An order-disorder transition in Sr2IrD5: Evidence for square pyramidal IrD5 units from powder neutron diffraction data

Neutron diffraction data have been collected on a powdered sample of Sr₂IrD₅ over a range of temperatures. The compound, which is cubic at room temperature, has been found to exhibit a gradual transformation to a tetragonal phase in the temperature range 200-140 K. As a result of the transition, deuterium atoms which randomly occupy sixfold positions in the cubic phase, become tetragonally ordered. A small fraction of the cubic phase remained untransformed at 4.2 K. Both the cubic and tetragonal structures are consistent with square pyramidal IrD₅ units with average Ir---D distances of 1.714 and 1.718 Å, respectively. Agreement factors, R₁, for the two structural analyses are 3.44 and 4.94%.     

X-ray and neutron powder diffraction study of the order-disorder transition in Eu2IrH5 and the mixed crystal compounds Eu2−xAxIrH5 (A=Ca, Sr; x=1.0, 1.5)

The title compounds and their deuterides have been prepared by solid-state and solid-gas reactions from the elements and investigated by X-ray and neutron powder diffraction as a function of temperature. At room temperature they crystallize with an anion-deficient cubic K₂PtCl₆-type structure (space group ) in which five hydrogen (deuterium) atoms surround iridium randomly on six octahedral sites with average bond distances of Ir-D=169-171 pm. At low temperature they undergo a tetragonal deformation (space group I4/mmm) to the partially ordered Sr₂IrD₅ (T=4.2K)-type structure in which four hydrogen (deuterium) atoms occupy planar sites with full occupancy (Ir-D=166-170 pm) and two hydrogen (deuterium) atoms axial sites (Ir-D=174-181 pm) with ∼50% occupancy, i.e., the data are consistent with a mixture of square-pyramidal [IrD₅]⁴⁻ complexes pointing in two opposite directions. The transitions occur at ∼240 K (Eu_0.5Ca_1.5IrD₅, Eu_0.5Sr_1.5IrD₅), ∼210 K (EuSrIrD₅), ∼200 K (EuCaIrD₅, Eu₂IrD₅), and are presumably of first order.     

Structural aspects of the metal-insulator transitions in V0.985Al0.015O2

The crystal structure of V_0.985Al_0.015O₂ has been refined from single-crystal X-ray data at four temperatures. At 373°K it has the tetragonal rutile structure. At 323°K, which is below the first metal-insulator transition, it has the monoclinic M₂ structure, where half of the vanadium atoms are paired with alternating short (2.540 Å) and long (3.261 Å) V-V separations. The other half of the vanadium atoms form equally spaced (2.935 Å) zigzag V chains. At 298°K, which is below the second electric and magnetic transition, V_0.985Al_0.015O₂ has the triclinic T structure where both vanadium chains contain V-V bonds, V(1)-V(1) = 2.547 Å and V(2)-V(2) = 2.819 Å. At 173°K the pairing of the V(1) chain remains constant: V(1)-V(1) = 2.545 Å, whereas that of the V(2) chain decreases: V(2)-V(2) = 2.747 Å. From the variation of the lattice parameters as a function of temperature it seems that these two short V-V distances will not become equal at lower temperatures. The effective charges as calculated from the bond strengths at 298 and 173°K show that a cation disproportionation has taken place between these two temperatures. About 20% of the V⁴⁺ cations of the V(1) chains have become V³⁺ and correspondingly 20% of the V⁴⁺ cations of the V(2) chains have become V⁵⁺. This disproportionation process would explain the difference between the two short V-V distances. Also it would explain why the T → M₁ transition does not take at lower temperatures.     

Compounds containing CSF4 and CS+F4

The preparations of CH₂SF₄ and CH₃CHSF₄ are presented and the structures are discussed. Addition reactions of polar species give a wide range of new compounds, like Hg(CH₂SF₅)₂, F₄AsCH₂SF₅, cisBrSF₄CH₃, cisF₅SeOSF₄CH₂Br, a.o. While CH₂SF₄ decomposes at room temperature slowly to CH₂CH₂ and SF₄, at high temperatures HF and CSF₂ are formed. CH₃CHSF₄ gives mainly CH₃CHF₂ at room temperature. The “saturated” compounds CH₃SF₅ and C₂H₅SF₅ have been prepared. They react with SbF₅ in SO₂ at low temperatures to form the cations CH₃SF₄⁺ and C₂H₅SF₄⁺. The CH₃SF₄⁺ ion has been investigated in detail by nmr methods at low temperatures. It decomposes to CH₃ and SF₄, which react further in the SO₂/SbF₅ system to CH₃OSO⁺ and SF₃⁺.     

Synthesis, structure and electrical properties of Cu3.21Ti1.16Nb2.63O12 and the CuOx-TiO2-Nb2O5 pseudoternary phase diagram

Subsolidus phase relations in the CuO_x-TiO₂-Nb₂O₅ system were determined at 935 °C. The phase diagram contains one new phase, Cu_3.21Ti_1.16Nb_2.63O₁₂ (CTNO) and one rutile-structured solid solution series, Ti_1−3xCu_xNb_2xO₂: 0<x<0.2335 (35). The crystal structure of CTNO is similar to that of CaCu₃Ti₄O₁₂ (CCTO) with square planar Cu²⁺ but with A site vacancies and a disordered mixture of Cu⁺, Ti⁴⁺ and Nb⁵⁺ on the octahedral sites. It is a modest semiconductor with relative permittivity ∼63 and displays non-Arrhenius conductivity behavior that is essentially temperature-independent at the lowest temperatures.     

Combinatorial Optimization of Ba/Fe-cordierite Solid Solution (Ba0.05Fe0.1Mg)2Al4Si5O18 for High Infrared Radiance Materials

A combinatorial chemistry method was employed to screen the Ba²⁺ and Fe³⁺ incorporated into cordierite structure (Ba_0.05Fe_0.1Mg)₂Al₄Si₅O₁₈ for exploring of high infrared radiance materials. A series of square-type sample array that consists of 7×7 compositions was syn-thesized by ink-jetting nitrate solutions into micro-reactor wells in a ceramic plate and then heat-treated at high temperatures. X-ray diffraction and infrared thermograph were used to analyze the effects of Ba²⁺/Fe³⁺ incorporating on the lattice distortion of cordierite and resultant changes in infrared radiance properties. Based on the results of X-ray phase analy-sis and radiance measurement of the scale-up prepared samples, the optimal Ba²⁺ and Fe³⁺ co-adding amount was determined to be 5%Ba²⁺ plus 10%Fe³⁺. Moreover, the infrared emissivity of the optimal composition at 100 oC was found to be higher than 0.8 in a wide wavelength range of 5-24 μm. The research work demonstrates a promising application of Ba²⁺/Fe³⁺ cordierite solid solution as a kind of infrared heating materials for energy saving.     

Effect of sintering on the ionic conductivity of garnet-related structure Li5La3Nb2O12 and In- and K-doped Li5La3Nb2O12

Garnet-structure related metal oxides with the nominal chemical composition of Li₅La₃Nb₂O₁₂, In-substituted Li_5.5La₃Nb_1.75In_0.25O₁₂ and K-substituted Li_5.5La_2.75K_0.25Nb₂O₁₂ were prepared by solid-state reactions at 900, 950, and 1000 °C using appropriate amounts of corresponding metal oxides, nitrates and carbonates. The powder XRD data reveal that the In- and K-doped compounds are isostructural with the parent compound Li₅La₃Nb₂O₁₂. The variation in the cubic lattice parameter was found to change with the size of the dopant ions, for example, substitution of larger In³⁺(r_CN6: 0.79 Å) for smaller Nb⁵⁺ (r_CN6: 0.64 Å) shows an increase in the lattice parameter from 12.8005(9) to 12.826(1) Å at 1000 °C. Samples prepared at higher temperatures (950, 1000 °C) show mainly bulk lithium ion conductivity in contrast to those synthesized at lower temperatures (900 °C). The activation energies for the ionic conductivities are comparable for all samples. Partial substitution of K⁺ for La³⁺ and In³⁺ for Nb⁵⁺ in Li₅La₃Nb₂O₁₂ exhibits slightly higher ionic conductivity than that of the parent compound over the investigated temperature regime 25-300 °C. Among the compounds investigated, the In-substituted Li_5.5La₃Nb_1.75In_0.25O₁₂ exhibits the highest bulk lithium ion conductivity of 1.8×10⁻⁴ S/cm at 50 °C with an activation energy of 0.51 eV. The diffusivity (“component diffusion coefficient”) obtained from the AC conductivity and powder XRD data falls in the range 10⁻¹⁰-10⁻⁷ cm²/s over the temperature regime 50-200 °C, which is extraordinarily high and comparable with liquids. Substitution of Al, Co, and Ni for Nb in Li₅La₃Nb₂O₁₂ was found to be unsuccessful under the investigated conditions.     

Etude des propriétés de conduction électrique des polyphosphates: Li3Ba2(PO3)7, LiPb2(PO3)5, LiCs(PO3)2, et αLiK(PO3)2

The electrical conductivity of the crystallized polyphosphates Li₃Ba₂(PO₃)₇, LiPb₂(PO₃)₅, LiCs(PO₃)₂, and αLiK(PO₃)₂ has been determined at different temperatures by impedance spectroscopy. The conductivity, σ, spreads within a range of 1.59 × 10⁻⁸ to 1.79 × 10⁻⁷ S cm⁻¹ at 573 K, and from 1.71 × 10⁻⁵ to 9.86 × 10⁻⁴ S cm⁻¹ at 773 K. The transport should be assumed in the majority by the lithium ions with regard to the structural characteristics of these polyphosphates. The results are discussed and compared to the conductivity properties of other lithium ion conductors.     

The phonon-assisted proton transfer between hydrazinium cations in (N2H5)2HMF6·2H2O (M∈{Ga, Al, Fe}) type compounds. FT IR and quantum theoretical study

FT IR spectra of a series of compounds with a general formula (N₂H₅)₂HMF₆·2H₂O (where M∈{Ga, Al, Fe}) were recorded at variable temperatures (from ∼100 to 300 K, at 10 K intervals). The appearance of the spectral region of ν(N-N) modes due to hydrazinium cations further supports the conclusions regarding the N₂H₅⁺?H⁺?N₂H₅⁺ hydrogen bond potential well based on Raman spectroscopic data [J. Raman Spectrosc. 28 (1997) 315]. The appearance of two bands corresponding to the ν(N-N) modes in the low temperature FT IR spectra that merge into one upon heating is a clear evidence of a symmetric potential well through which a phonon-assisted proton transfer (PAPT) occurs at higher temperatures. Ab initio MP2/6-311++G(2d,p) quantum chemical study of the proton transfer potential within the N₂H₅⁺?H⁺?N₂H₅⁺ cluster confirmed its double-minimum character. The first-order saddle point found on the MP2/6-311++G(2d,p) potential energy hypersurface corresponds to a centrosymmetric structure (C_2h symmetry), with the proton placed at the inversion center. The potential energy curve along the tunnelling coordinate was calculated by the intrinsic reaction coordinate (IRC) methodology, leading to an adiabatic PT barrier height of 3.94 kcal mol⁻¹ and a tunneling rate of 1.98 s⁻¹. The corresponding MP4(SDTQ)/6-311++G(2d,p)//MP2/6-311++G(2d,p) value of the adiabatic PT barrier height is 4.26 kcal mol⁻¹.     

Crystal chemistry of Co-doped Zn7Sb2O12

Zn₇Sb₂O₁₂ forms a full range of Co-containing α solid solutions, Zn_7−xCo_xSb₂O₁₂, with an inverse-spinel structure at high temperature. At low temperatures for x<2, the solid solutions transform into the low temperature β-polymorph. For x=0, the β→α transition occurs at 1225±25 °C; the transition temperature decreases with increasing x. At high x and low temperatures, α solid solutions are formed but are non-stoichiometric; the (Zn+Co):Sb ratio is >7:2 and the compensation for the deficiency in Sb is attributed to the partial oxidation of Co²⁺ to Co³⁺. From Rietveld refinements using ND data, Co occupies both octahedral and tetrahedral sites at intermediate values of x, but an octahedral preference attributed to crystal field stabilisation, causes the lattice parameter plot to deviate negatively from the Vegard's law. Sub-solidus compatibility relations in the ternary system ZnO-Sb₂O₅-CoO have been determined at 1100 °C for the compositions containing ?50% Sb₂O₅.     

Properties of PWA/ZrO2-doped phosphosilicate glass composite membranes for low-temperature H2/O2 fuel cell applications

Phosphosilicate doped with a mixture of phosphotungstic acid and zirconium oxide (PWA/ZrO₂–P₂O₂–SiO₂) was investigated as potential glass composite membranes for use as H₂/O₂ fuel cell electrolytes. The glass membranes were studied with respect to their structural and thermal properties, proton conductivity, pore characteristics, hydrogen permeability, and performance in fuel cell tests. Thermal analysis including TG and DTA confirmed that the glass was thermally stable up to 400 °C. The dependence of the conductivity on the humidity was discussed based on the PWA content in the glass composite membranes. The proton transfer in the nanopores of the PWA/ZrO₂–P₂O₅–SiO₂ glasses was investigated and it was found that a glass with a pore size of ∼3 nm diameters was more appropriate for fast proton conduction. The hydrogen permeability rate was calculated at various temperatures, and was found to be comparatively higher than for membranes based on Nafion^®. The performance of a membrane electrolyte assembly (MEA) was influenced by its PWA content; a power density of 43 mW/cm² was obtained at 27 °C and 30% relative humidity for a PWA/ZrO₂–P₂O₅–SiO₂ glass membrane with a composition of 6–2–5–87 mol% and 0.2 mg/cm² of Pt/C loaded on the electrode.     

Structure and properties of ordered Li2IrO3 and Li2PtO3

The structures of Li₂MO₃ (M=Ir, Pt) can be derived from the well-known Li-ion battery cathode material, LiCoO₂, through ordering of Li⁺ and M⁴⁺ ions in the layers that are exclusively occupied by cobalt in LiCoO₂. The additional cation ordering lowers the symmetry from rhombohedral (R-3m) to monoclinic (C2/m). Unlike Li₂RuO₃ no evidence is found for a further distortion of the structure driven by formation of metal-metal bonds. Thermal analysis studies coupled with both ex-situ and in-situ X-ray diffraction measurements show that these compounds are stable up to temperatures approaching 1375 K in O₂, N₂, and air, but decompose at much lower temperatures in forming gas (5% H₂:95% N₂) due to reduction of the transition metal to its elemental form. Li₂IrO₃ undergoes a slightly more complicated decomposition in reducing atmospheres, which appears to involve loss of oxygen prior to collapse of the layered Li₂IrO₃ structure. Electrical measurements, UV-visible reflectance spectroscopy and electronic band structure calculations show that Li₂IrO₃ is metallic, while Li₂PtO₃ is a semiconductor, with a band gap of 2.3 eV.     

Synthesis and x-ray crystallographic structural determination of the acetylene complex (η5−C5H5)2W2(CO)4(C2H2)

Reaction of photogenerated (η⁵?C₅H₅)₂W₂(CO)₄ with acetylene at 25°C yields a complex of the formula (η⁵-C₅H₅)₂W₂(CO)₄(C₂H₂). The crystal structure of the complex shows it to have a tetrahedrane-like W₂C₂ core. The C—C bond distance of the C₂H₂ unit is 1.33 Å which is close to that of ethylene, considerably longer than the 1.20 Å for acetylenes. The W—W distance is 2.987 Å which is ～0.25 Å shorter than the W—W distance in (η⁵-C₅H₅)₂W₂(CO)₆ but longer than that expected for (η⁵-C₅H₅)₂W₂(CO)₄. By analogy to the parent (η⁵-C₅H₅)₂M₂(CO)₆ species, the near-UV absorption in (η⁵-C₅H₅)₂M₂(CO)₄(C₂H₂) is assigned to a σ_b → σ^* transition. Owing to the shorter M—M bond in the C₂H₂ adducts, the σ_b → σ^* absorption is at higher energy than in the (η⁵-C₅H₅)₂M₂(CO)₆ complexes.     

Preparing nanometer scaled Tb-doped Y2O3 luminescent powders by the polyol method

Sub-micrometer Tb-doped Y₂O₃ luminescent powders were prepared from nitrate precursors using the polyol method. Just after precipitation, the powders consist of agglomerates with a spherical shape and a size ranging between 400 and 500 nm. Each agglomerate is composed of ultra-small crystallites (from 3 to 6 nm) of a bcc oxide phase whose luminescence presents original features in comparison with bulk materials. Powders were further calcinated at different temperatures and for annealing below 900 °C, highly crystalline samples with the classical green ⁵D₄→⁷F₅ luminescent transitions of Tb³⁺ ions are obtained. For optimized annealing temperatures, sintering between the agglomerates is avoided and a sub-micrometric powder with a narrow size distribution and a high luminescence is obtained.     

Magnesium doping on brownmillerite Ca2FeAlO5

Ca₂FeAl_1−xMg_xO₅ (x=0, 0.05 and 0.1) compounds adopting the brownmillerite-type structure were prepared by a self-combustion route using two different fuels. Characterisation was performed using X-ray powder diffraction, Mössbauer spectroscopy, magnetisation measurements, chemical analysis, scanning electron microscopy and 4-point dc conductivity measurements. Global results indicate that the solubility limit was reached for x=0.1. An antiferromagnetic behaviour was detected for all studied compositions, with magnetic ordering temperatures of 340 and 290 K for x=0 and 0.05, respectively. Mg doping increases the number of iron cations in tetrahedral sites, which induces magnetisation enhancement at low temperatures through the coupling between octahedral iron cations in different octahedral planes. The compounds exhibit semiconductor behaviour and Mg²⁺ doping yields a significant enhancement of the total conductivity, which can be essentially attributed to the presence of Fe⁴⁺ ions.     

系列硅铝比纳米薄层ZSM-5分子筛的合成和表征

以自制不对称双子季铵盐表面活性剂为模板, 在水热合成体系中控制合成系列硅铝比纳米薄层ZSM-5分子筛.采用X射线衍射(XRD)、N₂吸附-脱附、X射线荧光光谱(XRF)、扫描电镜(SEM)和²⁷Al魔角旋转核磁共振(²⁷Al MAS-NMR)对合成的样品进行了表征. 详细研究了晶化温度、晶化时间、结构导向剂(SDA)用量、碱度等对合成的影响和纳米薄层ZSM-5分子筛的形成过程. 结果表明: 分子筛硅铝比越高, 结构导向剂用量越大, 所需的晶化时间越短; 晶化温度越高, 晶化时间越短; 且不同硅铝比纳米薄层ZSM-5分子筛的形貌规整度、比表面积和介孔/微孔孔容比例随着硅铝比而变化.     

Structure and basic magnetic properties of the honeycomb lattice compounds Na2Co2TeO6 and Na3Co2SbO6

The synthesis, structure, and basic magnetic properties of Na₂Co₂TeO₆ and Na₃Co₂SbO₆ are reported. The crystal structures were determined by neutron powder diffraction. Na₂Co₂TeO₆ has a two-layer hexagonal structure (space group P6₃22) while Na₃Co₂SbO₆ has a single-layer monoclinic structure (space group C2/m). The Co, Te, and Sb ions are in octahedral coordination, and the edge sharing octahedra form planes interleaved by sodium ions. Both compounds have full ordering of the Co²⁺ and Te⁶⁺/Sb⁵⁺ ions in the ab plane such that the Co²⁺ ions form a honeycomb array. The stacking of the honeycomb arrays differ in the two compounds. Both Na₂Co₂TeO₆ and Na₃Co₂SbO₆ display magnetic ordering at low temperatures, with what appears to be a spin-flop transition found in Na₃Co₂SbO₆.     

Tetragonal paramagnetic complex in Gd3+ doped Nd2(SO4)3·(NH4)2SO4·8H2O au]V.M. Malhotra

EPR studies of Gd³⁺ doped in single crystals of Nd₂(SO₄)₃·(NH₄)₂SO₄·8H₂O (hereafter referred to as NASO) at room (RT) and liquid nitrogen (LNT) temperatures exhibit that (1) the metal aquo complex has a tetragonal symmetry with abnormally low magnitudes of crystalline field parameters at RT and (2) NASO undergoes a possible phase transition between RT and LNT.     

Inelastic neutron scattering study of low frequency motions in [Co(C5H5)2+] and [Cr(C6 H62+] intercalated in the MnPS3 layered compound

The incoherent inelastic neutron scattering (INS) spectra of Mn_0.84PS₃[Co(C₅H₅)₂] _0.32 and Mn_0.86 PS₃[Cr(C₆H₆)₂]_0.28 compounds at 10 K have been investigated within the frequency ranges 0–80 cm^?1 (E₀ = 12.5 meV) and 0–360 cm^?1 (E₀ = 50 meV). Also, infrared and Raman spectra (0–400 cm^?1 of Cr(C₆H₆)₂I at various temperatures have been obtained for the first time. From a comparison of far infrared, low frequency Raman and INS results, we propose an assignment for the internal torsion and for the librational motions in the intercalated organometallic cations. An estimate of the potential barrier height against the torsion and the R′_z whole-body rotation is derived; these values are compared with those calculated for the corresponding iodide salts. We conclude that a significant decrease of the intermolecular forces acting on the rings is taking place within the interlamellar space.     

A neutron diffraction study of the d and d lithium garnets Li3Nd3W2O12 and Li5La3Sb2O12

The garnets Li₃Nd₃W₂O₁₂ and Li₅La₃Sb₂O₁₂ have been prepared by heating the component oxides and hydroxides in air at temperatures up to 950 °C. Neutron powder diffraction has been used to examine the lithium distribution in these phases. Both compounds crystallise in the space group with lattice parameters a=12.46869(9) Å (Li₃Nd₃W₂O₁₂) and a=12.8518(3) Å (Li₅La₃Sb₂O₁₂). Li₃Nd₃W₂O₁₂ contains lithium on a filled, tetrahedrally coordinated 24d site that is occupied in the conventional garnet structure. Li₅La₃Sb₂O₁₂ contains partial occupation of lithium over two crystallographic sites. The conventional tetrahedrally coordinated 24d site is 79.3(8)% occupied. The remaining lithium is found in oxide octahedra which are linked via a shared face to the tetrahedron. This lithium shows positional disorder and is split over two positions within the octahedron and occupies 43.6(4)% of the octahedra. Comparison of these compounds with related d⁰ and d¹⁰ phases shows that replacement of a d⁰ cation with d¹⁰ cation of the same charge leads to an increase in the lattice parameter due to polarisation effects.