associated with its strong bond with the vanadium cation appears at the top of the band of O(2p) states, the 3d‐states of V being slightly higher in energy. Its band gap is thus due to crystal field splitting of the degenerate d‐orbitals of vanadium and superexchange interaction, which reduces notably (ΔE_g=?0.4 eV) due to their hybridization with the 2p states of nitrogen. A weak magnetic moment arises in the monoclinic phase of N‐substituted V₂O₃ with O‐vacancies, with a moment of ?1 μ_B/N localized on vanadium atoms in the vicinity of oxygen vacancies.     

Crystal structure and high-temperature electrical conductivity of novel perovskite-related gallium and indium oxides

Novel complex oxides Sr₂Ga_1+x In_1?x O₅, x?=?0.0–0.2 with brownmillerite-type structure were prepared in air at T?=?1,273 K, 24 h. Study of the crystal structure of Sr₂Ga_1.1In_0.9O₅ refined using X-ray powder diffraction data (S.G. Icmm, a?=?5.9694(1) Å, b?=?15.2091(3) Å, c?=?5.7122(1) Å, χ ²?=?2.48, R _F ²? ₌?0.0504, R _p?=?0.0458) revealed ordering of Ga³⁺ and In³⁺ cations over tetrahedral and octahedral positions, respectively. A partial replacement of Sr²⁺ by La³⁺ according to formula Sr_1?y La _y Ga_0.5In_0.5O_2.5+y/2, leads to the formation of a cubic perovskite (a?=?4.0291(5) Å) for y?=?0.3. No ordering of oxygen vacancies or cations was observed in Sr_0.7La_0.3Ga_0.5In_0.5O_2.65 as revealed by electron diffraction study. The trace diffusion coefficient (D _T) of oxygen for cubic perovskite Sr_0.7La_0.3Ga_0.5In_0.5O_2.65 is in the range 2.0?×?10^?9–6.3?×?10^?8 cm²/s with activation energy 1.4(1)?eV as determined by isotopic exchange depth profile technique using secondary ion mass spectrometry at 973–1,223 K. These values are close to those reported for Ca-doped ZrO₂. High-temperature electrical conductivity of Sr_0.7La_0.3Ga_0.5In_0.5O_2.65 studied by AC impedance was found to be nearly independent on oxygen partial pressure. Calculated values of activation energy at T?<?1,073 K for hole and oxide-ion conductivities are 0.96 and 1.10 eV, respectively.     

Investigation of the charge compensation mechanism on the electrochemically Li-ion deintercalated Li1-xCo1/3Ni1/3Mn1/3O2 electrode system by combination of soft and hard X-ray absorption spectroscopy

In situ hard X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) at metal K-edges and soft XAS at O K-edge and metal L-edges have been carried out during the first charging process for the layered Li1-xCo1/3Ni1/3Mn1/3O2 cathode material. The metal K-edge XANES results show that the major charge compensation at the metal site during Li-ion deintercalation is achieved by the oxidation of Ni2+ ions, while the manganese ions and the cobalt ions remain mostly unchanged in the Mn4+ and Co3+ state. These conclusions are in good agreement with the results of the metal K-edge EXAFS data. Metal L-edge XAS results at different charge states in both the FY and PEY modes show that, unlike Mn and Co ions, Ni ions at the surface are oxidized to Ni3+ during charge, whereas Ni ions in the bulk are further oxidized to Ni4+ during charge. From the observation of O K-edge XAS results, we can conclude that a large portion of the charge compensation during Li-ion deintercalation is achieved in the oxygen site. By comparison to our earlier results on the Li1-xNi0.5Mn0.5O2 system, we attribute the active participation of oxygen in the redox process in Li1-xCo1/3Ni1/3Mn1/3O2 to be related to the presence of Co in this system.     

Thermodynamic properties of cobalt-selenium alloys

Vapor pressures of selenium in cobalt-selenium alloys were determined by an isopiestic method between 600 and 1000 °C and between 52 and 66.6 at % Se. Activities of selenium were evaluated according to three methods taking into account the complexity of the selenium vapor. For the nonstoichiometric Co_1?x Se phase with NiAs-type structure a statistical model was applied. Activities and partial molar enthalpies of selenium derived by assuming random distribution of cobalt atoms and cobalt vacancies in the 001/2-layers of the NiAs-lattice are in very good agreement with the experimental values. The interaction energy between cobalt vacancies was found to be 7780 cal/g-atom.     

Oxygen Nonstoichiometry, Conductivity, and Seebeck Coefficient of La0.3Sr0.7Fe1−xGaxO2.65+δ Perovskites

The total electrical conductivity and the Seebeck coefficient of perovskite phases La_0.3Sr_0.7Fe_1−xGa_xO_2.65+δ (x=0-0.4) were determined as functions of oxygen nonstoichiometry in the temperature range 650-950°C at oxygen partial pressures varying from 10⁻⁴ to 0.5 atm. Doping with gallium was found to decrease oxygen content, p-type electronic conduction and mobility of electron holes. The results on the oxygen nonstoichiometry and electrical properties clearly show that the role of gallium cations in the lattice is not passive, as it could be expected from the constant oxidation state of Ga³⁺. The nonstoichiometry dependencies of the partial molar enthalpy and entropy of oxygen in La_0.3Sr_0.7(Fe,Ga)O_2.65+δ are indicative of local inhomogeneities, such as local lattice distortions or defect clusters, induced by gallium incorporation. Due to B-site cation disorder, this effect may be responsible for suppressing long-range ordering of oxygen vacancies and for enhanced stability of the perovskite phases at low oxygen pressures, confirmed by high-temperature X-ray diffraction and Seebeck coefficient data. The values of the electron-hole mobility in La_0.3Sr_0.7(Fe,Ga)O_2.65+δ, which increases with temperature, suggest a small-polaron conduction mechanism.     

Systematic study of compositional and synthetic control of vacancy and magnetic ordering in oxygen-deficient perovskites Ca2Fe(2-x)Mn(x)O(5+y)and CaSrFe(2-x)Mn(x)O(5+y) (x = 1/2, 2/3, and 1; y = 0-1/2)

Ten compounds belonging to the series of oxygen-deficient perovskite oxides Ca(2)Fe(2-x)Mn(x)O(5) and CaSrFe(2-x)Mn(x)O(5+y), where x = 1/2, 2/3, and 1 and y ≈ 0-0.5, were synthesized and investigated with respect to the ordering of oxygen vacancies on both local and long-range length scales and the effect on crystal structure and magnetic properties. For the set with y ≈ 0 the oxygen vacancies always order in the long-range sense to form the brownmillerite structure containing alternating layers of octahedrally and tetrahedrally coordinated cations. However, there is a change in symmetry from Pnma to Icmm upon substitution of Sr for one Ca for all x, indicating local T(d) chain (vacancy) disorder. In the special case of CaSrFeMnO(5) the neutron diffraction peaks broaden, indicating only short-range structural order on a length scale of ~160 ?. This reveals a systematic progression from Ca(2)FeMnO(5) (Pnma, well-ordered tetrahedral chains) to CaSrFeMnO(5) (Icmm, disordered tetrahedral chains, overall short-range order) to Sr(2)FeMnO(5) (Pm3m, destruction of tetrahedral chains in a long-range sense). Systematic changes occur in the magnetic properties as well. While long-range antiferromagnetic order is preserved, the magnetic transition temperature, T(c), decreases for the same x when Sr substitutes for one Ca. A review of the changes in T(c) for the series Ca(2)Fe(2-x)M(x)O(5), taking into account the tetrahedral/octahedral site preferences for the various M(3+) ions, leads to a partial understanding of the origin of magnetic order in these materials in terms of a layered antiferromagnetic model. While in all cases the preferred magnetic moment direction is (010) at low temperatures, there is a cross over for x = 0.5 to (100) with increasing temperature for both the Ca(2)Fe(2-x)Mn(x)O(5) and the CaSrFe(2-x)Mn(x)O(5) series. For the y > 0 phases, while a brownmillerite ordering of oxygen vacancies is preserved for the Ca(2) phases, a disordered Pm3m cubic perovskite structure is always found when Sr is substituted for one Ca. Long-range magnetic order is also lost, giving way to spin glass or cluster-glass-like behavior below ~50 K. For the x = 0.5 phase, neutron pair distribution function (NPDF) studies show a local structure related to brownmillerite ordering of oxygen vacancies. Neutron diffraction data at 3.8 K show a broad magnetic feature, incommensurate with any multiple of the chemical lattice, and with a correlation length (magnetic domain) of 6.7(4) ?.     

Le système Ba2Fe2O5BaZnO2. I. Mise en évidence de trois nouvelles phases

In order to obtain phases with a high deficiency of oxygen, iron is progressively substituted by zinc in Ba₂Fe₂O₅ at 900–1000°C. For 0.05 < x < 0.40 ($\text{x =}\text{Zn}\text{Fe}\text{+}\text{Zn}$), the long-range order between tetrahedra and octahedra of the brownmillerite is destroyed and the cell is perovskite type with up to 23% oxygen vacancies. For x = 0.5 there is a new superlattice and an orthorhombic compound Ba₄Fe₂Zn₂O₉. For 0.7 < x < 0.9 a new cubic phase is formed which is related to BaZnO₂.     

The structure of a carbon monoxide adduct of cobalt-exchanged zeolite A (Co5.25Na1.5A · 1.5CO) by neutron profile refinement

The structure of a carbon monoxide adduct of cobalt-exchanged zeolite A, CO_5.25Na_1.5A · 1.5CO, has been determined by Rietveld neutron profile refinement. The space group used was $\text{Fm}\text{3}\text{c}$ with a = 24.1557(14) Å; the final R_pw was 13.8%. All exchangeable cations are located in sites adjacent to the 6-rings; 3.75 of the cobalt cations sit 0.4 Å inside the β-cage (Co(2)) and are arranged tetrahedrally about the eight 6-ring sites in the β-cage. The sodium cations (Na(1)) reside just inside the α-cage in sites similar to those found previously for zeolites 3A, 4A, and 5A. The remaining 1.5 cobalt cations (Co(1)) are located in sites similar to those for sodium, but they are also coordinated to the carbon monoxide molecules, which lie on, or close-to, the threefold axis which passes through the 6-ring. Inside the β-cage there is a tetrahedral aluminum complex of AlO₄ type, the oxygen atoms (O1) of which point toward six rings not occupied by cobalt cations, Co(2). Each of the oxygen atoms of this complex is involved in a hydrogen bond (2.83 Å) to the 6-ring oxygen O(3). Approximately $\text{2}\text{3}$ of these bonds are of type O1H···O(3) and $\text{1}\text{3}$ of type O1···HO(3).     

The crystal structures of a series of cubic hydrogen insertion compounds of the mixed molybdenum tungsten oxides

The structures of three hydrogen insertion compounds, D_0.56Mo_0.25W_0.75O₃, D_0.80Mo_0.5W_0.5O₃, and D_0.81Mo_0.69W_0.31O₃, were determined from powder neutron diffraction studies. All three compounds were body centered cubic (space group Im3) with the unit cell containing eight formula weights. The lattice parameter a = 7.5558(6), 7.587(1), and 7.5743(5) Å, respectively. A least-squares method based on peak intensities was used to determine the structures. The metal atoms lie on the special perovskite sites and are surrounded by nearly regular octahedra of oxygen atoms with the latter displaced from the normal perovskite positions along 〈110〉. The deuterium atoms are distributed over 48 sites in the unit cell and form —OD bonds directed toward the nearest oxygen atom in a neighboring octahedron. These compounds have the same structure as the cubic hydrogen tungsten bronze H_0.53WO₃.     

Modification of mixed conducting Ba<Subscript>0.5</Subscript>Sr<Subscript>0.5</Subscript>Co<Subscript>0.8</Subscript>Fe<Subscript>0.2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3–δ</Subscript> by partial substitution of cobalt with tungsten

The Ba_0.5Sr_0.5Co_0.8–xW_xFe_0.2O_3–δ (х = 0–0.1) materials prepaMIECred by partial substitution of cobalt in BSCF with tungsten were studied. The tungsten solubility limit in the structure of cubic perovskite BSCF was shown to be ~2%. The doping with the highly charged W⁶⁺ (2%) cation improved the functional properties of BSCF: it increased the oxygen permeability and membrane stability in the CO₂-containing atmosphere and suppressed the cubic–hexagonal perovskite polymorphic transition. This stabilizes high oxygen fluxes during long-term stability tests.     

New perovskite materials of the La(2-x)Sr(x)CoTiO6 series

Substitution of La(3+) by Sr(2+) in the double perovskite La(2)CoTiO(6) yields materials of the La(2-x)Sr(x)CoTiO(6) series showing a significant amount of trivalent cobalt ions when prepared at ambient atmosphere. The as-prepared compounds can be reduced in severe conditions retaining the perovskite structure while inducing the formation of a large amount of oxygen vacancies. The limit of aliovalent substitution in this series was found to extend up to x = 1. For substitution of La(3+) up to 15% cobalt and titanium are ordered, though the order is progressively lost as x increases; for x≥ 0.30 no ordering is observed as evidenced by magnetic measurements. The ability of these materials to present either cobalt ions in a mixed oxidation state or large amounts of anion vacancies depending on the atmosphere makes them interesting to be further investigated regarding their electrical and electrochemical properties, and hence, their usefulness in some electrochemical devices.     

S-, O-, O,O′- p-toluenesulfinato complexes of iron(II), cobalt(II) and nickel(II) with polydentate tripod-like phosphines,crystal structure of 1,1,1-tris(diphenylphosphinomethyl)ethane p-toluenesulfinatocobalt(II) perchlorate

Reaction of sodium p-toluenesulfinate with iron(II), cobalt(II) and nickel(II) aquo ions in the presence of the poly(tertiary phosphines) 1,1,1-tris(diphenylphosphinomethyl)ethane (triphos), tris(2-diphenylphosphinoethyl)amine (np₃) and tris(2-diphenylphosphinoethyl)phosphine (pp₃) gives five-coordinated p-toluenesulfinato complexes of formulae [(triphos)Co(p-tolSO₂)]ClO₄ and [LM(p-tolSO₂)]BPh₄ (L = pp₃, M = Fe, Co, Ni; L = np₃, M = Co, Ni). The nickel derivatives are diamagnetic with the p-toluenesulfinate ligand bonded to the metal through the sulfur atom. The iron and cobalt complexes are paramagnetic, low or high spin, with the _p-toluenesulfinate ion linked to the metal via one oxygen (np₃ and pp₃ derivatives) or both oxygen atoms (cobalt-triphosderivative).The structure of [(triphos)Co(p-tolSO₂)]ClO₄ has been determined from three-dimensional X-ray data collected by counter methods. The crystals are monoclinic, space group P2₁/n with a = 20.942(9), b =, 9.652(4), c= 22.040(8), Å, β, = 96.86(5)°, d_c = 1.407 gcm^?3 for Z = 4. Full-matrix least-squares refinements converged at the conventional R factor of 0.063 for 5573 observed reflections. The complex cation has a distorted square pyramidal geometry with the sulfinate group acting as a bidentate ligand through the two oxygen atoms.     

Investigation on multiferroic,optical and photoluminescence properties of CoFe2O4/(Pb1−xSrx)TiO3 nanostructured composite thin films

Multiferroic nanostructured composite thin films consisting of CoFe₂O₄ (CFO) and Pb_1−xSr_xTiO3 (PST; x = 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4 and 0.5) layers have been deposited on Pt/TiO₂/SiO₂/Si and quartz substrates by using metallo-organic decomposition process and spin coating. The effect of Sr content on the multiferroic and optical properties have been investigated. The phase purity such as spinel structure of CFO and perovskite structure of PST has been verified by X-ray diffraction. Cross-sectional scanning electron microscopy images revealed clear interface between CFO and PST layers without any noticeable diffusion. The multiferroic properties of CFO/PST composite films have been confirmed by magnetic and ferroelectric hysteresis loops with low leakage current density. The residual strain sensitivity of multiferroic and optical properties has been observed in the composite films. The decrease in saturation magnetization and saturation polarization with increase in Sr content has been observed which could be attributed to the decrease in residual strain of CFO/PST composite films. The magnetic phase transition temperature of the CFO/PST composite films is also reduced. The optical refractive index decreases with increase of amount of Sr content. The photoluminescence spectra of the CFO/PST composite films possess a blue shift which can be attributed to the Pb and oxygen vacancies as localized sensitizing centers. We show that the multiferroic and optical properties of the CFO/PST composite films are highly sensitive to the heterostructure strains which can be controlled by Sr content.     

Synthesis of new Cu(II), Ni(II) and Co(II) complexes with a bis-amide ligand functionalized with pyridine moieties: Spectral, magnetic and electrochemical studies

Three new copper(II), nickel(II) and cobalt (II) dinuclear complexes with a bis-amide ligand derived from tartaric acid have been prepared and characterized. For this purpose, the ligand (R,R)-(+)-di-N,N′-methylpyridino-tartramide (dmpt) was synthesized via the classical aminolysis of (R,R)-(+)-dimethyltartrate with pyridylmethylamine. The molecular structures of the complexes Na[Cu₂(dmptH₋₃)(CO₃)] · 8H₂O (1) and [Ni₂(dmptH₋₂)₂] · 9.75H₂O (2) were elucidated by X-ray diffraction, and the complex [Co₂(dmptH₋₃)(μ-OH)] · NaClO₄ · 5H₂O (3) by XAS. The crystal structure of (1) shows that the two metallic centres are in a square planar environment. Each copper(II) is bound to pyridyl and deprotonated amidic nitrogen atoms and to the oxygen atoms of hydroxyl and carbonato groups. In complex (2), both nickel atoms are in a distorted octahedral environment with an identical set of donors atoms, N₄O₂, coming from four nitrogen atoms of two pyridylmethylamido moieties and two oxygen donor atoms of alcohol groups. XAS analysis of complex (3) allows us to propose a CoN₂O₄ chromophore, with two nitrogen atoms coming from pyridyl and amidic groups and two bridged oxygen atoms from a deprotonated alcohol group and an hydroxyl group; the hexacoordination is achieved by two water molecules. The spectroscopic, electrochemical and magnetic properties of these complexes were investigated.