Structural relaxation of scintillating Ce-doped NaGd(PO<Subscript>3</Subscript>)<Subscript>4</Subscript> glass

Structural relaxation of scintillating Ce-doped Na–Gd phosphate glass with a nominal composition of Ce:NaGd(PO₃)₄ was experimentally studied using non-isothermal thermo-mechanical analysis, and the relaxation process was described by the Tool–Narayanaswamy–Mazurin model. The distribution of relaxation times was expressed by the empirical Kohlrausch–Williams–Watts relaxation function with relaxation time directly proportional to dynamic viscosity. The model parameters and material constants were obtained by the nonlinear regression analysis of thermo-mechanical data. It has been concluded that the model used of structural relaxation correctly describes relaxation processes in studied Ce-doped NaGd(PO₃)₄ glass.     

A Novel Zeotype Vanadoarsenate [NH<Subscript>4</Subscript>VO(AsO<Subscript>4</Subscript>)]<Subscript>n</Subscript> with ETS-10-like Topological Framework

A ETS-10-like topological vanadoarsenate [NH₄VO(AsO₄)]_n 1 has been hydrothermally synthesized and structurally characterized by X-ray diffraction. The molecule structural analysis reveals that 1 is constructed by helical [–V–O–]_n chains and AsO₄ tetrahedra. Crystal data for 1: Orthorhombic, with space group Pnna, a = 13.212(3) Å, b = 10.753(2) Å, c = 6.6266(13) Å, V = 941.4(3) Å³, Z = 8, R₁ = 0.0515 and wR₂ = 0.1144.     

Synthesis of hydroxyapatite by hydrolysis of α-Ca<Subscript>3</Subscript>(PO<Subscript>4</Subscript>)<Subscript>2</Subscript>

Conditions for hydroxyapatite (HAP) synthesis in aqueous solutions by hydrolysis of α-Ca₃(PO₄)₂ were studied. Temperature exerts a substantial effect on the rate of α-Ca₃(PO₄)₂ hydrolysis and also changes the morphology of the reaction products. At 40 °C, the plate-like intersecting (perpendicular to the surface of the initial particles) crystals of HAP grow. Their maximum size after the 24-h hydrolysis is 1–2 µm. Needle like HAP crystals are formed upon boiling of the suspension. The morphology observed for the HAP particles agrees well with the conclusions obtained by analysis of the kinetics of tricalcium phosphate hydrolysis.__________Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 1, pp. 78–85, January, 2005.     

Thermal Decomposition of the System CO(NH<Subscript>2</Subscript>)<Subscript>2</Subscript>-H<Subscript>3</Subscript>PO<Subscript>4</Subscript> in the Presence of Nitrate Compounds

Chemical, derivatographic, IR spectral, and X-ray diffraction analyses were used to study thermal transformations in the system CO(NH₂)₂-H₃PO₄ and in the same system with addition of KNO₃, CsNO₃, LiNO₃ · 3H₂O, and NH₄NO₃ salts in the temperature range 20–600°C. The influence of the chosen nitrate compounds on the process of reorganization of the constituent ingredients, evolution of nitrogen into the gas phase, yield of the solid residue, and preservation of nitrogen and phosphorus was revealed.     

Preparation and X-ray diffraction study of phosphate sulfates M<Subscript>2</Subscript>MgTi(SO<Subscript>4</Subscript>)(PO<Subscript>4</Subscript>)<Subscript>2</Subscript>

Phosphate sulfates M₂MgTi(SO₄)(PO₄)₂ (M = alkali metal) prepared by the sol–gel technique with ethanol as salting-out agent were characterized by differential thermal analysis, electron probe microanalysis, and X-ray phase analysis. The crystal structure of the compounds synthesized (M = Na, K) was refined by powder X-ray diffraction. The phase stability of the phosphate sulfates under heating was examined.     

Synthesis and structure of phosphates M<Subscript>0.5</Subscript>Ti<Subscript>2</Subscript>(PO<Subscript>4</Subscript>)<Subscript>3</Subscript>

Phosphates M_0.5Ti₂(PO₄)₃ (M = Ni, Zn) were synthesized by the sol-gel method and characterized by the methods of X-ray diffraction, IR spectroscopy, and electronic microprobe analysis. Structures of Ni_0.5Ti₂(PO₄)₃ and Zn_0.5Ti₂(PO₄)₃ were studied by Rietveld method using the X-ray powder diffraction data.     

Synthesis and crystal structure of phosphates A<Subscript>2</Subscript>FeTi(PO<Subscript>4</Subscript>)<Subscript>3</Subscript> (A = Na,Rb)

Triple phosphates A₂FeTi(PO₄)₃ (A = Na, Rb) were synthesized by the solid-phase method and studied by electronic microscopy, electron probe X-ray microanalysis, and IR and Mössbauer spectroscopy. The crystal structure of the obtained compounds was refined by X-ray powder diffraction (the Rietveld method). The unit-cell parameters are as follows: for Na₂FeTi(PO₄)₃ (space group R \(\overline 3 \) c, Z = 6), a = 8.6015(1) Å, c = 21.718(1) Å, V = 1391.52(1) ų; for Rb₂FeTi(PO₄)₃ (space group P2₁3, Z = 4), a = 9.8892(2) Å, V = 967.12(1) ų. The base of the crystal structures is a mixed octahedral-tetrahedral framework {[FeTi(PO₄)₃]^2?}_3∞. Na⁺ and Rb⁺ cations are arranged in cavities of the framework. The influence of cationic substitutions on the change of the structural type of the isoformular compounds A₂FeTi(PO₄)₃ (A = Na, Rb) was considered.     

Synthesis and crystal structure of phosphate Ba<Subscript>1.5</Subscript>Fe<Subscript>2</Subscript>(PO<Subscript>4</Subscript>)<Subscript>3</Subscript>

Double phosphate Ba_1.5Fe₂(PO₄)₃ was synthesized and structurally studied. Single crystals were synthesized by the fusion method. Cubic crystals, Z = 4, space group P2₁3, a = 9.866(1) Å. This structure is built of polyhedrons of four types: PO₄ tetrahedrons, two virtually regular FeO₆ octahedrons, BaO₁₂ twelve-vertex polyhedrons, and BaO₉ nine-vertex polyhedrons. These polyhedrons share common oxygen vertices to form three-dimensional [Fe₂(PO₄)₃]_3∞ framework containing barium atoms in cavities.     

Li<Subscript>3</Subscript>V<Subscript>2</Subscript>(PO<Subscript>4</Subscript>)<Subscript>3</Subscript>/nitrogen-doped reduced graphene oxide nanocomposite with enhanced lithium storage properties

The three-dimensional porous Li₃V₂(PO₄)₃/nitrogen-doped reduced graphene oxide (LVP/N-RGO) composite was prepared by a facile one-pot hydrothermal method and evaluated as cathode material for lithium-ion batteries. It is clearly seen that the novel porous structure of the as-prepared LVP/N-RGO significantly facilitates electron transfer and lithium-ion diffusion, as well as markedly restrains the agglomeration of Li₃V₂(PO₄)₃ (LVP) nanoparticles. The introduction of N atom also has positive influence on the conductivity of RGO, which improves the kinetics of electrochemical reaction during the charge and discharge cycles. It can be found that the resultant LVP/N-RGO composite exhibits superior rate properties (92 mA h g^?1 at 30 C) and outstanding cycle performance (122 mA h g^?1 after 300 cycles at 5 C), indicating that nitrogen-doped RGO could be used to improve the electrochemical properties of LVP cathodes for high-power lithium-ion battery application.

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Graphical abstract The three-dimensional porous Li₃V₂(PO₄)₃/nitrogen-doped reduced graphene oxide composite with significantly accelerating electron transfer and lithium-ion diffusion exhibits superior rate property and outstanding cycle performance.

     

Surface and bulk conduction and thermodynamic properties of ionic salt CsH<Subscript>5</Subscript>(PO<Subscript>4</Subscript>)<Subscript>2</Subscript>

Transport properties of ionic salt CsH₅(PO₄)₂ are studied by the impedance method. The salt’s bulk conductivity ranges from 10^?8 to 10^?4 S cm^?1 in the temperature interval 90 to 145°C. The apparent activation energy is high (1.6–2.0 eV). The conductivity is slightly anisotropic: it is maximum in the [001] direction and minimum in the [100] direction (～5.6 and 1 times × 10^?6 S cm^?1, respectively, at 130°C). The conductivity of polycrystalline samples is higher by 1–2 orders of magnitude, and the activation energy drops to 1.05 eV due to the formation of a pseudoliquid layer with a high proton mobility at the intercrystallite boundary. The salt’s thermodynamic properties are examined by differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetry. No phase transitions are discovered in the salt up to the melting point (151.6°C), with the melting enthalpy equal to ～34 kJ mol^?1. The crystallization occurs at lower temperatures (107°C) and the crystallization enthalpy (?18 kJ mol^?1) is lower than the melting enthalpy. The melting is accompanied by slow decomposition of the salt. Factors affecting the proton transport in the salt are analyzed.     

Impact of carbon coating thickness on the electrochemical properties of Li<Subscript>3</Subscript>V<Subscript>2</Subscript>(PO<Subscript>4</Subscript>)<Subscript>3</Subscript>/C composites

A series of Li₃V₂(PO₄)₃/C composites with different amounts of carbon are synthesized by a combustion method. The physical and electrochemical properties of the Li₃V₂(PO₄)₃/C composites are investigated by X-ray diffraction, element analysis, Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and electrochemical measurements. The effects of carbon content of Li₃V₂(PO₄)₃/C composites on its electrochemical properties are conducted with cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance. The experiment results clearly show that the optimal carbon content is 4.3 wt %, and more or less amount of carbon would be unfavorable to electrochemical properties of the Li₃V₂(PO₄)₃/C electrode materials. The results would provide some basis for further improvement on the Li₃V₂(PO₄)₃ electrode materials.     

Synthesis and study of the phosphate Cs<Subscript>2</Subscript>Mn<Subscript>0.5</Subscript>Zr<Subscript>1.5</Subscript>(PO<Subscript>4</Subscript>)<Subscript>3</Subscript>

The new phosphate Cs₂Mn_0.5Zr_1.5(PO₄)₃ was synthesized for the first time and characterized by X-ray diffraction. Its crystal structure was refined in space group P2₁3, Z = 4 at 25°C (a = 10.3163(1) Å, V = 1097.93(1) ų), by the Rietveld method using the powder X-ray diffraction data. The structure is built of an octahedral-tetrahedral framework {[Mn_0.5Zr_1.5(PO₄)₃]^2?}_3∞ with cesium atoms being located in large cavities. The hydrolytic stability of the powdered phosphate containing ¹³⁷Cs radionuclide was studied. The minimum achieved ¹³⁷Cs leaching rate was 4 × 10^?8 g/cm₂ day.     

Orientational disorder in crystal structures of (NH<Subscript>4</Subscript>)<Subscript>3</Subscript>ZrF<Subscript>7</Subscript> and (NH<Subscript>4</Subscript>)<Subscript>3</Subscript>NbOF<Subscript>6</Subscript>

Crystal structures of (NH₄)₃ZrF₇ (I) and (NH₄)₃NbOF₆ (II) are refined by X-ray diffraction at room temperature. The compounds are isostructural and belong to the structural type of elpasolite: space group F23; a(I) = 9.4185(3) Å, a(II) = 9.3371(5) Å; V(I) = 835.50(5) ų, V(II) = 814.02(8) ų; Z = 4; R(I) = 0.0145, and R(II) = 0.0138. The refinement of the structures in the space group Fm3m yields abnormally short X-X distances in the pentagonal bipyramid MX₇ (X = F, O). The oxygen atom in II is identified by Nb-X distances and occupies one of the axial vertices of the bipyramid. The Nb atom in II is statistically distributed over the position 24f, while Zr in I resides in the symmetry center. The pentagonal bipyramid MX₇ has six independent orientations in I and twelve in II. One of three crystallographically independent ammonium groups of the structures is disordered over six or twelve equivalent orientations.     

Structure of zirconium tetrahydroborate Zr(BH<Subscript>4</Subscript>)<Subscript>4</Subscript>: A molecular dynamics study

In the work the structural and thermodynamic characteristics of zirconium tetrahydroborate Zr(BH₄)₄ are considered. The initial compound organized in a cubic lattice was heated from absolute zero to temperatures exceeding the experimental boiling temperature. Temperature dependences of the parameters of the internal structure, energy, and density of molecules in bulk are obtained. It is found that on heating the compound to 300 K its structure is maintained and on further cooling it returns to the initial state. On heating above 400 K the irreversible destruction of the crystal lattice is observed. On further cooling the compound in the solid phase becomes amorphous. It is shown that in the new state the average binding energy is lower than that in the initial one and the cubic lattice has the highest binding energy among the considered Zr(BH₄)₄ structures.     

Synthesis and characterization of a new monophosphate (C<Subscript>6</Subscript>H<Subscript>16</Subscript>N<Subscript>2</Subscript>)(H<Subscript>2</Subscript>PO<Subscript>4</Subscript>)<Subscript>2</Subscript>

Chemical preparation, crystal structure, and NMR spectroscopy of a new trans-2,5-dimethylpiperazinium monophosphate are given. This new compound crystallizes in the triclinic system, with the space group P-1 and the following parameters: a = 6.5033(3), b = 7.6942(4), c = 8.1473(5) Å, α = 114.997(3), β = 92.341(3), γ = 113.136(3), V = 329.14(3) ų, Z = 1, and D_x = 1.565 g cm^?3. The crystal structure has been determined and refined to R = 0.030 and R _w(F ²) = 0.032 using 1558 independent reflections. The structure can be described as infinite [H₂PO₄] _n ^n? chains with (C₆H₁₆N₂)²⁺ organic cations anchored between adjacent polyanions to form columns of anions and cations running along the b axis. This compound has also been investigated by IR, thermal, and solid-state, ¹³C and ³¹P MAS NMR spectroscopies and Ab initio calculations.     

Density of the systems (NaF/AlF<Subscript>3</Subscript>)—AlPO<Subscript>4</Subscript> and (NaF/AlF<Subscript>3</Subscript>)—NaVO<Subscript>3</Subscript>

The densities of two systems of molten mixtures (NaF/AlF₃)—NaVO₃ and (NaF/AlF3)—AlPO₄ were measured using an Archimedean method. Each molten mixture contained varying amounts of “impurity” constituents. The measurements were performed at various NaF/AlF₃ mole ratios (CR, cryolite ratio), equal to 3, 2.5, 2, and 1.5.     

Synthesis,structure and thermal decomposition of [Ni(NH<Subscript>3</Subscript>)<Subscript>6</Subscript>][VO(O<Subscript>2</Subscript>)<Subscript>2</Subscript>(NH<Subscript>3</Subscript>)]<Subscript>2</Subscript>

The compound [Ni(NH₃)₆][VO(O₂)₂(NH₃)]₂ was prepared and characterized by elemental analysis and vibrational spectra. The single crystal X-ray study revealed that the structure consists of [Ni(NH₃)₆]²⁺ and [VO(O₂)₂(NH₃)]⁻ ions. As a result of weak interionic interactions V′···O_p (O_p-peroxo oxygen), ([VO(O₂)₂(NH₃)]⁻)₂ dimers are formed in the solid-state. The thermal decomposition of [Ni(NH₃)₆][VO(O₂)₂(NH₃)]₂ is a multi-step process with overlapped individual steps; no defined intermediates were obtained. The final solid products of thermal decomposition up to 600°C were Ni₂V₂O₇ and V₂O₅.     

[Ca(BH<Subscript>4</Subscript>)<Subscript>2</Subscript>]<Subscript> <Emphasis Type="Italic">n</Emphasis> </Subscript> clusters as hydrogen storage material: A DFT study

Calcium borohydride is widely studied as a hydrogen storage material. However, investigations on calcium borohydride from a cluster perspective are seldom found. The geometric structures and binding energies of [Ca(BH₄)₂]_n (n = 1–4) clusters are determined using density function theory (DFT). For the most stable structures, vibration frequency, natural bond orbital (NBO) are calculated and discussed. The charge transfer from (BH₄) to Ca was observed. Meanwhile, we also study the LUMO–HOMO gap (E_g) and the B–H bond dissociation energies (BDEs). [Ca(BH₄)₂]₃ owns higher E_g, revealing that trimer is more stable than the other forms. Structures don’t change during optimization after hydrogen radical removal, showing that calcium borohydride could possibly be used as a reversible hydrogen storage material. [Ca(BH₄)₂]₄ has the smallest dissociation energy suggesting it releases hydrogen more easily than others.     

Synthesis and characterization of macroporous Li<Subscript>3</Subscript>V<Subscript>2</Subscript>(PO<Subscript>4</Subscript>)<Subscript>3</Subscript>/C composites as cathode materials for Li-ion batteries

The macroporous Li₃V₂(PO₄)₃/C composite was synthesized by oxalic acid-assisted carbon thermal reaction, and the common Li₃V₂(PO₄)₃/C composite was also prepared for comparison. These samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), and electrochemical performance tests. Based on XRD and SEM results, the sample has monoclinic structure and macroporous morphology when oxalic acid is introduced. Electrochemical tests show that the macroporous Li₃V₂(PO₄)₃/C sample has a high initial discharge capacity (130 mAh g⁻¹ at 0.1 C) and a reversible discharge capacity of 124.9 mAh g⁻¹ over 20 cycles. Moreover, the discharge capacity of the sample is still 91.5 mAh g⁻¹, even at a high rate of 2 C, which is better than that of the sample with common morphology. The improvement in electrochemical performance should be attributed to its improved lithium ion diffusion coefficient for the macroporous morphology, which was verfied by cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy.