Nouveaux échangeurs cationiques avec une structure à tunnels entrecroisés: les niobates et tantalates A10M29.2O78 et A10M29.2O78·1OH2O

New oxides with formula A₁₀M_29.2O₇₈ (A = Rb, Cs; M = Ta, Nb) have been synthesized. They crystallize in the hexagonal system with cell parameters: a = 7.5 Å, c = 36.4Å. Structural study on powders shows that the framework can be described by hexagonal tungsten bronze and A₂M₇O₁₈ phases intergrowth. Cationic ion exchange properties of these compounds are shown in aqueous solution. Thus, new hydrated oxides have been prepared.     

Crystal structures of some fluorite-related M7O12 compounds

Powder X-ray diffraction techniques have been used to determine the crystal structures of Ti₃Sc₄O₁₂, Nb_1.5Sc_5.5O₁₂, NbSc₆O₁₁F, NbSc₅HfO₁₂, Zr₃Er₄O₁₂, and Hf₃Sc₄O₁₂ and to reexamine the structures of Zr₃Sc₄O₁₂ and Zr₃Yb₄O₁₂. All the compounds have the same fluorite-related superstructure as reported previously for Pr₇O₁₂, UY₆O₁₂, Zr₃Sc₄O₁₂, and Zr₃Yb₄O₁₂. Most of the compounds exhibit cation ordering, a situation observed previously only in UY₆O₁₂. One-seventh of the cations occupy a set of special sites of symmetry $\text{3}$ and are octahedrally coordinated by oxygen. These cations are of the type that has the smallest available ionic radius. The remaining cations occupy a set of general sites randomly with respect to atom type and are sevenfold coordinated by oxygen. In Hf₃Sc₄O₁₂, only partial ordering of this nature occurs, while it is confirmed that no cation ordering occurs in Zr₃Sc₄O₁₂. Some aspects of the cation order-disorder situation are discussed.     

Preparation and Crystal Structure of Re3O10

Trirheniumdecaoxide, Re₃O₁₀, was obtained by the reaction of ReO₂ and ReO₃ in an arc-melting furnace. X-ray powder diffraction revealed a tetragonal structure with space group I m2 and lattice constants a=5.171(1) and c=13.371(6) Å. The crystal structure is built up by layers of corner-sharing [ReO₅] square pyramids perpendicular to [001] with the apical oxygen pointing up and down alternatingly. These layers are interconnected by disordered [ReO₆] octahedra. Early reports on Re₂O₅ are reviewed in the light of our results.     

Crystal structure of BaMg2Si2O7 and Eu luminescence

Crystal structure of BaMg₂Si₂O₇ was determined and refined by a combined powder X-ray and neutron Rietveld method (monoclinic, C2/c, no. 15, Z=8, a=7.24553(8) Å, b=12.71376(14) Å, c=13.74813(15) Å, β=90.2107(8)°, V=1266.44(2) Å³; R_p/R_wp=3.38%/4.77%). The structure contains a single crystallographic type of Ba atom coordinated to eight O atoms with C₁ (1) site symmetry. Under 325-nm excitation Ba_0.98Eu_0.02Mg₂Si₂O₇ exhibits an asymmetric emission band around 402 nm. The asymmetric shape of the emission band is likely associated with a small electron-phonon coupling in BaMg₂Si₂O₇. The integrated intensity of the emission band was observed to remain constant over the temperature range 4.2-300 K.     

Nouveaux echangeurs cationiques avec une structure a tunnels entrecroises: Les oxydes A12M33O90 et A12M33O90, 12H2O

New oxides with A₁₂M₃₃O₉₀ formula (A = Rb, Cs, Tl) have been synthesized. They crystallize in the trigonal system and can be described by pyrochlore and A₂M₇O₁₈ phases intergrowth. Cationic ionexchange properties of these compounds are brought out in aqueous solutions and in solid state. So, new hydrated oxides are prepared and their thermal decomposition has been studied. Relations between ionexchange properties and structure are discussed.     

Crystal structure determination of BaNd2Ti3O10 using high-resolution electron microscopy

The crystal structure of BaNd₂Ti₃O₁₀ has been determined by electron diffraction and high-resolution electron microscopy. The unit cell is monoclinic with P2₁/m as the most probable space group and not orthorhombic as previously found by X-ray diffraction. However, the structure has an orthorhomic pseudosymmetry, but due to the small Nd³⁺ cations the octahedra are titled and the structure is monoclinic. The cell dimensions based on X-ray data are: a_m = 7.7310 ± 0.0006 Å; b_m = 7.6661 ± 0.0007 Å; c_m = 14.210 ± 0.002 Å; β_m = 97.82 ± 0.01°.     

A structure, conductivity and dielectric properties investigation of A3CoNb2O9 (A=Ca, Sr, Ba) triple perovskites

The room temperature structures as well as the temperature-dependent conductivity and dielectric properties of the A₃CoNb₂O₉ (A=Ca²⁺, Sr²⁺ and Ba²⁺) triple perovskites have been carefully investigated. A constrained modulation wave approach to Rietveld structure refinement is used to determine their room temperature crystal structures. Correlations between these crystal structures and their physical properties are found. All three compounds undergo insulator to semiconductor phase transitions as a function of increasing temperature. The hexagonal Ba₃CoNb₂O₉ compound acts as an insulator at room temperature, while the monoclinic Ca₃CoNb₂O₉ compound is already a semiconductor at room temperature. The measured dielectric frequency characteristics of the A=Ba compound are excellent.     

High-temperature thermoelectric studies of A11Sb10 (A=Yb, Ca)

Large samples (6-8 g) of Yb₁₁Sb₁₀ and Ca₁₁Sb₁₀ have been synthesized using a high-temperature (1275-1375 K) flux method. These compounds are isostructural to Ho₁₁Ge₁₀, crystallizing in the body-centered, tetragonal unit cell, space group I4/mmm, with Z=4. The structure consists of antimony dumbbells and squares, reminiscent of Zn₄Sb₃ and filled Skutterudite (e.g., LaFe₄Sb₁₂) structures. In addition, these structures can be considered Zintl compounds; valence precise semiconductors with ionic contributions to the bonding. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetry (TG), resistivity (ρ), Seebeck coefficient (α), thermal conductivity (κ), and thermoelectric figure of merit (zT) from room temperature to at minimum 975 K are presented for A₁₁Sb₁₀ (A=Yb, Ca). DSC/TG were measured to 1400 K and reveal the stability of these compounds to ∼1200 K. Both A₁₁Sb₁₀ (A=Yb, Ca) materials exhibit remarkably low lattice thermal conductivity (∼10 mW/cm K for both Yb₁₁Sb₁₀ and Ca₁₁Sb₁₀) that can be attributed to the complex crystal structure. Yb₁₁Sb₁₀ is a poor metal with relatively low resistivity (1.4 mΩ cm at 300 K), while Ca₁₁Sb₁₀ is a semiconductor suggesting that a gradual metal-insulator transition may be possible from a Ca_11−xYb_xSb₁₀ solid solution. The low values and the temperature dependence of the Seebeck coefficients for both compounds suggest that bipolar conduction produces a compensated Seebeck coefficient and consequently a low zT.     

Crystal structure and luminescence of Sr0.99Eu0.01AlSiN3

Strontium europium aluminum silicon nitride, Sr_0.99Eu_0.01AlSiN₃, was synthesized by heating a mixture of binary nitrides at 2173 K and a N₂ gas pressure of 190 MPa. Single crystals of Sr_0.99Eu_0.01AlSiN₃ approximately 30 μm were obtained. The structure was confirmed to be an isotypic structure of CaAlSiN₃ in the orthorhombic space group Cmc2₁, analyzed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The lattice parameters are a=9.843(3), b=5.7603(16), c=5.177(2) Å, cell volume=293.53(17) Å³. It shows an orange-red photoluminescence by 5d→4f transition of Eu²⁺ at around 610 nm under excitation ranging from ultraviolet to 525 nm. The photoluminescence intensity, temperature characteristics, and oxidative stability were comparable or superior to those of CaAlSiN₃:Eu²⁺ phosphor.     

Crystal structure of a barium-zinc decametaphosphate Ba2Zn3P10O30

Barium-zinc decametaphosphate, Ba₂Zn₃P₁₀O₃₀, is monoclinic, $\text{P2}\text{n}$, with the unit cell parameters a = 21.738(15), b = 5.356(5), c = 10.748(8) Å, β = 99.65(3)° and Z = 2. The crystal structure was solved with a final R value of 0.041. This salt provides the first structural evidence for the existence of a 10-phosphorus ring anion.     

Crystal and Magnetic Structures of Ba4Mn3O10

A polycrystalline sample of Ba₄Mn₃O₁₀ has been prepared and characterized by X-ray diffraction (290 K), neutron diffraction (290, 80, 5 K) and magnetometry (5≤T(K)≤1000). At 290 K the compound is paramagnetic and isostructural with Ba₄Ti₂PtO₁₀. Mn₃O₁₂ trimers, built up from MnO₆ octahedra, are linked through common vertices to form corrugated sheets perpendicular to the y-axis of the orthorhombic unit cell (Space group Cmca, a=5.6850(1), b=13.1284(1), c=12.7327(1) Å); Ba atoms occupy the space between the layers. On cooling, the magnetic susceptibility shows a broad maximum at ∼130 K, and a sharp transition at 40 K. Neutron diffraction has shown that long-range antiferromagnetic order is present at 5 K but not at 80 K, although magnetometry at 5 K has revealed a remanent magnetization (0.002 μ_B per Mn) which is below the detection limit of the neutron experiment.     

Synthesis and structural characterization of A3In2Ge4 and A5In3Ge6 (A=Ca, Sr, Eu, Yb)—New intermetallic compounds with complex structures, exhibiting Ge-Ge and In-In bonding

Reported are the synthesis and the structural characterization of four new polar intermetallic phases, which exist only with mixed alkaline-earth and rare-earth metal cations in narrow homogeneity ranges. (Sr_1-xCa_x)₅In₃Ge₆ and (Eu_1-xYb_x)₅In₃Ge₆ (x≈0.7) crystallize in the orthorhombic space group Pnma with two formula units per unit cell (own structure type, Pearson symbol oP56). The lattice parameters are as follows: a=13.109(3)-13.266(3) Å, b=4.4089(9)-4.4703(12) Å, and c=23.316(5)-23.557(6) Å. (Sr_1-xCa_x)₃In₂Ge₄ and (Sr_1-xYb_x)₃In₂Ge₄ (x≈0.4-0.5) adopt another novel monoclinic structure-type (space group C2/m, Z=4, Pearson symbol mS36) with lattice parameters in the range a=19.978(2)-20.202(2) Å, b=4.5287(5)-4.5664(5) Å, c=10.3295(12)-10.3447(10) Å, and β=98.214(2)-98.470(2)°, depending on the metal cations and their ratio. The polyanionic sub-structures in both cases are based on chains of InGe₄ corner-shared tetrahedra. The A₅In₃Ge₆ structure (A=Sr/Ca or Sr/Yb) also features Ge₄ tetramers, and isolated In atoms in nearly square-planar environment, while the A₃In₂Ge₄ structure (A=Sr/Ca or Eu/Yb) contains zig-zag chains of In and Ge strings with intricate topology of cis- and trans-bonds. The experimental results have been complemented by tight-binding linear muffin-tin orbital (LMTO) band structure calculations.     

Theoretical study of polyoxide clusters B20O30, Al20O30, V20O50, Si20O30H20, and Si20O30F20

The structural, electronic, and vibrational characteristics and energies of the isolated polyoxide clusters B₂₀O₃₀, Al₂₀O₃₀, V₂₀O₅₀, Si₂₀O₃₀H₂₀, and Si₂₀O₃₀F₂₀ and their complexes with the H⁻ ion and ammonia complexes Al₂₀O₃₀ · nNH₃ have been calculated by the density functional theory B3LYP method with different basis sets. The computation results show that the symmetric closo structure I _h with oxygen bridges located above the centers of the faces of an empty [M₂₀] dodecahedron is more favorable for V₂₀O₅₀, Si₂₀O₃₀H₂₀, and Si₂₀O₃₀F₂₀. For B₂₀O₃₀, the cage closo isomer is also more favorable than the other isomers, but its structure is severely distorted as compared to a dodecahedron and has a symmetry close to C ₃ . For Al₂₀O₃₀, the I _h structure corresponds to a high-lying local minimum of the potential energy surface. For Al₂₀O₃₀, a set of unusual puckshaped isomers of symmetry C _i , with different numbers of four-coordinate atoms ^IVAl and three-coordinate atoms ^IIIO, was localized; these structures are more than 90 kcal/mol more favorable than the dodecahedron I _h . The most favorable isomer of Al₂₀O₃₀ contains twelve four-coordinate atoms ^IVAl and four five-coordinate atoms ^VAl. The energies of dissociation of the most favorable M₂₀O₃₀ clusters into the M₂O₃ (C _2v ) and M₄O₆ (T _d ) fragments and, in the case of Al₂₀O₃₀, also into the Al₈O₁₂ (O _h ) and Al₁₂O₁₈ (D _3d ) fragments, have been estimated. The conclusion has been drawn that these clusters can, in principle, exist and can be experimentally detected in the isolated state. Analogous calculations have been performed for ammonia complexes Al₂₀O₃₀ · nNH₃ with n varying from 1 to 20. The effect of solvation on the relative stability of the dodecahedral and puckshaped isomers of the Al₂₀O₃₀ cluster is observed. The isomers with ammonia molecules in their first coordination sphere become much closer to one another on the energy scale; however, the dodecahedron remains a considerably less favorable intermediate. Original Russian Text ? O.P. Charkin, N.M. Klimenko, D.O. Charkin, 2008, published in Zhurnal Neorganicheskoi Khimii, 2008, Vol. 53, No. 4, pp. 624–635.     

Crystal structure of KSbP2O8

KSbP₂O₈ crystallizes in the rhombohedral system, space group $\text{R}\text{3}$, with a = 4.7623(4) Å, c = 25.409(4)Å, and Z = 3. The structure was determined from 487 reflexions collected on a NONIUS CAD4 automatic diffractometer with MoK^?α radiation. The final R index and weighted R_w index are 0.030 and 0.038, respectively. This structure is built up from layers of SbO₆ octahedra and PO₄ tetrahedra sharing corners. These (SbP₂O^?₈)_n layers are very similar to the (ZrP₂O^2?₈)_n layers in the well-known α-ZrP compound.     

Getting more out of X2T2O7 compounds with thortveitite structure: The bond-valence model

C-M₂Si₂O₇ (M=RE and In) and crystals of composition X₂T₂O₇ (T=P, As, Ge) with ionic radius of X less than 0.97 Å (X=Ni, Cd, Mg, Zn, Cu, Ca) are isostructural with the natural-occurring mineral thortveitite. In those compounds, the T-O bridging distance values vary considerably and there is no explanation to this fact in the literature. This paper will bring their structural characteristics out by the bond-valence model. It has been concluded that T-O bridging distance and mean T-O distance are linearly correlated to the total atomic valence of the bridging oxygen and the T atom (T=Si, P, As, Ge), respectively, and they are a function of the principal quantum number (n) in the valence shell of the atom T. Finally, we have applied successfully the model for the prediction of Ge-O distances of (In,A)₂Ge₂O₇ (A=Fe,Y,Gd) compounds.     

A new lithium manganese phosphate with an original tunnel structure in the A2MP2O7 family

A new member of the A₂MP₂O₇ diphosphate family, Li₂MnP₂O₇, has been synthesized by solid-state reaction and characterized using single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Li₂MnP₂O₇ crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2₁/a (#14) with the cell parameters a=9.9158(6) Å, b=9.8289(6) Å, c=11.1800(7) Å, β=102.466(5)°, Z=8 and V=1063.9(1) Å³. Its mixed framework exhibits an original Mn₂O₉ unit, built up of one MnO₅ trigonal bipyramid sharing one edge with one MnO₆ octahedron. These Mn₂O₉ units are sharing corners with P₂O₇ diphosphate groups, forming the undulating [Mn₄P₈O₃₂]_∞ layers. The [MnP₂O₇]_∞ 3D framework, resulting from the interconnection of the undulating [Mn₄P₈O₃₂]_∞ layers, exhibits different kinds of intersecting tunnels containing the Li cations.     

Crystal structure of Eu-doped M3MgSi2O8 (M: Ba, Sr, Ca) compounds and their emission properties

Emission properties of Eu²⁺-doped M₃MgSi₂O₈ (M: Ba, Sr, Ca) are discussed in terms of the crystal structure. When Ba²⁺ ions account for over one third of M²⁺ ions, M₃MgSi₂O₈ crystallizes in glaserite-type trigonal structure, while Ba-free compounds crystallize in merwinite-type monoclinic structure. Under UV excitation, the Eu²⁺-doped glaserite-type compounds exhibit an intense blue emission assigned to 5d-4f electron transition at about 435 nm, regardless of the molar ratio of Ba²⁺, Sr²⁺ and Ca²⁺ ions. By contrast, the Eu²⁺-doped merwinite-type compounds show an emission color sensitive to the ratio. A detailed analysis of the emission spectra reveals that the emission chromaticity for the Eu²⁺-doped M₃MgSi₂O₈ is composed of two emission peaks reflecting two different sites accommodating M²⁺ ion.     

Theoretical study of polyoxide clusters Sc20O30, P20O50, Ti20O30F20, and V20O30F20

The structural, electronic, and vibrational characteristics and energies of the isolated polyoxide clusters Sc₂₀O₃₀, P₂₀O₅₀, Ti₂₀O₃₀F₂₀, and V₂₀O₃₀F₂₀ and ammonia complexes Sc₂₀O₃₀ · nNH₃ were calculated by the density functional theory B3LYP method with several basis sets. The computation results show that a fullerene-like closo structure I _h with oxygen bridges located above the midpoints of the edges of an empty [M₂₀] dodecahedron is preferable for the Ti₂₀O₃₀F₂₀ and V₂₀O₃₀F₂₀ clusters with four-coordinate metal atoms protected by the outer M-F bonds. This structure with a cage diameter of ∼1 nm and the diameter of nearly planar decagonal faces (windows) of ∼0.5 nm is stable to dissociation into fragments and to strong geometric distortions and retains its closo shape when molecules like NH₃ and anions like H⁻ are attached to the cage. An analogous closo structure is favorable for the P₂₀O₅₀ cluster; however, in this structure, the [P₂₀] cage is severely distorted and all 12 windows are strongly corrugated. For Sc₂₀O₃₀, the I _h dodecahedron with bare three-coordinate Sc atoms corresponds to a local minimum of the potential energy surface, which is 170–200 kcal/mol less favorable than compact puck-shaped isomers in which four- and five-coordinate metal atoms and three- and four-coordinate oxygen atom prevail. “Solvation” of the dodecahedral and puck-shaped Sc₂₀O₃₀ isomers by ammonia molecules strongly decreases the energy gap between the isomers; however, the dodecahedron I _h in all cases remains a high-lying intermediate. According to calculations, most polyoxides under consideration have a high electron affinity (comparable with or higher than that of fullerenes) and is able to add three to five or more alkali-metal atoms to form radical salts in which clusters are in the state of polyanions. Because of large sizes of the [M₂₀] cages and their windows, the interior of the cage (as distinct from fullerenes) can accommodate a considerable number of atoms and several small molecules. The V₂₀O₃₀F₂₀ cluster has 20 unpaired electrons and can be treated as a molecular magnet. The properties of the [M₂₀] cages depend only slightly on the outer substituents. It is suggested that the pattern will be retained upon the substitution of OH groups for the F atoms and that the hydroxo-substituted clusters can bind to each other through hydrogen bridges and serve as building blocks for self-assembly into ordered nanometer and crystalline structures of various dimensions. Original Russian Text ? O.P. Charkin, N.M. Klimenko, D.O. Charkin, 2009, published in Zhurnal Neorganicheskoi Khimii, 2009, Vol. 54, No. 5, pp. 775–785.     

New open-framework in the uranyl vanadates A3(UO2)7(VO4)5O (A=Li, Ag) with intergrowth structure between A(UO2)4(VO4)3 and A2(UO2)3(VO4)2O

New uranyl vanadates A₃(UO₂)₇(VO₄)₅O (M=Li (1), Na (2), Ag (3)) have been synthesized by solid-state reaction and their structures determined from single-crystal X-ray diffraction data for 1 and 3. The tetragonal structure results of an alternation of two types of sheets denoted S for _∞²[UO₂(VO₄)₂]⁴⁻ and D for _∞²[(UO₂)₂(VO₄)₃]⁵⁻ built from UO₆ square bipyramids and connected through VO₄ tetrahedra to _∞¹[U(3)O₅-U(4)O₅]⁸⁻ infinite chains of edge-shared U(3)O₇ and U(4)O₇ pentagonal bipyramids alternatively parallel to a- and b-axis to construct a three-dimensional uranyl vanadate arrangement. It is noticeable that similar _∞[UO₅]⁴⁻ chains are connected only by S-type sheets in A₂(UO₂)₃(VO₄)₂O and by D-type sheets in A(UO₂)₄(VO₄)₃, thus A₃(UO₂)₇(VO₄)₅O appears as an intergrowth structure between the two previously reported series. The mobility of the monovalent ion in the mutually perpendicular channels created in the three-dimensional arrangement is correlated to the occupation rate of the sites and by the geometry of the different sites occupied by either Na, Ag or Li. Crystallographic data: 293 K, Bruker X8-APEX2 X-ray diffractometer equipped with a 4 K CCD detector, MoKα, λ=0.71073 Å, tetragonal symmetry, space group P4¯m2, Z=1, full-matrix least-squares refinement on the basis of F²; 1,a=7.2794(9) Å, c=14.514(4) Å, R1=0.021 and wR2=0.048 for 62 parameters with 782 independent reflections with I?2σ(I); 3, a=7.2373(3) Å, c=14.7973(15) Å, R1=0.041 and wR2=0.085 for 60 parameters with 1066 independent reflections with I?2σ(I).     

Synthesis and crystal structures of the layered uranyl tellurites A2[(UO2)3(TeO3)2O2] (A=K, Rb, Cs)

The reactions of UO₃ and TeO₃ with KCl, RbCl, or CsCl at 800 °C for 5 d yield single crystals of A₂[(UO₂)₃(TeO₃)₂O₂] (A=K (1), Rb (2), and Cs (3)). These compounds are isostructural with one another, and their structures consist of two-dimensional sheets arranged in a stair-like topology separated by alkali metal cations. These sheets are comprised of zigzagging uranium(VI) oxide chains bridged by corner-sharing trigonal pyramidal TeO₃²⁻ anions. The chains are composed of dimeric, edge-sharing, pentagonal bipyramidal UO₇ moieties joined by edge-sharing tetragonal bipyramidal UO₆ units. The lone-pair of electrons from the TeO₃ groups are oriented in opposite directions with respect to one another on each side of the sheets rendering each individual sheet non-polar. The alkali metal cations form contacts with nearby tellurite oxygen atoms as well as with oxygen atoms from the uranyl moieties. Crystallographic data (193 K, MoKα, ): 1, triclinic, space group , , , , α=101.852(1)°, β=102.974(1)°, γ=100.081(1)°, , Z=2, R(F)=2.70% for 98 parameters and 1697 reflections with I>2σ(I); 2, triclinic, space group , , , , α=105.590(2)°, β=101.760(2)°, γ=99.456(2)°, , Z=2, R(F)=2.36% for 98 parameters and 1817 reflections with I>2σ(I); 3, triclinic, space group , , , , α=109.301(1)°, β=100.573(1)°, γ=99.504(1)°, , Z=2, R(F)=2.61% for 98 parameters and 1965 reflections with I>2σ(I).