Intergrowth of hexagonal tungsten bronze and perovskite-like structures: The oxides ACu3M7O21 (A = K,Rb, Cs,TI; M = Nb,Ta)

Seven oxides ACu₃M₇O₂₁ have been isolated with A = K, Rb, Tl, Cs for M = Ta and A = K, Rb, Cs for M = Nb. These phases are orthorhombic: $\text{a ? 28}$ Å, $\text{b ? 7.50}$ Å, and $\text{c ? 7.55}$ Å, probable space group Cmmm. Their structure has been established from an X-ray diffraction study and from high-resolution microscopy observations. The structure consists of an intergrowth of single hexagonal tungsten bronze AM₃O₉ slices and double distorted perovskite Cu₃M₄O₁₂ slabs (M = Nb, Ta) in which copper has a square coordination. The host lattice of these compounds can be considered as the member “n = 1; n′ = 2” of a series of intergrowths corresponding to the formulation |M₃O₉|^H_n|M₂O₆|^P_n′.     

Über Ordnungs-Unordnungsphänomene bei Sauerstoff perowskiten vom Typ A2+3B2+M5+2O9

Perovskites of the type A²⁺₃B²⁺M⁵⁺₂O₉, where A²⁺ = Ba, Sr; B²⁺ = Mn, Co, Ni, Zn; M⁵⁺ = Nb, Ta, show order-disorder phenomena. At lower temperatures a thermodynamically unstable disordered cubic perovskite is formed ($\text{1}\text{3}$ formula unit—$\text{AB}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>1</mtext><mtext>3</mtext>}}\text{M}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>2</mtext><mtext>3</mtext>}}\text{O}{}_3$—in the cell), which transforms irreversibly into a 1: 2 ordered high-temperature form with 3L structure (sequence (c)₃). For A²⁺ = Ba this lattice is hexagonal (space group $\text{P}\text{3}\text{m1}$; one formula unit in the cell); with A²⁺ = Sr a triclinic distortion is observed. For Ba₃CoNb₂O₉ a second transformation into a cubic disordered perovskite takes place at 1500°C. This transition is reversible and of the order-disorder type. The vibrational and diffuse reflectance spectra are discussed.     

Synthèse et structure cristalline d'un nouvel oxyde mixte FeV2O6H0.5 relation avec la structure type diaspore

Single crystals of a new compound, FeV₂O₆H_0.5, have been obtained by hydrothermal synthesis at 650°C and 2 kbar. An electron microprobe analysis indicated that the chemical formula is FeV₂O₆. This compound has an orthorhombic symmetry, space group P2₁2₁2₁ with Z = 4. The unit cell dimensions are

$\text{a = 4.891}\text{A}\text{?}\text{, b = 9.553}\text{A}\text{?}\text{, c = 8.786}\text{A}\text{?}$

These parameters are related to a′, b′, c′ of the diaspore-type VO₂ by the relations: $\text{a ? a′, b ? b′, c ? 3c′}$. The structure, based on single crystal data, has been determined from Patterson and Fourier syntheses. A structural refinement gave a final R-factor of 2.4%. The new structure can be deduced from that of the diaspore-type VO₂, by displacement of one third of the cations from an octahedral site to an adjacent unoccupied tetrahedral site, which is located in a channel parallel to the c axis. The calculation of the cation and oxygen valences indicated that some O^2? were in fact OH^?. This conjecture was supported by thermogravimetric analysis. The chemical formula was indeed Fe³⁺₂V³⁺V⁴⁺V⁵⁺₂O₁₁(OH). Some intensities of the powder diffraction lines changed strongly when the preparation temperature was reduced from 650°C to 300°C. This was explained by an increase of the hydrogen ratio in the formula FeV₂O₆H_x, which implies a structural change. The different phases FeV₂O₆H_x can be considered as solid solutions between two extreme phases with different structure: one with the present one and the other with a diaspore-type structure.     

Synthesis and structure of a new family of phases, A2MGe5O12: A = Rb,Cs; M = Be,Mg, Co,Zn

A new family of eight germanate phases, A₂MGe₅O₁₂: A = Rb, Cs; M = Be, Mg, Co, Zn, has been synthesized. They are cubic with a in the range 13.7 to 14.0 Å, Z = 8, and space group $\text{I}\text{4}\text{3d}$. These phases, named the β phases, are isostructural with KBSi₂O₆ which has a structure related to that of pollucite, CsAlSi₂O₆. The structure of one, Rb₂ZnGe₅O₁₂, has been refined to an R value of 0.079 using X-ray powder diffraction data. Several of the new phases are polymorphic. Cs₂ZnGe₅O₁₂, Cs₂CoGe₅O₁₂, and Rb₂MgGe₅O₁₂ form low-temperature, δ polymorphs which have primitive cubic unit cells. Rb₂ZnGe₅O₁₂ forms a low-temperature, ε polymorph which is probably a tetragonal distortion of the β structure.     

Isothermal decomposition of ternary oxide AxByOz on an isobar—Stability of perovskite ABO3 (A = La,Sm, Dy; B = Mn,Fe) in a reducing atmosphere

The isothermal decomposition of any ternary oxide A_xB_yO_z on liberation of n moles of oxygen at a constant pressure is found to be driven by the mixing entropy ΔS_m = ?nRln P_O2 of the total entropy change ΔS = ΔS° + ΔS_m. The stability of A_xB_yO_z towards isothermal decomposition into a biphasic solid mixture is derived from the equilibrium condition $\text{ΔG1 = 0}$ as functions of standard changes ΔH° and ΔS°. Assuming ΔS° = 44n and calculating ΔH° in terms of lattice energies U(ABO₃) and U(A₂O₃), the stability of perovskites is given as a function of the ionic radius of the A³⁺ ion. The calculated stability agrees well with that observed. The effect of electronic entropy change ΔS_e on ΔS° is demonstrated for AFeO₃ (A = La, Sm, Dy).     

Interactions magnétiques dans des groupements binucléaires [Fe2O7]8− au sein de Na8Fe2O7

The magnetic interaction in the structural units [Fe₂O₇]^8?, built of two corner-sharing FeO₄ tetrahedra, in Na₈Fe₂O₇ ($\text{Na}{}_2\text{O}\text{Fe}{}_2\text{O}{}_3\text{=}\text{4}\text{1}$) has been studied by magnetic susceptibility measurements (4.2–500 K). An exchange integral $\text{J}\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>B</mtext>}}$ of ?37 K is obtained by comparison of the experimental values and the calculated ones using a Heisenberg-Dirac-Van Vleck-type Hamiltonian ? = $\text{?2J}\text{S}\text{?}{}_1\text{S}\text{?}{}_2$. The hypothesis of magnetically isolated [Fe₂O₇]^8? groups is corroborated by Mössbauer spectroscopy between 1.5 and 77 K. The susceptibility measurements of the solid solutions Na₈Fe_2?xM_xO₇ (M = Al, Ga; 0 ≤ x ≤ 0.2 for Al; 0 ≤ x ≤ 2 for Ga) leads to the same conclusion of the existence of isolated Fe³⁺Fe³⁺ pairs in Na₈Fe₂O₇. The type of substitution of Fe by Al or Ga is determined; homonuclear Fe³⁺Fe³⁺ and M³⁺M³⁺ pairs and heteronuclear Fe³⁺M³⁺ pairs are formed.     

X-ray study of Hg2Cl2Br2 and HgCl2HgBr2 reactions in solid state

The reactions (I) Hg₂Cl₂(s) + Br₂(g) and (II) HgCl₂(s) + HgBr₂(s) have been investigated by an X-ray method. Both the reactions yield two forms of the mixed halide HgClBr, designated as α-HgClBr and β-HgClBr. The cell parameters of the two are as follows:α-HgClBr: $\text{a = 6.196}\text{A}\text{?}$, $\text{b = 13.12}\text{A}\text{?}$, $\text{c = 4.37}\text{A}\text{?}$, z = 4, ? = 5.91 g/cm³. The powder pattern and cell parameters are similar to that of HgCl₂. Therefore it is probable that the chlorine atoms, in the linear halogenHghalogen molecules of HgCl₂ structure have been replaced by bromines, and since the radius of the bromine atom is larger than that of chlorine, the lattice is larger in this case.β-HgClBr: $\text{a = 6.78}\text{A}\text{?}$, $\text{b = 13.175}\text{A}\text{?}$, $\text{c = 4.17}\text{A}\text{?}$, z = 4, ? = 5.40. These parameters are the same as those reported in the literature for β-Hg(ClBr)₂, and its X-ray powder pattern is similar to HgCl₂. Therefore this phase also has linear halogenHghalogen molecules but the distribution of Cl and Br atoms is perhaps random.Heating the products (I) and (II) up to the melting point increases the amount of α phase and decreases the β phase, whereas crystallization increases the β phase. DTA study has supported the X-ray findings.     

Structural studies of five layer Aurivillius oxides: A2Bi4Ti5O18 (A=Ca, Sr, Ba and Pb)

The room temperature structures of the five layer Aurivillius phases A₂Bi₄Ti₅O₁₈ (A=Ca, Sr, Ba and Pb) have been refined from powder neutron diffraction data using the Rietveld method. The structures consist of [Bi₂O₂]²⁺ layers interleaved with perovskite-like [A₂Bi₂Ti₅O₁₆]²⁻ blocks. The structures were refined in the orthorhombic space group B2eb (SG. No. 41), Z=4, and the unit cell parameters of the oxides are a=5.4251(2), b=5.4034(1), c=48.486(1); a=5.4650(2), b=5.4625(3), c=48.852(1); a=5.4988(3), b=5.4980(4), c=50.352(1); a=5.4701(2), b=5.4577(2), c=49.643(1) for A=Ca, Sr, Ba and Pb, respectively. The structural features of the compounds were found similar to n=2-4 layers bismuth oxides. The strain caused by mismatch of cell parameter requirements for the [Bi₂O₂]²⁺ layers and perovskite-like [A₂Bi₂Ti₅O₁₆]²⁻ blocks were relieved by tilting of the TiO₆ octahedra. Variable temperature synchrotron X-ray studies for Ca and Pb compounds showed that the orthorhombic structure persisted up to 675 and 475 K, respectively. Raman spectra of the compounds are also presented.     

A pentagonal tunnel structure with copper in square planar coordination: The oxides KCuNb3O9 and KCuTa3O9

The structure of two new oxides KCuTa₃O₉ and KCuNb₃O₉ has been solved from X-ray powder data and by electron microscopy. Both compounds are orthorhombic, space group Pnc2 with $\text{a ? 8.8}$ Å, $\text{b ? 10.1}$ Å, and $\text{c ? 7.6}$ Å. Their host lattice is built up from corner-sharing MO₆ octahedra (M = Nb, Ta) forming pentagonal tunnels where the K⁺ ions are located. The copper ions are located in distorted perovskite CaCu₃Mn₄O₁₂-type cages and exhibit a square planar coordination. The relationships between these oxides and the TTB, HTB, ITB, and Ba_0.15WO₃ structures are discussed.     

The crystal structures and magnetic properties of Ba2LaRuO6 and Ca2LaRuO6

Profile analysis of high-resolution, powder neutron-diffraction data was used to refine the previously reported structures of the ordered, distorted perovskites Ba₂LaRuO₆ and Ca₂LaRuO₆. Low-temperature neutron diffraction experiments showed that, at 2K, the former is a Type IIIa antiferromagnet while the latter is Type I. Both compounds have an ordered magnetic moment of $\text{μ}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>Ru</mtext>}}\text{? 1.95μ}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>B</mtext>}}$ per Ru⁵⁺ ion. The Néel temperature of Ba₂LaRuO₆ was determined to be 29.5K, and the covalent mixing between the ruthenium and nearest-neighbor anions is described by A²_π = 8.2 ± 1% for Ba₂LaRuO₆ and 8.6 ± 1% for Ca₂LaRuO₆. The ionic radius of a Ru⁵⁺ ion is 0.56 Å. These data are consistently interpreted within the framework of a strongly correlated, half-filled π1 band. Extension of this interpretation to the magnetic data for the perovskites CaRuO₃ and SrRuO₃ leads to a fundamental theoretical prediction.     

Polyèdre de coordination de l'etain(II) dans SnC2O4: Relations structurales entre SnC2O4, Na2C2O4 et Na2Sn(C2O4)2

The crystal structure of SnC₂O₄ has been determined by X-ray single-crystal techniques and refined to R = 0,018 for 1139 reflections. The cell is monoclinic, space group $\text{C2}\text{c}$ with Z = 4 formula units, the parameters being a = 10,375(3)Å. b = 5,504(2)Å, c = 8,234(3)Å, β = 125,11(2)°. The oxalato groups, located on symmetry centers, are chelated to two Sn atoms through one oxygen on each carbon atom, giving rise to an infinite string (SnC₂O₄)_n. The Sn(II) atom is one-side bonded to four oxygen atoms with two SnO bonds of 2,232(2) Å and two of 2,393(2) Å. The tin atom is in a distorted trigonal bipyramid SnO₄E, the lone pair E occupying one of the apices of the equatorial trigonal base of the polyhedron. Crystal structure comparison with disodium bisoxalatostannate(II), Na₂Sn(C₂O₄)₂, permits one to deduce SnC₂O₄ by crystallographic shear operation $\text{1}\text{8}\text{[34}\text{2}\text{](001)}$ of $\text{c}\text{2}$ periodicity. Na₂Sn(C₂O₄)₂ can be described as an intergrowth of SnC₂O₄ and Na₂C₂O₄ structures and consldered as the first member of a new series Na₂Sn_1+n(C₂O₄)_2+n with n integer ? 0.     

Röntgenographische,thermoelektrische, und IR-spektroskopische Untersuchung des Spinellsystems LixMn1−xV2O4

The spinels of the system Li_xMn_1?xV₂O₄ (0 ? x ? 1) have been prepared at 700–750°C from LiV₂O₄ and MnV₂O₄. The lattice constants decrease linearly with increasing x. In the region x>0.75, the d-electrons of V should be delocalized as the VV distances are lower than the critical VV separation of 2.94 Å. Experimentally, the samples with x>0.6 show no IR absorption bands and the Seebeck coefficient is near zero. The Seebeck coefficient can be described with a model of intermediate polarons and can be expressed by the equation $\text{Θ = 198}\text{log}\text{[1 +}\text{(1 ? x)}{}^5\text{x}\text{]}$.     

Etude à haute pression des tétramétaphosphates du type M2P4O12 (M = Ni,Mg, Cu,Co, Fe,Mn, Cd). Données cristallographiques sur tous les composés M2P4O12

Fe₂P₄O₁₂ has been prepared and identified as an isotype of the other M^II₂P₄O₁₂ tetrametaphosphates (M^II = Ni, Mg, Cu, Co, Mn, Cd). Its monoclinic unit cell:

$\text{a=11.952,b=8.359,c=9.932}\text{A}\text{?}$

$\text{β=118°76}$

contains 4 formula units. The space group is $\text{C2}\text{c}$. For tetrametaphosphates with M^II = Ni, Mg, Cu, Co, and Mn we found a new denser phase induced at 80 kbar and 1000°C. In the case of Fe₂P₄O₁₂ the unit cell of this new form is

$\text{a=9.777,b=8.994,c=4.968}\text{A}\text{?}$

$\text{β=107°22}$

with Z = 2 and two possible space groups Cc or $\text{2C}\text{c}$. This dense phase exists at ordinary pressure for the zinc salt.     

ESR studies on the reactions of sulphite radical anion,SO3.̄−, with nitroalkane compounds in aqueous solutions

The reactions of the sulphite radical anion, SO₃^{$\text{.}\text{?}$?} (generated from the Ti³⁺-H₂O₂-Na₂SO₃ system at pH 9), in aqueous solutions with some nitroalkane compounds were investigated by using a rapid-mixing flow technique coupled with electron spin resonance (ESR) which can detect the radicals having a lifetime of 5–100 ms. The SO₃^{$\text{.}\text{?}$?} radical added to the double bond of CN in the nitroalkane aci-anions which are the main form of nitroalkanes in aqueous alkaline solutions. From the observed hyperfine splitting constants of the SO₃^{$\text{.}\text{?}$?} adducts of nitroalkane aci-anions, the preferred conformation of the adducts was deduced.     

Study of Pr1−xMn1+xO3 perovskites

The structural and magnetic properties of the Pr_1?xMn_1+xO₃ perovskites were studied. The increase of x (i.e., $\text{Pr}\text{Mn}\text{< 1}$) leads to the decrease of the orthorhombic deformation and of the Néel temperature and, simultaneously, to an increase of the ferromagnetic contribution. The latter effect is explained from the suggested distribution of the cations (Pr³⁺_1?xMn²⁺_x)_A(Mn³⁺_1?xMn⁴⁺_x)O^2?₃ by the double exchange of Mn³⁺Mn⁴⁺ pairs at the B—sublattice.     

The pyrophosphate NaFeP2O7: A cage structure

The high-temperature form of NaFeP₂O₇ crystallizes in the monoclinic $\text{P2}{}_1\text{c}$ space group with a = 7.3244(13), b = 7.9045(7), c = 9.5745(15), Å, β = 111.858(13)°, and Z = 4. The structure has been refined from 3842 reflections leading to R = 0.040 and R_w = 0.047. The structure of II-NaFeP₂O₇ can be described by alternately stacking layers containing the FeO₆ octahedra and layers formed by the P₂O₇ groups, parallel to (001). Elongated cages are formed where two Na⁺ ions are located. The structure is compared with that of KAlP₂O₇. Both structures are built up from blocks of three polyhedra, [FeP₂O₁₁] or [AlP₂O₁₁], including a small O_octO_tetO_oct angle. These blocks are connected in such a way that several types of tunnels appear in each structure.     

Une nouvelle famille structurale: Les oxydes Ln4−2xBa2+2xZn2−xO10−2x (Ln = La,Nd)

Two original compounds, Ln_4?2xBa_2+2xZn_2?xO_10?2x, were isolated for Ln = La, Nd and 0 ≤ x ≤ 0.25. These oxides are tetragonal with a and c parameters close to 6.91 and 11.59 Å, respectively, for lanthanum, and 6.75 and 11.54 Å for neodymium. The structure of these phases was determined from X-ray powder patterns in the most symmetric space group, $\text{I}\text{4}\text{mcm}$, using Patterson and Fourier functions for x = 0. The structure should be compared to that of copper oxides La_4?2xBa_2+2xCu_2?xO_10?2x: it is built up of identical Ln₂O₅ layers formed from face- and edge-sharing LnO₈ polyhedra, between which Ba²⁺ and Zn²⁺ ions are inserted. Contrary to the copper compounds, two successive Ln₂O₅ layers are rotated by 90°, involving a doubling of c. The result for Zn²⁺ is tetrahedral coordination, while the coordination of Ba²⁺ becomes a bicapped antiprism.     

Mossbauer Investigation of Fe-Doped Ni(III) Perovskites ANi0.98Fe0.02O3 (A=Pr, Nd, Sm, Y, Lu, Tl) versus Temperature

Nickelates ANiO₃ (A=Pr, Nd, Sm, Lu, Y, Tl) containing Mössbauer probe ⁵⁷Fe atoms were synthesized. In the case of nickelates with larger rare earth (A=Pr, Nd, Sm) the Mössbauer spectra confirm that ferric ions are located in single type of crystallographic positions. On the contrary, the spectra of ANi_0.98Fe_0.02O₃ with small cations (A=Lu, Y, Tl) can be described as a superposition of two sub-spectra which indicate that ⁵⁷Fe probe atoms are simultaneously stabilized in two non-equivalent crystallographic positions. These results have been interpreted in terms of partial charge disproportionation of Ni³⁺ cations associated with the electronic localization in monoclinic distorted Lu, Y, Tl nickelates. The modification of ⁵⁷Fe spectra for TlNi_0.98Fe_0.02O₃ as a function of temperature has shown that this charge disproportionation occurs in varying degrees, corresponding to the charge states Fe^(3+σ)+ and Fe^(3−σ′)+. On the contrary, the spectra for Lu and Y nickelates show that charge variation (σ,σ′) for dopant Fe(1) and Fe(2) cations does not depend on temperature.     

The crystal and magnetic structures of Ca2YRuO6 and the electronic properties of the series M2+2X3+Ru5+O6 (M = Ca,Sr, Ba; X = La,Y)

Profile analysis of constant-wavelength powder neutron diffraction data has been used to refine the crystal structure of the ordered perovskite Ca₂YRuO₆. The material is monoclinic (space group $\text{P2}{}_1\text{n}$) with a disordered arrangement of calcium and yttrium on the A site and one of the B sites, such that the formula is best written as Ca_1.43Y_0.57[(Ca_0.57Y_0.43)Ru]O₆. Low-temperature neutron diffraction experiments showed that the material is a Type I antiferromagnet at 2.5 K with an ordered magnetic moment of 1.2(1)μ_B per Ru⁵⁺. It is suggested that the dominant factor in determining the electronic properties of the series M²⁺₂X³⁺Ru⁵⁺O₆ (M = Ca, Sr, Ba; X = La, Y) is the Ru-Ru separation distance.     

The crystal structure of Na7Mg4.5(P2O7)4

The crystal structure of Na₇Mg_4.5(P₂O₇)₄ has been solved by direct methods from the three-dimensional X-ray data. The space group is $\text{P}\text{1}$. The crystal structure consists of Mg²⁺, Na⁺, and P₂O^4?₇ ions. One magnesium atom at symmetry center (0,0,0) and two sodium atoms at ±(?0.0421, ?0.0596, 0.2230) display occupation factors 0.5 each. A short interatomic distance between these Na⁺ and Mg²⁺ ions (1.80 ± 0.01 Å) excludes the occupation of both sites in the same unit cell. The crystal structure of Na₇Mg_4.5(P₂O₇)₄ consists of unit cells containing Na₈Mg₄(P₂O₇)₄ or Na₆Mg₅(P₂O₇)₄ with a statistical occurrence 1:1.Each Mg²⁺ ion is octahedrally coordinated by six O^2? ions at distances 1.979 – 2.270 Å. The coordination polyhedra around the Na⁺ ions are ill-defined. The bond angles POP in the P₂O^4?₇ groups are 126.6 and 133.6° (±0.3°). The final reliability factor R is 7.1%.