Structure and properties of Li<Subscript>2</Subscript>Zn<Subscript>2</Subscript>(MoO<Subscript>4</Subscript>)<Subscript>3</Subscript> crystals activated with copper and chromium ions

Based on the corrected phase diagrams proper growth conditions for Li2Zn2(MoO₄)₃ crystals are selected. Large crystals (up to 100 mm), both impurity-free and activated by transition metal ions (Cu, Cr), are grown by the low-gradient Czochralski method. By the EPR method the charge state and structural position of copper and chromium ions are determined. The performed studies of luminescent properties show that for impurity-free crystals luminescence with λ = 388 nm with a two-exponential luminescence decay with τ₁ = 2 ns and τ₂ = 6 ns is observed at room temperature. At 77 K for both impurity-free crystals and those activated with transition metal ions luminescence with λ = 560 nm and the luminescence lifetime τ = 100 ns is observed, the intensity of luminescence with λ = 560 nm depending on the nature and concentration of transition metal ions. Cation vacancies responsible for the charge compensation of impurity transition metal ions are assumed to be also responsible for low-temperature luminescence.     

Crystal structure of a new ternary molybdate in the Rb<Subscript>2</Subscript>MoO<Subscript>4</Subscript>-Eu<Subscript>2</Subscript>(MoO<Subscript>4</Subscript>)<Subscript>3</Subscript>-Hf(MoO<Subscript>4</Subscript>)<Subscript>2</Subscript> system

A ternary salt system Rb₂MoO₄-Eu₂(MoO₄)₃-Hf(MoO₄)₂ was studied in the subsolidus area by X-ray phase analysis. A novel ternary molybdate, Rb_4.98Eu_0.86Hf_1.11(MoO₄)₆, formed in the system. The Rb_4.98Eu_0.86Hf_1.11(MoO₄)₆ rubidium-europium-hafnium molybdate crystals were grown by solution-melt crystallization under the spontaneous nucleation conditions. The structure and composition of this compound were refined by single crystal X-ray diffraction (X8 APEX automated diffractometer, MoK _α radiation, 1753 F(hkl), R = 0.0183). The crystals are trigonal, a = b = 10.7264(1) Å, c = 38.6130(8) Å, V = 3847.44(9) ų, Z = 6, space group R \(\bar 3\) c. The three-dimensional mixed framework of the structure comprises Mo tetrahedra and two types of octahedra, (Eu,Hf)O₆ and HfO₆. The large cavities of the framework include two types of the rubidium atom. The distribution of the Eu³⁺ and Hf⁴⁺ cations over two crystallographic positions was refined.     

Phase formation in the Ag<Subscript>2</Subscript>MoO<Subscript>4</Subscript>-MgMoO<Subscript>4</Subscript>-Al<Subscript>2</Subscript>(MoO<Subscript>4</Subscript>)<Subscript>3</Subscript> system

The subsolidus region of the Ag₂MoO₄-MgMoO₄-Al₂(MoO₄)₃ ternary salt system has been studied by X-ray phase analysis. The formation of new compounds Ag_{1 ? x} Mg_{1 ? x} Al_{1 + x} (MoO₄)₃ (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.4) and AgMg₃Al(MoO₄)₅ has been determined. The Ag_{1 ? x} Mg_{1 ? x} Al_{1 + x} (MoO₄)₃ variable-composition phase is related to the NASICON type structure (space group R \(\bar 3\) c). AgMg₃Al(MoO₄)₅ is isostructural to sodium magnesium indium molybdate of the same formula unit and crystallizes in triclinic system (space group P \(\bar 1\), Z = 2) with the following unit cell parameters: a = 9.295(7) Å, b = 17.619(2) Å, c = 6.8570(7) Å, α = 87.420(9)°, β = 101.109(9)°, γ = 91.847(9)°. The compounds Ag_{1 ? x} Mg_{1 ? x} Al_{1 + x} (MoO₄)₃ and AgMg₃Al(MoO₄)₅ are thermally stable up to 790 and 820°C, respectively.     

Synthesis and crystal structure of ternary molybdate compound K<Subscript>5</Subscript>Pb<Subscript>0.5</Subscript>Hf<Subscript>1.5</Subscript>(MoO<Subscript>4</Subscript>)<Subscript>6</Subscript>

Single crystals of triple molybdate of composition 5:1:3 K₅Pb_0.5Hf_1.5(MoO₄)₆ have been grown and their crystal structure has been solved from X-ray diffraction data (an automated diffractometer X8 APEX, MoK _α -radiation, 2173 F(hkl), R = 0.0321). Trigonal unit cell parameters are: a = b = 10.739(2) Å, c = 37.933(9) Å; V = 3789(1) ų, Z = 6, ρ_calc = 4.014 g/cm³, space group \(R\bar 3\). Three-dimensional mixed framework of the structure is formed by two types of MoO₄ tetrahedra and Pb and Hf octahedra linking via common O-vertices. Potassium atoms of three types occupy large vacancies in the framework.     

Three-component systems LiBr-LiVO<Subscript>3</Subscript>-Li<Subscript>2</Subscript>MoO<Subscript>4</Subscript> and LiBr-Li<Subscript>2</Subscript>SO<Subscript>4</Subscript>-Li<Subscript>2</Subscript>MoO<Subscript>4</Subscript>

Phase equilibria in the three-component systems LiBr-LiVO₃-Li₂MoO₄ and LiBr-Li₂SO₄-Li₂MoO₄ have been studied using differential thermal analysis (DTA). Eutectic compositions have been determined (mol %): in the system LiBr-LiVO₃-Li₂MoO₄, 56.0 LiBr, 22.0 LiVO₃, and 22.0 Li₂MoO₄ with a melting temperature of 413°C; and in the system LiBr-Li₂SO₄-Li₂MoO₄, 65.0 LiBr, 14.0 Li₂SO₄, and 21.0 Li₂MoO₄ with a melting temperature of 421°C. Phase fields have been demarcated.     

Subsolidus phase diagrams for the Tl<Subscript>2</Subscript>MoO<Subscript>4</Subscript>-Ln<Subscript>2</Subscript>(MoO<Subscript>4</Subscript>)<Subscript>3</Subscript>-Hf(MoO<Subscript>4</Subscript>)<Subscript>2</Subscript> systems,where Ln = La-Lu

The Tl₂MoO₄-Ln₂(MoO₄)₃-Hf(MoO₄)₂ systems where Ln = La-Lu were studied in the subsolidus region using X-ray powder diffraction. Quasi-binary joins were revealed, and triangulation carried out. New ternary molybdates were prepared: Tl₅LnHf(MoO₄)₆ (5: 1: 2) for Ln = Ce-Ho, Tl₅LnHf(MoO₄)₆ (5: 1: 2) for Ln = Er-Lu, TlLnHf_0.5(MoO₄)₃ (1: 1: 1) for Ln = Ce-Nd, and Tl₂LnHf₂(MoO₄)_6.5 (2: 1: 4) for Ln = Ce-Lu. The crystallographic parameters of Tl₅LnHf(MoO₄)₆ (5: 1: 2) compounds for Ln = Er-Lu were determined.     

Chemical durability of MoO<Subscript>3</Subscript>-P<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>5</Subscript> and K<Subscript>2</Subscript>O-MoO<Subscript>3</Subscript>-P<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>5</Subscript> glasses

Thermal and chemical durability studies of the phosphate glasses belonging to the binary MoO₃-P₂O₅ and the ternary K₂O-MoO₃-P₂O₅ systems are reported. The chemical resistant attack tests carried out on the free alkaline MoO₃-P₂O₅ glasses show that the glass associated with the P/Mo ratio 2 has the high chemical durability. It shows also a high glass transition temperature value. The above findings are interpreted in terms of the cross-link density of the glasses and the strength of the M-O bonds (M=P, Mo). The influence of K₂O addition on the properties (density, T _g, durability) of this binary high water resistant glass is studied. It is found that the chemical durability along with the other physical properties are reduced by the incroporation of K₂O in the glass matrix. The results were explained by assuming the formation of non-bridging oxygens and weak bonds. The mechanism of the dissolution of these glasses is proposed.     

High-temperature heat capacity and thermodynamic properties of Pb<Subscript>4</Subscript>V<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>9</Subscript> and Pb<Subscript>8</Subscript>V<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>13</Subscript>

The molar heat capacity of Pb₄V₂O₉ and Pb₈V₂O₁₃ in the temperature range 350–1000 K was measured by differential scanning calorimetry. It was determined that the plot C_p = f(T) for Pb₈V₂O₁₃ has an extremum within the range 416–516 K, which is due to a phase transition. A correlation was found between the heat capacity and composition of oxides in the PbO–V₂O₅ system. The data obtained allowed one to predict the specific heat capacity value for Pb(VO₃)₂.     

High-temperature heat capacity and thermodynamic properties of pyrovanadate Pb<Subscript>2</Subscript>V<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>7</Subscript> and orthovanadate Pb<Subscript>3</Subscript>(VO<Subscript>4</Subscript>)<Subscript>2</Subscript>

The heat capacities of Pb₂V₂O₇ and Pb₃(VO₄)₂ as a function of temperature in the range 350–965 K have been studied by the differential scanning calorimetry method. The C_P = f(T) curve for Pb₂V₂O₇ is described by the equation C_p = (230.76 ± 0.51) + (73.60 ± 0.50)×10^-3T ? (18.38 ± 0.54)×10⁵T^-2 in the entire temperature range. For Pb₃(VO₄)₂, there is a well-pronounced extreme point in the C_P = f(T) curve at T = 371.5 K, which is caused by the existence of a structural phase transition. The thermodynamic properties of the oxide compounds have been calculated.     

A study of phase formation in the subsolidus region of the system Na<Subscript>2</Subscript>MoO<Subscript>4</Subscript>-MnMoO<Subscript>4</Subscript>-Cr<Subscript>2</Subscript>(MoO<Subscript>4</Subscript>)<Subscript>3</Subscript>

Phase relationships in the subsolidus region of the system Na₂MoO₄-MnMoO₄-Cr₂(MoO₄)₃ were studied by means of X-ray diffraction and differential-thermal analyses. The possibility of obtaining a variablecomposition phase Na_1?x Mn_1?x Cr_1+x (MoO₄)₃ (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.5) and ternary molybdate NaMn₃Cr(MoO₄)₅ was examined. The temperature dependence of the conductivity of the phase Na_1?x Mn_1?x Cr_1+x (MoO₄)₃ was analyzed.     

Coefficients of thermal expansion of KPb<Subscript>2</Subscript>Cl<Subscript>5</Subscript> and RbPb<Subscript>2</Subscript>Br<Subscript>5</Subscript> crystals

The temperature dependence of unit cell parameters for monoclinic KPb₂Cl₅ and tetragonal RbPb₂Br₅ crystals was studied in the range of 100–298 K. Linear and volume thermal expansion coefficients were determined.     

LiF-LiBr-LiVO<Subscript>3</Subscript>-Li<Subscript>2</Subscript>MoO<Subscript>4</Subscript> four-component system

Phase equilibria in the LiF-LiBr-LiVO₃-Li₂MoO₄ four-component system were studied using differential thermal analysis (DTA). The eutectic composition (mol %) was determined as LiF, 19.3; LiBr, 45.0; LiVO₃, 32.7, Li₂MoO₄, 3.0 with a melting temperature of 394°C.     

Phase equilibria in the NaCl-NaBr-Na<Subscript>2</Subscript>MoO<Subscript>4</Subscript> system

The binary systems NaBr-Na₂MoO₄ and NaBr-Na₃ClMoO₄ and the ternary system NaCl-NaBr-Na₂MoO₄ have been studied using physicochemical methods (DTA and powder X-ray diffraction). The compositions, melting points, and heats of phase transitions have been determined for three invariant points. The liquidus surface of the ternary system consists of the fields of sodium molybdate, Na₃ClMoO₄, and sodium chloride and bromide solid solutions. The eutectics melt at 531, 612, and 524°C; the respective heats of phase transitions are 149.27, 167.55, and 215.38 J/g.     

EPR study of the nature of the impurity centers responsible for the scintillation properties of the Li<Subscript>2</Subscript>Zn<Subscript>2</Subscript>(MoO<Subscript>4</Subscript>)<Subscript>3</Subscript> crystal

The binary molybdate Li₂Zn₂(MoO₄)₃ of a new crystal type was characterized by EPR, optical spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction methods. The crystals have the Pnma symmetry group and the lattice parameters a = 5.1139(5) Å, b = 10.4926(13) Å, c = 17.6445(22) Å; Z = 4. The crystals possess scintillation properties; emission is caused by the presence of impurity levels in the forbidden band. The EPR studies of the nature of the impurity centers responsible for the scintillation characteristics of the crystal showed that the centers were Cu²⁺ ions substituted for zinc ions in the oxygen octahedra. The directions of the main values of the g and tensors (g _zz , A _zz ) correspond to the direction of O-Cu-O of the oxygen octahedron distorted along the Z axis. The EPR spectra of the copper ions are described by the spin Hamiltonian with the parameters g _‖ = 2.38, g _⊥ = 2.06; A _‖ = 116 G, A _⊥ = 0 G.     

LiF-LiCl-LiVO<Subscript>3</Subscript>-Li<Subscript>2</Subscript>SO<Subscript>4</Subscript>-Li<Subscript>2</Subscript>MoO<Subscript>4</Subscript> system

Phase equilibria in the LiF-LiCl-LiVO₃-Li₂SO₄-Li₂MoO₄ system have been studied by differential thermal analysis. The eutectic composition has been determined as follows (mol %): LiF, 17.4; LiCl, 42.0; LiVO₃, 17.4; Li₂SO₄, 11.6; and Li₂MoO₄, 11.6, with the melting temperature equal to 363°C and the enthalpy of melting equal to (284 ± 7) kJ/kg.     

Electrical properties of triple molybdates Rb<Subscript>5</Subscript>LnHf(MoO<Subscript>4</Subscript>)<Subscript>6</Subscript>

Triple molybdates of the compositions Rb₅LnHf(MoO₄)₆ (5:1:2) and Rb₂LnHf₂(MoO₄)_6.5 (2:1:4), Ln = Ce-Lu, were prepared by solid-phase reactions. The temperature dependence of the electrical conductivity of the compounds Rb₅LnHf(MoO₄)₆ (5:1:2) at 200–500°C was studied.     

NaBO<Subscript>2</Subscript>-Na<Subscript>2</Subscript>CO<Subscript>3</Subscript>-Na<Subscript>2</Subscript>MoO<Subscript>4</Subscript>-Na<Subscript>2</Subscript>WO<Subscript>4</Subscript> quaternary system

This is the first study of the NaBO₂-Na₂CO₃-Na₂MoO₄-Na₂WO₄ quaternary system by differential thermal analysis. Na₂[MoO_4(x)WO_{4(1 − x)}] solid solutions in the quaternary system are found to not decompose.     

Solubility isotherm for the Na<Subscript>2</Subscript>MoO<Subscript>4</Subscript>-Na<Subscript>2</Subscript>SO<Subscript>4</Subscript>-H<Subscript>2</Subscript>O system

Solubility in the Na₂MoO₄-Na₂SO₄-H₂O system was studied using isothermal saturation at 5–100°C. The boundaries of crystallization fields were determined for sodium sulfate and sodium molybdate. Solid solutions were not observed within the range of the temperatures studied. The density, refractive index, and dynamic viscosity of the saturated solutions of the system were determined, and these data were used to calculate the molar volume, kinematic viscosity, and apparent molar volume of the sum of salts in these solutions. All property isotherms of solutions are in a strict correlation with the solubility in the system; this correlation is represented as an isobaric-isothermal diagram.     

Effect of the mechanochemical treatment of a V<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>5</Subscript>/MoO<Subscript>3</Subscript> oxide mixture on its properties

The mechanochemical treatment of a V₂O₅/MoO₃ oxide mixture (V/Mo = 70/30 at %) was performed in planetary and vibratory mills under varying treatment times and media. The resulting samples were characterized using XRD analysis, micro-Raman spectroscopy, and XPS; their specific surface areas and catalytic activities in n-butane and benzene oxidation reactions were determined. It was found that the treatment of the oxide mixture in water resulted in chaotic degradation of the parent oxides, a decrease in crystallite sizes, and an increase in the specific surface area at a sufficiently uniform oxide distribution over the sample. The treatment in ethanol was accompanied by an anisotropic deformation of the V₂O₅ crystal by layer sliding in parallel to the vanadyl plane (010) and a chaotic degradation of MoO₃ crystals. This process was accompanied by the partial nonuniform supporting of vanadium oxide crystals onto the surface of molybdenum oxide to increase the V/Mo ratio on the sample surface. In this case, the particle size of oxides decreased and the specific surface areas of samples increased. It was found that the treatment of the oxide mixture in air (dry treatment) resulted in the most significant decrease in the sizes of V₂O₅ and MoO₃ crystals and a growth in the specific surface area. The amorphization of the parent oxides and the formation of MoV₂O₈ were observed as the treatment time was increased; in this case, an excess of amorphous vanadium oxide was supported onto the surface of this compound. It was found that, in all types of mechanochemical treatment, the binding energies of the core electrons of vanadium and molybdenum remained almost unchanged to indicate the constancy of the oxidation states of these elements. Mechanochemical treatment resulted in an increase in the activity of the samples in n-butane and benzene oxidation reactions and in an increase in the selectivity of maleic anhydride formation. In this case, an increase in the specific catalytic activity of the samples correlated with a decrease in the crystallite size of vanadium oxide, whereas selectivity correlated with an increase in the relative concentration of the V₂O₅ plane (010). In these reactions, samples after dry treatment exhibited a maximum activity, which can be related to the formation of MoV₂O₈.     

Influence of pH on the incorporation and growth of Pb<Subscript>2</Subscript>CrO<Subscript>5</Subscript> crystallites in silica matrix

Pb₂CrO₅ nanoparticles were embedded in an amorphous SiO₂ matrix by the sol–gel process. The pH and heat treatment effects were evaluated in terms of structural, microstructural and optical properties from Pb₂CrO₅/SiO₂ compounds. X-ray diffraction (XRD), high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), and diffuse reflectance techniques were employed. Kubelka–Munk theory was used to calculate diffuse reflectance spectra that were compared to the experimental results. Finally, colorimetric coordinates of the Pb₂CrO₅/SiO₂ compounds were shown and discussed. In general, an acid pH initially dissolves Pb₂CrO₅ nanoparticles and following heat treatment at 600 °C crystallized into PbCrO₄ composition with grain size around 6 nm in SiO₂ matrix. No Pb₂CrO₅ solubilization was observed for basic pH. These nanoparticles were incorporated in silica matrix showing a variety of color ranging from yellow to orange.