Crystal growth of new perovskite and perovskite related iridates: Ba3LiIr2O9, Ba3NaIr2O9, and Ba3.44K1.56Ir2O10

Single crystals of Ba₃LiIr₂O₉, Ba₃NaIr₂O₉, and Ba_3.44K_1.56Ir₂O₁₀ were grown from hydroxide fluxes. Ba₃LiIr₂O₉ and Ba₃NaIr₂O₉ form in the 6H–BaTiO₃ or triple perovskite structure, which is derived from the hexagonal and cubic stacking of [AO₃] layers. The structure contains face-sharing Ir₂O₉ octahedra pairs, which are connected via corner shared LiO₆ (NaO₆) octahedra. Both compounds crystallize in the space group P6₃/mmc, Z=2, with a=5.7804(4) and c=14.302(1) and a=5.866(4) and c=14.596(1) for the Li and Na member, respectively. The structure of Ba_3.44K_1.56Ir₂O₁₀ is derived from the stacking of [AO₃] and mixed [A₂O] layers, and is an n=3 member of the [A_nM_n−1O_3n][A₂O] family of hexagonal perovskite related oxides. The structure of Ba_3.44K_1.56Ir₂O₁₀ consists of (Ba₃Ir₂O₉) slabs separated by [(Ba,K)₂O] layers and is isostructural with Ba₅Ru₂O₁₀. The (Ba₃Ir₂O₉) slabs contain isolated, face-sharing Ir₂O₉ octahedra pairs. The compound crystallizes in the space group P6₃/mmc, Z=2, with a=5.91330(1) Å and c=18.1792(7) Å. The magnetic moments determined from the temperature dependence of the magnetic susceptibility are low for all three oxides, which is thought to be due to a combination of spin–orbit coupling and strong exchange interactions within the iridium octahedra pairs.     

Diffuse X-ray scattering in the lead-free piezoelectric crystals Na1/2Bi1/2TiO3 and Ba-doped Na1/2Bi1/2TiO3

X-ray diffuse scattering has been measured by single-crystal X-ray diffraction on the lead-free piezoelectric perovskites Na_0.5Bi_0.5TiO₃ (NBT) and (Na_0.5Bi_0.5)_0.89Ba_0.11TiO₃ (NBT–Ba_0.11). Evidence of a pronounced local structure or included phase different from the rhombohedral average symmetry (space group R3c), or of a modulated structure with a characteristic period of 40 Å, is presented for NBT from high-resolution synchrotron X-ray mapping and CCD diffractometer investigations. The additional scattering shows pronounced anisotropy and produces satellite peaks displaced by 0.2 in the h and k indices for reflections such as {640} indexed on the pseudo-cubic unit cell with a = 7.761(2) Å. By contrast, weaker, less anisotropic diffuse scattering is observed for tetragonal NBT–Ba_0.11 (space group P4mm), which is directed along the pseudo-cubic 〈110〉. The lack of satellite peaks and pronounced anisotropic diffuse scattering in the tetragonal phase of phase NBT–Ba₀.₁₁ lends support to the idea that the massive tetragonal to rhombohedral phase transition in NBT at around 503–573 K, which is absent in NBT–Ba₀.₁₁, may be the key to understanding the local structure found repeatedly at room temperature in this complex material.     

Aspects of electronic transport in YBaCo4O7+δ pellets

YBaCo₄O_7+δ powders were obtained by standard solid state reaction und their structural, morphological and electrical properties carefully analyzed. The X-ray powder diffraction patterns showed reflexes corresponding to a pure hexagonal structure (space group P6₃mc). The lattice parameters resulted to be very close to those reported in the literature for high-quality samples. Raman spectra at room temperature allowed for identifying bands associated with vibrating modes of CoO₄ and Y₂O₆ in tetrahedral and octahedral coordination, respectively. Additional bands, which seemed to stem from CoO in octahedral coordination, were also clearly identified. The dependence of the resistivity on temperature showed a semiconducting-like behavior and no indication of structural phase transition was observed up to temperatures as low as 20 K. The electronic transport mechanism in this material was analyzed within the framework of standard models as thermal activation, polaronic-type conductivity or Mott variable-range hopping. Contrary to some reports in the literature in which thermal activation was reported to be the main transport mechanism, careful analysis of the obtained resistivity data (this work) favored the variable-range hopping conduction model. Certainly, the experimental data recorded in a wide temperature range were well described by the function ρ(T) = ρ₀exp[(T^*/T)^1/4]. The fit procedure yielded a temperature scale T^* ～ 10⁶ K, similar to that found in other transition metal oxides. This parameter, in turn, allowed for estimating the density of states at the Fermi level N(E_F) for this compound.     

Crystal growth of barium rhenates from hydroxide fluxes

Single crystals of two new barium rhenate compositions, Ba₁₆Re₆O₃₇ and Ba₁₀Re₃O₁₆(OH)₃, and of one new polymorph, orthorhombic Ba₅Re₂O₁₂, were grown out of a barium hydroxide flux in sealed silver tubes. Ba₁₆Re₆O₃₇ and Ba₁₀Re₃O₁₆(OH)₃ crystallize into the monoclinic C2/m system, with a = 20.577(4) Å, b = 5.8897(10) Å, c = 15.438 (3) Å, β = 92.255(10) ° and a = 1938342(9) Å, b = 5.8172(3) Å, c = 10.2925(5) Å, β = 91.7460(10) °, respectively. The orthorhombic polymorph of Ba₅Re₂O₁₂ crystallizes in the space group Pnma, with a = 19.6728(10) Å, b = 5.8491(3) Å and c = 10.4648(5) Å. All the three crystal structures are related and consist of a framework of BaO_x polyhedra (where x varies from six to twelve) with interpenetrating layers of ReO₆ octahedra.     

Temperature-dependent Raman spectroscopy studies of phase transformations in the K2WO4 and the MgMoO4 crystals

Temperature-dependent Raman spectroscopy studies of K₂WO₄ and MgMoO₄ polycrystals were performed in order to obtain information about vibrational and structural changes in these materials as a function of temperature. The stability of the monoclinic phase for both K₂WO₄ and MgMoO₄ samples was assessed and our results indicated that this phase is stable in the 295–723 K and 300–770 K ranges for K₂WO₄ and MgMoO₄, respectively. It was observed that both samples underwent two phase transformations above room temperature. The first phase transformations which occur at about 633 K and 640 K for K₂WO₄ and MgMoO₄, respectively, is most likely connected with weak tilting and/or rotations of WO₄/MoO₄ tetrahedral units that lead to a disorder in the oxygen sublattice. Raman spectroscopy data also indicated that K₂WO₄ and MgMoO₄ exhibited a first-order phase transition at around 723 K and 770 K, respectively, changing from monoclinic to hexagonal symmetry.     

Synthesis,structure, and characterization of a new two-dimensional lead(II) vanadate,Ba3PbV4O14

A new two-dimensional lead(II) vanadate, Ba₃PbV₄O₁₄ has been synthesized by standard solid state techniques using BaCO₃, PbO, and V₂O₅ as reagents. The structure of Ba₃PbV₄O₁₄ was determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Ba₃PbV₄O₁₄ crystallizes in the triclinic space group P-1 (no. 2), with a = 7.2997(15) (Å), b = 7.2932(15) (Å), c = 13.379(3) (Å), α = 93.68(3)°, β = 99.68(3)°, γ = 91.49(3)°, V = 700.2(2) (ų) and Z = 2. Ba₃PbV₄O₁₄ exhibits a novel two-dimensional layered structure consisting of corner shared VO₄ tetrahedra that are linked by edge shared PbO₇ polyhedra, in which the Ba²⁺ cations occupy the interlayer region. The Pb²⁺ cations are in asymmetric coordination environments attributable to its lone pair. Infrared, Raman, and UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and dipole moment calculations are also presented.     

Crystal structure and phase transitions of sodium potassium niobate perovskites

This paper presents the crystal structure and the phase transitions of K_xNa_1?xNbO₃ (0.4 ≤ x ≤ 0.6). X-ray diffraction measurements were used to follow the change of the unit-cell parameters and the symmetry in the temperature range 100–800 K. At room temperature all the compositions exhibited a monoclinic metric of the unit cell with a small monoclinic distortion (90.32° ≤ β ≤ 90.34°). No major change of symmetry was evidenced in the investigated compositional range, which should be characteristic of the morphotropic phase-boundary region. With increasing temperature, the samples underwent first-order monoclinic–tetragonal and tetragonal–cubic transitions. Only the potassium-rich phases were rhombohedral at 100 K.     

Synthesis and structural characterization of two new hexagonal osmates: Ba2Fe0.92Os1.08O6 and Ba2Co0.77Os1.23O6

Two complex oxides of osmium, Ba₂Fe_0.92Os_1.08O₆ and Ba₂Co_0.77Os_1.23O₆, have been prepared as single crystals from molten potassium hydroxide. Both oxides crystallize in the hexagonal space group P6₃mc with a = 5.7403(1) Å and c = 14.0771(6) Å and a = 5.7745(2) Å and c = 14.0946(7) Å for Ba₂Fe_0.92Os_1.08O₆ and Ba₂Co_0.77Os_1.23O₆, respectively. The structure of these compounds is related to the 6H–BaTiO₃ structure but exhibit mixed occupancy of both metals on the three crystallographically independent metal sites.     

Temperature-induced phase transitions in BaTbO3

The crystal structures of BaTbO₃ have been investigated over a wide temperature range between 40 and 773 K using high-resolution time-of-flight neutron powder diffraction. Two-phase transitions were observed. Below about 280 K, BaTbO₃ adopts an orthorhombic perovskite structure (space group Ibmm), which is characterized by rotation of TbO₆ octahedra about the pseudocubic two-fold axis. Above 280 K, BaTbO₃ undergoes a first-order phase transition to a tetragonal symmetry (space group I4/mcm), in which the tilting of the octahedra is around the pseudocubic four-fold axis. As the temperature is further increased, BaTbO₃ adopts the primitive cubic aristotype at about 623 K. This later phase transformation is characterized by a gradual decrease of the rotation angle, indicating a continuous phase transition, which is described by a critical exponent β=0.35.     

X-ray and infrared spectrum on metal complexes with indolecarboxylic acids: Part V. Catena-poly[{aqua(η2-indole-3-propionato-O,O′)zinc}-η2-:-μ-indole-3-propionato-O,O′:-O]

The catena-poly[{aqua(η²-indole-3-propionato-O,O′)zinc}-η²-:-μ-indole-3-propionato-O,O′:-O], [Zn(I3PA)₂(H₂O)]_n was prepared and characterized by infrared spectroscopy and X-ray structure determination. The crystals are monoclinic, space group Pc, with a = 21.380(2), b = 5.9076(7), c = 8.1215(9) Å, V = 1020.2(2) Å³ and Z = 2. The central zinc atom shows the coordination distorted from ideal octahedral. Each zinc centre is coordinated by two oxygen atoms of the bidentate chelating indole-3-propionato (I3PA), two oxygen atoms tridentate chelating-bridging I3PA, water molecule and one oxygen atom tridentate chelating-bridging I3PA from an adjacent [Zn(I3PA)₂(H₂O)] unit. The infrared spectrum of [Zn(I3PA)₂(H₂O)]_n in the solid state is supported by X-ray analysis. The theoretical wavenumbers and infrared intensities have been calculated by the density functional methods (B3LYP and mPW1PW) with the 6-311++G(d,p)/LanL2DZ basis sets. The theoretical wavenumbers, infrared intensities show a good agreement with experimental data. Detailed band assignment has been made on the basis of the calculated potential energy distribution (PED).     

Dielectric characteristics of a Ce3+-doped Sr0.61Ba0.39Nb2O6 single crystal with Cole–Cole plots technique

In this paper, we have investigated relaxation mechanisms and dielectric characteristics of an Sr_0.61−xBa_0.39Nb₂O₆Ce_x (abbreviated as SBN61 and x=0.0066) single crystal with dielectric spectroscopy measurements. The crystal undergoes a ferroelectric phase transition at 340 K. The temperature dependence of the real and imaginary part of the complex dielectric susceptibility in the vicinity of ferroelectric–paraelectric phase transition has been studied in the frequency region 100 Hz–10 mHz. The measurement of the dielectric constants of the real and imaginary parts shows strong frequency dependence. The investigations of the dielectric constant using Cole–Cole plots revealed a non-Debye-type dielectric relaxation for Ce⁺³-doped SBN61. It reveals the coexistence of the two dielectric relaxators in the vicinity of the phase transition.     

Preparation and crystal structure of members of the solid solution phase Ba5Ru2−xAl1+x−yCuyO11 with x=0.378, y=0.085 and x=0.5, y=0

Single crystals of the new phase Ba₅Ru_2−xAl_1+x−yCu_yO₁₁ (x=0.378, y=0.085) have been grown from a powder mixture of BaCO₃, RuO₂ and CuO in an alumina crucible. The new compound crystallizes isostructurally to Ba₅Ir₂AlO₁₁. The crystal structure was determined by X-ray single-crystal diffraction technique and refined to a composition of Ba₅Ru_1.622(8)Al_1.29(1)Cu_0.085(6)O₁₁ (orthorhombic, Pnma (No. 62), a=18.615(4) Å, b=5.771(1) Å, c=11.098(2) Å, Z=4, R₁=0.048, wR₂=0.075). The composition of the new compound obtained from crystal structure refinement is in good agreement with the result of electron probe microanalysis using wavelength-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Octahedra [RuO₆] are connected via faces forming pairs. The central positions of the octahedra pairs are statistically occupied by Ru and Al atoms. These octahedra pairs are interconnected to one-dimensional chains extending along [010] via tetrahedra [Al_1−yCu_yO₄]. Isotypic Ba₅Ru_1.5Al_1.5O₁₁ is a further member of the solid solution with the lattice parameters a=18.6654(5) Å, b=5.7736(1) Å, c=11.0693(3) Å according to Rietveld refinement on a microcrystalline sample.     

Dielectric and impedance studies on the double perovskite Ba2BiTaO6

High temperature dielectric measurement on rhombohedral Ba₂BiTaO₆ shows an anomaly at 250 °C where there is a structural transition from the room temperature rhombohedral (R-3) to high temperature cubic (Fm-3m) phase as inferred from the high temperature X-ray diffraction data. Impedance spectroscopic study reveals that the contribution to the electrical response comes from grain as well as from grain boundary. Grain boundary capacitance does not show significant temperature dependence whereas grain capacitance increases with increasing temperature. Both of these conduction processes are similar in nature as indicated from the close value of activation energies as derived from the Arrhenius plot.     

Synthesis,structure, and properties of randomly mixed and layer-ordered SrMn1−xGaxO3−δ perovskites

We report the synthesis of SrMn_1−xGa_xO_3−δ perovskite compounds and describe the dependence of their phase stability and structural and physical properties over extended cation and oxygen composition ranges. Using special synthesis techniques, we have extended the solubility limit of Ga³⁺ in the cubic perovskite phase to x≈0.33. Higher Ga concentrations lead to mixed phases until a single-phase ordered double-perovskite structure is obtained at x=0.5, i.e., Sr₂MnGaO_6−δ. In the cubic perovskite phase the maximum oxygen content is 3−x/2, which corresponds to 100% Mn⁴⁺. All maximally oxygenated solid solution compounds are found to order antiferromagnetically, with the transition temperature linearly decreasing as Ga content increases. Reducing the oxygen content introduces frustration into the magnetic system and a spin-glass state is observed for SrMn_0.7Ga_0.3O_2.5 below 30 K. The brownmillerite phase at low oxygen content, Sr₂MnGaO₅, is found to have Icmm crystallographic symmetry. At 12 K its magnetic structure is found to order in the Icm′m′ magnetic symmetry corresponding to a G-type antiferromagnetic structure of Mn³⁺ ions. At higher oxygen content, Sr₂MnGaO_5.5 is found to have Cmmm crystallographic symmetry with disordered oxygen vacancies. At 12 K two competing long-range magnetic structures are found for the Mn⁴⁺ sublattice having C_Im′m′m symmetry (G-type), and C_Pm′m′m symmetry (C-type), together with a G-type short-range magnetic correlations.     

The mixed-valence iron compound Na0.1Fe7(PO4)6: crystal structure and 57Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy between 80 and 295 K

The crystal structure of the synthetic iron phosphate Na_0.10(1)Fe_6.99(1)(P_1.00(1)O₄)₆ has been refined at 270 and 100 K from single-crystal X-ray diffraction data. The compound is triclinic, P−1, Z=1, lattice parameters: a=6.3944(9) Å, b=7.956(1) Å, c=9.364(1) Å, α=105.13(1)°, β=108.35(1)°, γ=101.64(1)° at 270 K and adopts the well-known howardevansite structure type. Iron, being both in the divalent and the trivalent valence state, is ordered on the four symmetry non-equivalent iron positions [Fe²⁺ on Fe(1) and Fe(3), Fe³⁺ on Fe(2) and Fe(4)]. Three of the four iron positions show octahedral oxygen atom coordination, the fourth one, which is occupied by Fe²⁺, is five-fold coordinated. The structure consists of crankshafts (buckled chains) of edge sharing Fe-oxygen polyhedra, passing through the unit cell in [101] direction. Structural investigation at 100 K shows no change of symmetry. The valence state and distribution of iron was determined by ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy. The compound shows 4 subspectra in agreement with the four different Fe sites. The assignment of the Fe²⁺ doublets to the Fe(1) and Fe(3) sites is trivial due to the 2:1 stoichiometry, also found in the Mössbauer spectra. For the Fe³⁺ sites, the temperature-dependent variation of structural distortion parameters and the quadrupole splitting led to a clear doublet assignment.     

Electrochemical properties of Li(Li(1−x)/3CoxMn(2−2x)/3)O2 (0 ⩽ x ⩽ 1) solid solutions prepared by poly-vinyl alcohol (PVA) method

The whole range of solid solutions Li(Li_(1−x)/3Co_xMn_(2−2x)/3)O₂ (0 ⩽ x ⩽ 1) was firstly synthesized by an aqueous solution method using poly-vinyl alcohol as a synthetic agent to investigate their structure and electrochemical properties. X-ray diffraction results indicated that the synthesized solid solutions showed a single phase without any detectable impurity phase and have a hexagonal structure with some additional peaks caused by monoclinic distortion, especially in the solid solutions with a low Co amount. In the electrochemical examination, the solid solutions in the range between 0.2 ⩽ x ⩽ 0.9 showed higher discharge capacity and better cyclability than LiCoO₂ (x = 1) on cycling between 2.0 and 4.6 V with 100 mA g⁻¹ at 25 °C. For example, Li(Li_0.2Co_0.4Mn_0.4)O₂ (x = 0.4) exhibited a high discharge capacity of 180 mA h g⁻¹ at the 50th cycle. By synthesizing the solid solution between Li₂MnO₃ and LiCoO₂, the electrochemical properties of the end members were improved.     

Mesophase and magnetic behavior in cobalt(II) and iron(II) compounds

The metal complexes with long alkyl chains [Co(C16-terpy)₃](BF₄)₂ (1) and [Fe(C16-terpy)₂](BF₄)₂ (2) were synthesized and the physical properties of the complex were characterized by magnetic susceptibility, Mössbauer spectroscopy, polarizing optical microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and X-ray scattering, where C16-terpy is 4′-hexadecyloxy-2,2′:6′,2′′-terpyridine. Variable-temperature magnetic susceptibility measurements and/or Mössbauer studies revealed that the complex 1 exhibited unique spin transition (T_1/2↓ = 217 K and T_1/2↑ = 260 K) induced by structural phase transition, and the complex 2 was in the low-spin state in the temperature region of 5–400 K before the first mesophase transition. The cobalt(II) and iron(II) complexes exhibited liquid-crystal properties in the temperature range of 371–528 K and 466–556 K, respectively. After mesophase transition, the complex 1 exhibited only slight spin transition (T_1/2↓ = 266 K and T_1/2↑ = 279 K), and the complex 2 was in the low-spin state. The compounds with multifunction, i.e., magnetic property and liquid-crystal properties, are important in the development of molecular materials.     

Single crystal structure and magnetic properties of a new quaternary samarium-titanium oxyselenide: Sm3Ti3Se2O8

The new compound Sm₃Ti₃Se₂O₈ has been synthesized by a solid state reaction of Sm₂O₃, TiO₂, and TiSe₂ at T=1000 °C. This compound crystallizes in the monoclinic symmetry, space group P2₁/m (No. 11), with unit cell parameters: a=9.7844(6), b=3.8865(5), c=13.330(1) Å, and β=111.37(1)°, Z=2. Its crystal structure can be roughly described as small fragments [SmSe] of a rock-salt-type structure interconnected by a complex entity built up from the condensation of edge sharing [TiO] octahedra. Refinement for 1019 independent reflections and 73 variables converged to the reliability factor R_F=2.00 % (for 942 reflections satisfying the criterion I≥3σ(I)). Magnetic susceptibility of the title compound has been measured from 2 to 300 K and has shown a paramagnetic behavior of the van Vleck Sm³⁺ cation in the whole temperature range.     

Temperature-dependent Raman spectra of Bi2Sn2O7 ceramics

The Bi₂Sn₂O₇ pyrochlore is known to undergo a sequence of structural phase transitions with an increase in temperature. Raman spectroscopy was employed in the investigation of the temperature dependence of the active phonons in the Raman spectrum. We observed 19 broad modes at room temperature, reflecting the low symmetry of the α-phase of Bi₂Sn₂O₇. The modes were discussed in relation to the Raman spectra of other pyrochlore-based oxides. The temperature dependence of the phonons evidences the α → β structural phase transition observed near 127 °C.