A new nine-coordination system: Pentagonal interpenetrating tetrahedral polyhedron

A new nine-coordination geometry has been discovered. Monazite-type compounds, such as LnPO₄ (Ln = La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, and Gd), LnAsO₄ (Ln = La, Ce, Pr, and Nd), α-PbSeO₄ (Rooseveltite), BiPO₄, PbCrO₄ (Crocoite), α-PbSeO₄, PuPO₄, LaVO₄, SrCrO₄, SrSeO₄, and ThSiO₄, exhibit this new nine-coordination geometry. The new geometric form is best described as a pentagonal interpenetrating tetrahedral polyhedron (PITP).     

Mono and trinuclear lanthanide complexes of 13-membered tetraaza macrocycle: Synthesis and characterization

The reaction of 1,8-diamino-3,6-diazaoctane and diethyl malonate in dry methanol yielded a 13-membered macrocycle. Complexes of the type [Ln(tatd)Cl₂ (H₂O)₃]Cl [Ln^III=La, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy; tatd=1, 5, 8, 11-tetra-azacyclotridecane-2,4-dione] have been synthesized by template condensation. The complex [La(tatd)Cl₂ (H₂O)₃]Cl in methanol was reacted with lanthanide chlorides to yield the trinuclear complexes of type [2{La(tatd)Cl₂(H₂O)₃}LnCl₃]Cl₂ [Ln^III=La, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy]. The chemical compositions of mono and trinuclear complexes have been established on the basis of analytical, molar conductance, electrospray (ES) and fast atom bombardment (FAB) mass data. In mononuclear complexes the Ln³⁺ ion is encapsulated by four ring nitrogens and in trimetallic complexes the exo-carbonyl oxygens of two mononuclear units coordinate to the Ln³⁺ ions resulting in a polyhedron around the lanthanide ions. Thus the macrocycle is bonded in a tetradentate fashion in the former complexes and hexadentate in the latter. The coordination number nine around the encapsulated Ln³⁺ and seven around the exo-oxygen bonded Ln³⁺ ions are established. The symmetry of the ligand field around the metal ions is indicated from the emission spectra.     

Rare earth substituted fluoride-phosphate apatites

Compositions with the general formula Ln_xM_10?2xNa_x(PO₄)₆F₂ (Ln = La, Pi, Nd, Sm, Eu, Dy, Er, Lu, andY;M = Ca, Sr, and Ba) have been prepared and studied by X-ray diffraction methods. The hexagonal apatite like structure was indicated by the powder patterns of all the compounds (with Ba compounds only when Ln = La through Sm). Single crystal precession data reveal that the crystal lattice of all the compositions in the Ca and Sr system have space group P6₃/m, the Ln₂Ba₆Na₂(PO₄)₆F₂ compounds crystallize in space group P6 and the Ln₃Ba₄Na₃(PO₄)₆F₂ compounds in the trigonal space group P3. Order and disorder mechanisms of the substitution and its dependence on size and polarization effects are discussed.     

The crystal growth and magnetic properties of Ln2LiIrO6 (Ln=La, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu)

Single crystals of a series of lanthanide lithium iridium oxides, Ln₂LiIrO₆ (Ln=La, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu) with the double perovskite structure have been grown from molten LiOH/KOH fluxes. The compounds crystallize in a distorted 1:1 rock salt lattice of Li⁺ and Ir⁵⁺ cations in the monoclinic space group P2₁/n. The magnetic susceptibilities of Ln₂LiIrO₆ (Ln=Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu) are presented.     

Rare-earth cobalticyanides LnCo(CN)6·nH2O

Crystalline cobalticyanides LnCo^III(CN)₆·nH₂O with Ln = La,…, Lu, Y have been synthesized by a double-infusion technique. In analogy to the Cr and Fe compounds, the large rare-earth ions form a hexagonal modification while the smaller ions lead to the orthorhombic structure with 4H₂O. Experiments show that no magnetic ordering occurs down to 1°K. The Stark splitting of the J ground state due to the crystalline field is analyzed for the Ce and Sm compounds.     

Seven new rare-earth transition-metal oxychalcogenides: Syntheses and characterization of Ln4MnOSe6 (Ln=La, Ce, Nd), Ln4FeOSe6 (Ln=La, Ce, Sm), and La4MnOS6

The quaternary oxychalcogenides Ln₄MnOSe₆ (Ln=La, Ce, Nd), Ln₄FeOSe₆ (Ln=La, Ce, Sm), and La₄MnOS₆ have been synthesized by the reactions of Ln (Ln=La, Ce, Nd, Sm), M (M=Mn, Fe), Se, and SeO₂ at 1173 K for the selenides or by the reaction of La₂S₃ and MnO at 1173 K for the sulfide. Warning: These reactions frequently end in explosions. These isostructural compounds crystallize with two formula units in space group of the hexagonal system. The cell constants (a, c in Å) at 153 K are: La₄MnOSe₆, 9.7596(3), 7.0722(4); La₄FeOSe₆, 9.7388(4), 7.0512(5); Ce₄MnOSe₆, 9.6795(4), 7.0235(5); Ce₄FeOSe₆, 9.6405(6), 6.9888(4); Nd₄MnOSe₆, 9.5553(5), 6.9516(5); Sm₄FeOSe₆, 9.4489(5), 6.8784(5); and La₄MnOS₆, 9.4766(6), 6.8246(6). The structure of these Ln₄MOQ₆ compounds comprises a three-dimensional framework of interconnected LnOQ₇ bicapped trigonal prisms, MQ₆ octahedra, and the unusual LnOQ₆ tricapped tetrahedra.     

X-ray and neutron powder diffraction study of the double perovskites Ba2LnSbO6 (Ln=La, Pr, Nd and Sm)

The crystal structures of Ba₂LnSbO₆ (Ln=La, Pr, Nd and Sm) at room temperature have been investigated by profile analysis of the Rietveld method using either combined X-ray and neutron powder diffraction data or X-ray powder diffraction data. It has been shown that the structure of Ba₂LnSbO₆ with Ln =La, Pr and Nd are neither monoclinic nor cubic as were previously reported. They are rhombohedral with the space group . The distortion from cubic symmetry is due to the rotation of the LnO₆/SbO₆ octahedra about the primitive cubic [111]_p-axis. On the other hand, the structure of Ba₂SmSbO₆ is found to be cubic. All compounds contain an ordered arrangement of LnO₆ and SbO₆ octahedra.     

Syntheses, crystal structures and vibrational spectra of KLn(SO4)2·H2O (Ln=La, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Dy)

The potassium lanthanide double sulphates KLn(SO₄)₂·H₂O (Ln=La, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Dy) were obtained by evaporation of aqueous reaction mixtures of rare earth (III) sulphates and potassium thiocyanate at 298 K. X-ray single-crystal investigations show that KLn(SO₄)₂·H₂O (Ln=Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Dy) crystallise monoclinically (Ln=Sm: P2₁/c, Z=4, a=10.047(1), b=8.4555(1), c=10.349(1) Å, wR2=0.060, R1=0.024, 945 reflections, 125 parameters) while KLa(SO₄)₂·H₂O adopts space group P3₂21 (Z=3, a=7.1490(5), c=13.2439(12) Å, wR2=0.038, R1=0.017, 695 reflections, 65 parameters). The coordination environment of the lanthanide ions in KLn(SO₄)₂·H₂O is different in the case of the Nd/Sm/Gd and the Eu/Dy compounds, respectively. In the first case the Ln atoms are nine-fold coordinated in contrast to the latter where the Ln ions are eight-fold coordinated by oxygen atoms. The vibrational spectra of KLn(SO₄)₂·H₂O and the UV-vis reflection spectra of KEu(SO₄)₂·H₂O and KNd(SO₄)₂·H₂O are also reported.     

Synthesis, structural characterization, and magnetic properties of the antiferromagnetic double perovskites Ln2LiOsO6 (Ln=La, Pr, Nd, Sm)

A series of osmium double perovskite oxides, Ln₂LiOsO₆ (Ln=La, Pr, Nd, Sm), has been prepared as single crystals from acidic molten hydroxide. All four oxides crystallize in the monoclinic space group P2₁/n (Glazer tilt system #10, a⁻a⁻b⁺), forming a 1:1 ordered rock salt lattice of Li⁺ and Os⁵⁺ cations. Magnetic susceptibility measurements show that these compounds are antiferromagnetic at low temperature with ordering temperatures of 39, 35, 23, and 32 K for Ln₂LiOsO₆ (Ln=La, Pr, Nd, Sm), respectively.     

Facile sonochemical synthesis and photoluminescent properties of lanthanide orthophosphate nanoparticles

Uniform lanthanide orthophosphate LnPO₄ (Ln=La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho) nanoparticles have been systematically synthesized via a facile, fast, efficient ultrasonic irradiation of inorganic salt aqueous solution under ambient conditions without any surfactant or template. X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), selected area electron diffraction (SAED), photoluminescence (PL) spectra as well as kinetic decays were employed to characterize the samples. The SEM and the TEM images show that the hexagonal structured lanthanide orthophosphate LnPO₄ (Ln=La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd) products have nanorod bundles morphology, while the tetragonal LnPO₄ (Ln=Tb, Dy, Ho) samples prepared under the same experimental conditions are composed of nanoparticles. HRTEM micrographs and SAED results prove that these nanostructures are polycrystalline in nature. The possible formation mechanism for LnPO₄ (Ln=La-Gd) nanorod bundles is proposed. Eu³⁺-doped LaPO₄ and Tb³⁺-doped CePO₄ samples were also prepared by using the same synthetic process, which exhibit an orange-red (Eu³⁺:⁵D₀-⁷F_{1, 2, 3, 4}) and green (Tb³⁺, ⁵D₄-⁷F_{3, 4, 5, 6}) emission, respectively.     

Les phases SrLnMnO4 (Ln = La,Nd, Sm,Gd), BaLnMnO4 (Ln = La,Nd) et M1+xLa1−xMnO4 (M = Sr,Ba)

The phases SrLnMnO₄ (Ln = La, Nd, Sm, Gd), BaLnMnO₄ (Ln = La, Nd) and the solid solutions M_1+xLa_1?xMnO₄ (M = Sr: 0 ? x ? 1; M = Ba: 0 ? x ? 0.50) have a K₂NiF₄-type structure. The $\text{c}\text{a}$ ratio of the unit cell is related to the electronic configuration of the Mn³⁺ ions.     

Solid-state 2-methoxybenzoates of light trivalent lanthanides

Solid-state LnL₃ compounds, where L is 2-methoxybenzoate and Ln is light trivalent lanthanides, have been synthesized. Thermogravimetry (TG), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray powder diffractometry, infrared spectroscopy and elementary analysis were used to characterize and to study the thermal behaviour of these compounds. The results led to information on the composition, dehydration, thermal stability and thermal decomposition of the isolated compounds. On heating these complexes decompose in three (Ce, Pr) or five (La, Nd, Sm) steps with the formation of the respective oxide: CeO₂, Pr₆O₁₁ and Ln₂O₃ (Ln=La, Nd, Sm) as final residues. The theoretical and experimental spectroscopic study suggests predominantly the ionic bond between the ligand and metallic center.     

A simple method to synthesize single-crystalline lanthanide orthovanadate nanorods

Single-crystalline tetragonal LnVO₄ (Ln=La, Nd, Sm, Eu, Dy) nanorods were prepared via a simple hydrothermal method, in the absence of any surfactant or template using cheap and simple inorganic salts as raw materials. The products were characterized by XRD, TEM, HRTEM, and PL. It has been shown that after the hydrothermal process, LaVO₄ transformed its crystal structure from monoclinic to tetragonal phase, but LnVO₄ (Ln=Nd, Sm, Eu, Dy) have not exhibited the structural change. This could be associated with the change of lanthanide ion radius. TEM and HRTEM results show that the nanorods are pure, structurally uniform, single crystalline, and most of them are free from dislocations. Further study reveals the nanorods grow along the [001] direction. A possible growth mechanism of lanthanide orthovanadate nanorods was also proposed. The advantages of our method for the nanorods synthesis lie in the high yield and the low temperature and mild reaction conditions, which permit large scale production at low cost.     

Crystal structure and magnetism of layered Ln2Ca2MnNiO8 (Ln=Pr,Nd, Sm,and Gd) compounds

We report the syntheses, crystal structure, and magnetic properties of a series of distorted K₂NiF₄-type oxides Ln₂Ca₂MnNiO₈ (Ln=Pr, Nd, Sm, and Gd) in which Ln/Ca and Mn/Ni atoms randomly occupy the K and Ni sites respectively. The Ln=La compound does not form. These compounds show systematic distortions from the ideal tetragonal K₂NiF₄ structure (space group I4/mmm) to an orthorhombic structure (space group Pccn) with buckled MO₂ (M=Mn/Ni) layers. The degree of distortion is increased as the size of Ln decreases. Based on the magnetic data and X-ray absorption near edge spectra, we assigned Mn^IV and Ni^II. The Curie–Weiss plots of the high temperature magnetic data suggest strong ferromagnetic interactions probably due to Mn^IV–O–Ni^II linkages, implying local ordering of Mn/Ni ions to form ferromangnetic clusters in the MO₂ layers. At low temperatures below 110–130 K, these compounds show antiferromagnetic behaviors because of Mn^IV–O–Mn^IV and/or Ni^II–O–Ni^II contacts between the ferromagnetic clusters. The Ln=Pr and Nd compounds show additional antiferromagnetic signals that we attribute to the interlayer interactions between the clusters mediated by the Pr³⁺ and Nd³⁺ ions in the interlayer spaces. The present compounds show many parallels with the previously reported Ln₂Sr₂MnNiO₈ compounds.     

New insight into the symmetry and the structure of the double perovskites Ba2LnNbO6 (Ln=lanthanides and Y)

Structures of the double perovskites Ba₂LnNbO₆ (Ln=La, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Tb, Dy, Ho, and Y) at room temperature have been re-examined by Rietveld profile analysis of X-ray diffraction data. It was shown that the correct phase sequence across the lanthanides is I2/m (Ln=La, Pr, Nd, and Sm), I4/m (Ln=Eu, Gd, Tb, and Dy), and (Ln=Ho and Y), respectively. All phases can be derived from the ideal cubic perovskite by ordering the Ln(III) and Nb(V) ions and by out-of-phase tilting the LnO₆/NbO₆ octahedra around either the primitive two-fold [110]_p-axis (I2/m) or the four-fold [001]_p-axis (I4/m). The monoclinic P2₁/n structure that contains both out-of-phase and in-phase tilt around the primitive [110]_p- and [001]_p-axis, respectively, has not been observed for this series of compounds.     

Thermal decomposition of 4,4′-dipyridyl complexes of light rare-earth thiocyanates in air atmosphere

The thermal decompositions of Ln(NCS)₃(4-dipy)₂·5H₂O were studied, whereLn=La, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu and Y, and 4-dipy=4,4′-dipyridyl. The compounds are first dehydrated. During the thermal decomposition of Ln(NCS)₃(4-dipy)₂, deamination takes place. The transient products decompose with the formation of Ln₂O₂SO₄. The energies of activation for the first step of dehydration of the La, Pr, Nd, Sm and Eu complexes were determined.

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Zusammenfassung Es wurde die thermische Zersetzung von Ln(NCS)₃(4-dipy)₂.5H₂O mitLn=La, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Y und 4-dipy=4,4′-Dipyridyl untersucht. Die Verbindungen werden zuerst dehydratiert. Bei der thermischen Zersetzung von Ln(NCS)₃(4-dipy)₂ findet eine Desaminierung statt. Die übergangsprodukte zersetzen sich unter Bildung von Ln₂O₂SO₄. Die Aktivierungsenergie für den ersten Schritt der Dehydratation der La-, Pr-, Nd-, Sm- und Eu-Komplexe wurde ermittelt.

     

Methane Activation On Oxyhalogenated Rare-Earth Systems : Effect Of Pr3+ Substitution In Laocl Host Structure On Co2 FORMATION

Catalytic activity of LnOX (Ln = Sm, La or Nd; X = Cl or Br) and Ln_1-xLm_xOX (Ln = La and Lm = Pr, 0 x 1) catalysts has been studied using a continuous flow reactor system. Methane oxidation using LnOX results in an increase of CO₂ selectivity in the order Nd > La > Pr > Sm, while using Ln_1-xLm_xOX systems CO₂ selectivity is enhanced by increasing partial lanthanum substitution with praseodymium. A decrease in CO and C₂ hydrocarbons selectivities is also observed at isoconversion. The different compounds structures studied do not change with time under reaction conditions within the temperature range at which the catalysts are stable.     

Crystal chemistry of lanthanide oxochlorotungstates

Crystal chemical properties of lanthanide oxochlorotungstates of composition LnWO₄Cl (Ln=La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm) are reported. The unit cell parameters a, b, c, c′, and V of the LnWO₄Cl compounds are correlated with lanthanide ionic radii from different radius systems and with the lanthanide atomic number. The ionic radius systems most suitable for describing the crystal chemical properties of the lanthanide oxochlorotungstates are determined.     

Rare earth niobate systems and the phosphor GdNbO4:Bi

An investigation to determine the compounds present in the Ln₂O₃Nb₂O₅ systems (Ln = La, Gd, and Y) and attempts to activate such compounds with Ti, In, Sb, Bi, Eu, and Tb revealed that only the orthoniobate (LnNbO₄) compound was a suitable host lattice and LnNbO₄:Bi under 2537 Å excitation produced the best phosphors. GdNbO₄:Bi is a brighter phosphor than the La and Y analogs, emitting at slightly higher energies. The position of the GdNbO₄:Bi peak emission at 4500 Å is independent of the activator concentration whereas peak emissions for LaNbO₄:Bi and YNbO₄:Bi move to lower energies with increasing Bi concentration.     

Synthesis, characterization and thermal analysis of 1:1 and 2:3 lanthanide(III) citrates

The synthesis and characterization of lanthanide(III) citrates with stoichiometries 1:1 and 2:3; [LnL·xH₂O] and [Ln₂(LH)₃·2H₂O], Ln=La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm and Eu are reported. L stands for (C₆O₇H₅)^3? and LH for (C₆O₇H₆)^2?. Infrared absorption spectra of both series evidence coordination of carboxylate groups through symmetric bridges or chelation. X-ray powder patterns show the amorphous character of [LnL·xH₂O]. The compounds [Ln₂LH₃·2H₂O] are crystalline and isomorphous. Emission spectra of Eu compounds suggest C _2v symmetry for the coordination polyhedron of [LnL·xH₂O] and C _4v for [Ln₂(LH)₃·2H₂O]. Thermal analyses (TG-DTG-DTA) were carried out for both series. The thermal analysis patterns of the two series are quite different and both fit in a 4-step model of thermal decomposition, with lanthanide oxides as final products.