Structure and electron density analysis of electrochemically and chemically delithiated LiCoO2 single crystals

Single crystals of Li_0.68CoO₂, Li_0.48CoO₂, and Li_0.35CoO₂ were successfully synthesized for the first time by means of electrochemical and chemical delithiation processes using LiCoO₂ single crystals as a parent compound. A single-crystal X-ray diffraction study confirmed the trigonal R3¯m space group and the hexagonal lattice parameters a=2.8107(5) Å, c=14.2235(6) Å, and c/a=5.060 for Li_0.68CoO₂; a=2.8090(15) Å, c=14.3890(17) Å, and c/a=5.122 for Li_0.48CoO₂; and a=2.8070(12) Å, c=14.4359(14) Å, and c/a=5.143 for Li_0.35CoO₂. The crystal structures were refined to the conventional values R=1.99% and wR=1.88% for Li_0.68CoO₂; R=2.40% and wR=2.58% for Li_0.48CoO₂; and R=2.63% and wR=2.56% for Li_0.35CoO₂. The oxygen-oxygen contact distance in the CoO₆ octahedron was determined to be shortened by the delithiation from 2.6180(9) Å in LiCoO₂ to 2.5385(15) Å in Li_0.35CoO₂. The electron density distributions of these Li_xCoO₂ crystals were analyzed by the maximum entropy method (MEM) using the present single-crystal X-ray diffraction data at 300 K. From the results of the single-crystal MEM, strong covalent bonding was clearly visible between the Co and O atoms, while no bonding was found around the Li atoms in these compounds. The gradual decrease in the electron density at the Li site upon delithiation could be precisely analyzed.     

Subsolidus phase relations and crystal structures of the mixed-oxide phases in the In2O3-WO3 system

Subsolidus phase relationships in the In₂O₃-WO₃ system at 800-1400°C were investigated using X-ray diffraction. Two binary-oxide phases—In₆WO₁₂ and In₂(WO₄)₃—were found to be stable over the range 800-1200°C. Heating the binary-oxide phases above 1200°C resulted in the preferential volatilization of WO₃. Rietveld refinement was performed on three structures using X-ray diffraction data from nominally phase-pure In₆WO₁₂ at room temperature and from nominally phase-pure In₂(WO₄)₃ at 225°C and 310°C. The indium-rich phase, In₆WO₁₂, is rhombohedral, space group (rhombohedral), with Z=1, a=6.22390(4) Å, α=99.0338(2)° [hexagonal axes: a_H=9.48298(6) Å, c=8.94276(6) Å, a_H/c=0.9430(9)]. In₆WO₁₂ can be viewed as an anion-deficient fluorite structure in which 1/7 of the fluorite anion sites are vacant. Indium tungstate, In₂(WO₄)₃, undergoes a monoclinic-orthorhombic transition around 250°C. The high-temperature polymorph is orthorhombic, space group Pnca, with a=9.7126(5) Å, b=13.3824(7) Å, c=9.6141(5) Å, and Z=4. The low-temperature polymorph is monoclinic, space group P2₁/a, with a=16.406(2) Å, b=9.9663(1) Å, c=19.099(2) Å, β=125.411(2)°, and Z=8. The structures of the two In₂(WO₄)₃ polymorphs are similar, consisting of a network of corner sharing InO₆ octahedra and WO₄ tetrahedra.     

Synthesis, structure and physicochemical characterization of a noncentrosymmetric, quaternary thiostannate: EuCu2SnS4

EuCu₂SnS₄ was prepared by a stoichiometric combination of the elements heated to 700 °C for 125 h. The structure was determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction methods. The compound crystallizes in the noncentrosymmetric, orthorhombic space group Ama2 with a=10.4793(1) Å, b=10.3610(2) Å, c=6.4015(1) Å, Z=4, R1=0.99% and wR2=2.37%. The structure type is that of SrCu₂GeSe₄. The structure can be described as a three-dimensional network built from near perfect SnS₄ and distorted CuS₄ tetrahedra together with EuS₈ square antiprisms. The dark red compound is a semiconductor with an optical bandgap of 1.85 eV.     

Coexistence of Rutile and Trirutile Phases in a Natural Tapiolite Sample

We report X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), electron probe microanalysis (EPMA), and Mössbauer spectroscopy (MS) measurements performed on a natural tapiolite with composition Fe_0.57Mn_0.37Ti_0.10Ta_1.27Nb_0.67O₆. XRD and MS suggest that besides being partially ordered the as-collected sample is a mixture of trirutile (P4₂/mnm, a=4.7532(9) Å, c=9.228(7) Å) and Nb-rich rutile (P4₂/mnm, a=4.856(2) Å, c=3.098(1) Å) structures. The Mössbauer spectra of the rutile (Fe, Mn, Ta, Nb)O₂ were fitted to Δ=1.72±0.05 mm/s and δ=1.10±0.03 mm/s at 300 K and to Δ=2.10±0.06 mm/s and δ=1.18±0.03 mm/s at 80 K. The present results suggest that cation ordering in compounds of the tapiolite series can be easily assessed by Mössbauer spectroscopy in a way similar to that as previously demonstrated for the columbite series.     

Order-disorder at Fe sites in SrFe2/3B″1/3O3 (B″=Mo, W, Te, U) tetragonal double perovskites

We have prepared SrFe_2/3B″_1/3O₃ (B″=Mo, U, Te, and W) double perovskites in polycrystalline form by ceramic methods. Phases with B″=U, Te and W have been studied by X-ray powder diffraction and the results have been compared with neutron diffraction data available for B″=Mo. At room temperature, the stoichiometric samples crystallize in the tetragonal crystal system (space group I4/m, Z=4). Cell parameters when B″=U, Te and W are a=5.6936(1) Å, c=8.0637(1)Å; a=5.5776(1) Å, c=7.9144(3) Å and a=5.5707(3) Å, c=7.9081(5) Å, respectively.The Mössbauer spectra at room temperature for all compounds show hyperfine parameters belonging to two Fe³⁺ sites located at lattice positions with different degrees of distortion. This is in agreement with diffraction data that indicate that the series of compounds display different degrees of Fe-site disorder, which increases in the following sequence: Mo<U<Te<W.     

Phase transitions in K3AlF6

Phase transitions in the elpasolite-type K₃AlF₆ complex fluoride were investigated using differential scanning calorimetry, electron diffraction and X-ray powder diffraction. Three phase transitions were identified with critical temperatures , and . The α-K₃AlF₆ phase is stable below T₁ and crystallizes in a monoclinic unit cell with a=18.8588(2)Å, b=34.0278(2)Å, c=18.9231(1)Å, β=90.453(1)° (a=2a_c−c_c, b=4b_c, c=a_c+2c_c; a_c, b_c, c_c—the basic lattice vectors of the face-centered cubic elpasolite structure) and space group I2/a or Ia. The intermediate β phase exists only in very narrow temperature interval between T₁ and T₂. The γ polymorph is stable in the T₂<T<T₃ temperature range and has an orthorhombic unit cell with a=36.1229(6)Å, b=17.1114(3)Å, c=12.0502(3)Å (a=3a_c−3c_c, b=2b_c, c=a_c+c_c) at 250 °C and space group Fddd. Above T₃ the cubic δ polymorph forms with a_c=8.5786(4)Å at 400 °C and space group . The similarity between the K₃AlF₆ and K₃MoO₃F₃ compounds is discussed.     

Phase relations in a barium-rich high-temperature region (25-45 mol% CuO, 900-1100 °C) of the BaO-CuOx system

The phase relations have been studied in the BaO-CuO_x system in the range of 25.0-45.0 mol% CuO at 900-1100 °C at P(O₂)=21 kPa (air) by visual polythermal analysis (VPA), powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), electron diffraction (ED) with simultaneous energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) elemental analysis in a transmission electron microscope (TEM), and iodometric chemical analysis. The discrete deviations 2.02 (101:50), 2.04 (102:50), 2.10 (105:50) of Ba/Cu (Ba:Cu) composition from the stoichiometric ratio 2:1 have been found for the known Ba₂CuO_3+δ oxides in the subsolidus region 900-970 °C. Unit cell parameters of the 101:50 orthorhombic oxide, 102:50 tetragonal one, 105:50 orthorhombic one are, respectively, a=4.049, b=3.899, c=13.034 Å; a=3.985, c=12.968 Å; a=4.087, b=3.897 and c=12.950 Å. ED patterns of the 101:50, 102:50, 105:50 oxides show characteristic supercell reflections with the respective vector 1/60[5 4 0], ≈2/11〈1 1 0〉 and 1/6[2 0 0]. Oxides of the 2:1, 7:4, 5:3 and 23:20 compositions have been found in the crystallization region 970-1050 °C. Unit cell parameters of the 2:1 orthorhombic oxide are a=4.095, b=3.795, c=13.165 Å. Interplanar spacings and X-ray characteristic peak intensities of the 7:4, 5:3 and 23:20 oxides are given. Oxides 2:1 and 7:4 melt pseudocongruently at 1020 and 1005 °C, oxides 5:3 and 23:20 melt incongruently at 995 and 980 °C, respectively. A diagram of the phase relations in the studied region of the BaO-CuO_x system has been constructed, whose structure is considered as the total projection of phase states of the system existing for different x.     

Crystal growth, structure determination, and optical properties of new potassium-rare-earth silicates K3RESi2O7 (RE=Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu)

Single crystals of K₃RESi₂O₇ (RE=Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu) were grown from a potassium fluoride flux. Two different structure types were found for this series. Silicates containing the larger rare earths, RE=Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb crystallize in a structure K₃RESi₂O₇ that contains the rare-earth cation in both a slightly distorted octahedral and an ideal trigonal prismatic coordination environment, while in K₃LuSi₂O₇, containing the smallest of the rare earths, lutetium is found solely in an octahedral coordination environment. The structure of K₃LuSi₂O₇ crystallizes in space group P6₃/mmc with a=5.71160(10) Å and c=13.8883(6) Å. The structures containing the remaining rare earths crystallize in the space group P6₃/mcm with the lattice parameters of a=9.9359(2) Å, c=14.4295(4) Å, (K₃GdSi₂O₇); a=9.88730(10) Å, c=14.3856(3) Å, (K₃TbSi₂O₇); a=9.8673(2) Å, c=14.3572(4) Å, (K₃DySi₂O₇); a=9.8408(3) Å, c=14.3206(6) Å, (K₃HoSi₂O₇); a=9.82120(10) Å, c=14.2986(2) Å, (K₃ErSi₂O₇); a=9.80200(10) Å, c=14.2863(4) Å, (K₃TmSi₂O₇); a=9.78190(10) Å, c=14.2401(3) Å, (K₃YbSi₂O₇). The optical properties of the silicates were investigated and K₃TbSi₂O₇ was found to fluoresce in the visible.     

La3Ru8B6 and Y3Os8B6, new members of a homologous series R(A)nM3n−1B2n

Two new compounds, La₃Ru₈B₆ and Y₃Os₈B₆, were synthesized by arc melting the elements. Their structural characterization was carried out at room temperature on as-cast samples by using X-ray diffractometry. According to X-ray single-crystal diffraction results these borides crystallize in Fmmm space group (no. 69), Z=4, a=5.5607(1) Å, b=9.8035(3) Å, c=17.5524(4) Å, ρ=8.956 Mg/m³, μ=25.23 mm⁻¹ for La₃Ru₈B₆ and a=5.4792(2) Å, b=9.5139(4) Å, c=17.6972(8) Å, ρ=13.343 Mg/m³, μ=128.23 mm⁻¹ for Y₃Os₈B₆. The crystal structure of La₃Ru₈B₆ was confirmed from Rietveld refinement of X-ray powder diffraction data. Both La₃Ru₈B₆ and Y₃Os₈B₆ compounds are isotypic with the Ca₃Rh₈B₆ compound and their structures are built up from CeCo₃B₂-type and CeAl₂Ga₂-type structural fragments taken in ratio 2:1. They are the members of structural series R(A)_nM_3n−1B_2n with n=3 (R is the rare earth metal, A the alkaline earth metal, and M the transition metal). Structural and atomic parameters were also obtained for La_0.94Ru₃B₂ compound from Rietveld refinement (CeCo₃B₂-type structure, P6/mmm space group (no. 191), a=5.5835(9) Å, c=3.0278(6) Å).     

Crystal structure, thermal expansion and conductivity of anisotropic La1−xSrxGa1−2xMg2xO3−y (x=0.05, 0.1) single crystals

Crystal structure and anisotropy of the thermal expansion of single crystals of La_1−xSr_xGa_1−2xMg_2xO_3−y (x=0.05 and 0.1) were measured in the temperature range 300-1270 K. High-resolution X-ray powder diffraction data obtained by synchrotron experiments have been used to determine the crystal structure and thermal expansion. The room temperature structure of the crystal with x=0.05 was found to be orthorhombic (Imma, Z=4, a=7.79423(3) Å, b=5.49896(2) Å, c=5.53806(2) Å), whereas the symmetry of the x=0.1 crystal is monoclinic (I2/a, Z=4, a=7.82129(5) Å, b=5.54361(3) Å, c=5.51654(4) Å, β=90.040(1)°). The conductivity in two orthogonal directions of the crystals has been studied. Both, the conductivity and the structural data indicate three phase transitions in La_0.95Sr_0.05Ga_0.9Mg_0.1O_2.92 at 520-570 K (Imma-I2/a), 770 K (I2/a-R3c) and at 870 K (R3c-R-3c), respectively. Two transitions at 770 K (I2/a-R3c) and in the range 870-970 K (R3c-R-3c) occur in La_0.9Sr_0.1Ga_0.8Mg_0.2O_2.85.     

Crystal structure and properties of the new vanadyl(IV)phosphates Na2MVO(PO4)2, M=Ca and Sr

Two new complex vanadyl(IV)phosphates Na₂MVO(PO₄)₂ (M=Ca, Sr) were synthesized in evacuated quartz ampoules and investigated by means of X-ray diffraction, electron microscopy, DTA, ESR and magnetic susceptibility measurements. The crystal structure of Na₂SrVO(PO₄)₂ was solved ab initio from X-ray powder diffraction data. Both compounds are isostructural: a=10.5233(3) Å, b=6.5578(2) Å, c=10.0536(3) Å and a=10.6476(3) Å, b=6.6224(2) Å, c=10.2537(3) Å for Ca and Sr, respectively; S.G. Pnma, Z=4. The compounds have a three-dimensional structure consisting of V⁴⁺O₆ octahedra connected by PO₄ tetrahedra via five of the six vertexes forming a framework with cross-like channels. The strontium and sodium atoms are located in the channels in an ordered manner. Electron diffraction as well as high-resolution electron microscopy confirmed the structure solution. The new vanadylphosphates are Curie-Weiss paramagnets in a wide temperature range down to 2 K with θ=12 and 5 K for Ca and Sr phases, respectively.     

Synthesis, structure and physical properties of GdCu4Al and GdCu4Ga

Two non-stoichiometric Gd compounds, GdCu_5−xTr_x (Tr=Al, Ga) have been synthesized from the corresponding elements by high temperature reactions in sealed tantalum containers. They crystallize in the hexagonal CaCu₅-type (Pearson's symbol hP6, space group P6/mmm, No. 191) with lattice parameters determined from single-crystal X-ray diffraction at room temperature as follows: a=5.0831(10) Å; c=4.156(2) Å for GdCu_3.98(4)Al_1.02(4), and a=5.1025(10) Å; c=4.155(2) Å for GdCu_3.9(1)Ga_1.1(1), respectively. Structure refinements from single crystal X-ray diffraction data reveal that substitution of Cu for Al or Ga takes place preferably on one of the two transition metal sites with site symmetry mmm (3g). Both compounds order antiferromagnetically below ∼40 K and ∼36 K, respectively, as determined from temperature dependent dc-magnetization, resistivity and heat-capacity measurements.     

Single-crystal synthesis and structure refinement of the LiCoO2-LiAlO2 solid-solution compounds: LiAl0.32Co0.68O2 and LiAl0.71Co0.29O2

Single crystals of the LiCoO₂-LiAlO₂ solid solution compounds LiAl_0.32Co_0.68O₂ and LiAl_0.71Co_0.29O₂ were synthesized by a flux method using alumina crucibles. A single-crystal X-ray diffraction study confirmed the trigonal space group and the lattice parameters a=2.8056(11) Å, c=14.1079(15) Å, and c/a=5.028 for LiAl_0.32Co_0.68O₂, and a=2.8023(7) Å, c=14.184(4) Å, and c/a=5.061 for LiAl_0.71Co_0.29O₂. The crystal structures have been refined to the conventional values R=3.2% and wR=2.4% for LiAl_0.32Co_0.68O₂, and R=3.6% and wR=3.5% for LiAl_0.71Co_0.29O₂. The evidence of the location of Al atoms in the pseudotetragonal coordination (6c site), reported previously in LiAl_0.2Co_0.8O₂, could not be observed in the present electron density distribution maps in both LiAl_0.32Co_0.68O₂ and LiAl_0.71Co_0.29O₂. The octahedral distortion analysis indicated that the Al-substitution strongly affected the distortion of the LiO₆ octahedron in this solid-solution compound system, but hardly affected that of the (Al.Co)O₆ octahedron.     

Crystal Growth and Structure Determination of LaMIn5 (M=Co, Rh, Ir)

The compounds CeMIn₅ (M=Co, Rh, Ir) have been shown to exhibit heavy fermion behavior. In order to better understand this effect and the nature of the observed superconductivity, we have synthesized and characterized the non-magnetic analogs, LaMIn₅ (M=Co, Rh, Ir). The structures of LaCoIn₅, LaRhIn₅, and LaIrIn₅ were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. CeMIn₅ and LaMIn₅ compounds are isostructural and adopt a tetragonal structure with space group P4/mmm, Z=1. Lattice parameters are a=4.6399(4) and c=7.6151(6) Å for LaCoIn₅, a=4.6768(3) and c=7.5988(7) Å for LaRhIn₅, and a=4.6897(6) and c=7.5788(12) Å for LaIrIn₅. We compare these experimental data with band structure computations and examine structural trends that affect the magnetic and transport properties of these compounds.     

Synthesis and crystal structure of the Sr2MnGa(O,F)6 oxyfluorides

The fluorine-containing derivatives of Sr₂MnGaO_5.5 were prepared by treatment with XeF₂ at temperatures ranging from 300°C to 600°C. The compounds crystallize in a tetragonal unit cell with a_t≈a_p, c_t≈2a_p (a_p—the parameter of the perovskite subcell). An increase in fluorine content is accompanied by a reduction of the Mn oxidation state due to a partial replacement of oxygen by fluorine. The crystal structure of Sr₂MnGaO_4.78F_1.22 was determined by electron diffraction and X-ray powder diffraction (a=3.85559(2) Å, c=7.78289(6) Å, S.G. P4/mmm, R_I=0.012, R_P=0.019). The structure consists of alternating (MnO₂), (SrO) and (GaO_0.78F_1.22) layers. The Ga atoms are situated in slightly elongated octahedra, the MnO₆ octahedra are characterized by two short apical Mn-O distances of 1.876(8) Å and four long equatorial ones of 1.9278(1) Å. This is interpreted as an “apically compressed” type of Jahn-Teller distortion, in contrast to the “apically elongated” one in the Sr₂MnGaO_5+δ brownmillerites with different oxygen content. Possible structural reasons for the reversed Jahn-Teller effect are discussed.     

High-pressure high-temperature synthesis and crystal structure of the isotypic rare earth (RE)-thioborate-sulfides RE9[BS3]2[BS4]3S3, (RE=Dy-Lu)

Application of high-pressure high-temperature conditions (3.5 GPa at 1673 K for 5 h) to mixtures of the elements (RE:B:S=1:3:6) yielded crystalline samples of the isotypic rare earth-thioborate-sulfides RE₉[BS₃]₂[BS₄]₃S₃, (RE=Dy-Lu), which crystallize in space group P6₃ (Z=2/3) and adopt the Ce₆Al_3.33S₁₄ structure type. The crystal structures were refined from X-ray powder diffraction data by applying the Rietveld method. Dy: a=9.4044(2) Å, c=5.8855(3) Å; Ho: a=9.3703(1) Å, c=5.8826(1) Å; Er: a=9.3279(12) Å, c=5.8793(8) Å; Tm: a=9.2869(3) Å, c=5.8781(3) Å; Yb: a=9.2514(5) Å, c=5.8805(6) Å; Lu: a=9.2162(3) Å, c=5.8911(3) Å. The crystal structure is characterized by the presence of two isolated complex ions [BS₃]^3- and [BS₄]^5- as well as [□(S^2-)₃] units.     

Ab initio structure determination of new compound Li4CaB2O6

A new compound, Li₄CaB₂O₆, has been synthesized by solid-state reaction and its structure has been determined from powder X-ray diffraction data by direct methods. The refinement was carried out using the Rietveld methods and the final refinement converged with R_p=10.4%, R_wp=14.2%, R_exp=4.97%. This compound belongs to the orthorhombic space group Pnnm, with lattice parameters a=9.24036(9) Å, b=8.09482(7) Å, and c=3.48162(4) Å. Fundamental building units are isolated [BO₃]³⁻ anionic groups, which are all parallel to the a-b plane stacked along the c-axis. The Ca atoms are six-coordinated by the O atoms to form octahedral coordination polyhedra, which are joined together through edges along the c-axis, forming infinitely long three-dimensional chains. The Li atoms have a four-fold and a five-fold coordination with O atoms that lead to complex Li-O-Li chains that also extend along the c-axis. The infrared spectrum of Li₄CaB₂O₆ was also studied, which is consistent with the crystallographic study.     

The synthesis and structural characterization of the new ternary nitrides: Ca4TiN4 and Ca5NbN5

The ternary nitrides, Ca₄TiN₄ and Ca₅NbN₅, were synthesized in sealed niobium tubes using lithium nitride as a flux at 900 and 1050 °C, respectively. The structures of both compounds were solved from single-crystal X-ray diffraction data. Ca₄TiN₄ is the first example of a calcium group IV nitride; it crystallizes in the triclinic space group (No. 2) with cell parameters a=5.9757(5) Å, b=6.0129(5) Å, c=6.0116(12) Å, α=71.565(4)°, β=79.471(4)°, γ=68.258(4)° and Z=2. Ca₄TiN₄ is isostructural with Na₄TiO₄ and contains tetrahedral TiN₄ units connected through edges and corners to CaN₄ tetrahedra and CaN₅ square pyramids. Ca₅NbN₅ crystallizes in the monoclinic space group C2/m (No. 12) with cell parameters a=11.922(7) Å, b=6.878(5) Å, c=8.936(7) Å, β=101.22(3)° and Z=4. Ca₅NbN₅ is isostructural with Ba₅NbN₅; the structure contains NbN₄ tetrahedra that share vertices with CaN₅ trigonal bipyramids.     

Synthesis and crystal structure of two tin fluoride materials: NaSnF3 (BING-12) and Sn3F3PO4

A new compound, sodium tin trifluoride (NaSnF₃, which we denote BING-12 for SUNY at Binghamton, Structure No. 12), was synthesized solvothermally from a pyridine-water solvent system. The new compound crystallized in the monoclinic space group C2/c (No. 15), with a=11.7429(12) Å, b=17.0104(18) Å, c=6.8528(7) Å, β=100.6969(2)°, V=1345.1(2) Å³ and Z=16. The layered structure consists of outer pyramidal SnF₃ units, where the fluorides surround a central layer of six- and seven-coordinate sodium atoms. The layers are stabilized by charged Na⁺ galleries that reside in the center of the layers. Tin trifluorophosphate (Sn₃F₃PO₄, Compound 2) was isolated from a related synthetic system, and crystallized in the rhombohedral space group R3 (No. 146), with a=11.8647(11) Å, c=4.6291(6) Å, V=564.34(10) Å³ and Z=3. The framework is made up of helical -Sn-F- chains, which are connected by phosphate groups. The materials were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), variable temperature PXRD (VT-PXRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM).