Pressure Dependence of the Lattice Distortion in Perovskite La0.5−xBixCa0.5MnO3 (x=0.1, 0.15, 0.2)

The in situ behavior of distorted perovskite La_0.5−xBi_xCa_0.5MnO₃ (x=0.1, 0.15, 0.2) under high pressure has been studied by energy-dispersive X-ray diffraction in a diamond anvil cell. An abnormal change of the 202–040 d-spacing ascribed to the disappearance of the distortion mode Q₂ in the MnO₆ octahedra is observed at 1.2, 1.4, and 1.6 GPa, respectively, and it results in a reduction of the Jahn–Teller distortion commonly existing in the manganites. Effect of the unique 6s² long-pair character of the Bi³⁺ ion on the pressure dependence of the lattice distortion is discussed.     

Mitigation of Jahn–Teller distortion and Na+/vacancy ordering in a distorted manganese oxide cathode material by Li substitution

Layered manganese-based oxides are promising candidates as cathode materials for sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) due to their low cost and high specific capacity. However, the Jahn–Teller distortion from high-spin Mn³⁺ induces detrimental lattice strain and severe structural degradation during sodiation and desodiation. Herein, lithium is introduced to partially substitute manganese ions to form distorted P′2-Na_0.67Li_0.05Mn_0.95O₂, which leads to restrained anisotropic change of Mn–O bond lengths and reinforced bond strength in the [MnO₆] octahedra by mitigation of Jahn–Teller distortion and contraction of MnO₂ layers. This ensures the structural stability during charge and discharge of P′2-Na_0.67Li_0.05Mn_0.95O₂ and Na⁺/vacancy disordering for facile Na⁺ diffusion in the Na layers with a low activation energy barrier of ∼0.53 eV. It exhibits a high specific capacity of 192.2 mA h g⁻¹, good cycling stability (90.3% capacity retention after 100 cycles) and superior rate capability (118.5 mA h g⁻¹ at 1.0 A g⁻¹), as well as smooth charge/discharge profiles. This strategy is effective to tune the crystal structure of layered oxide cathodes for SIBs with high performance.

Li-Substitution in P′2-Na_0.67MnO₂ mitigates the anisotropic change of Mn–O bonds and Na/vacancy ordering, and hence significantly promotes its cycling stability and rate capability as a cathode material for sodium-ion batteries.     

[M(dipicH2)(H2O)3], M = Ni,Cu, Zn (dipicH2 = dipicolinic acid) – A combined crystallographic,spectroscopic and computational study

Cationic metal complexes of dipicolinic acid (dipicH₂) are stabilized by [Ce(dipic)₃]²⁻ ions in the three isomorphous crystals [M(dipicH₂)(OH₂)₃][Ce(dipic)₃] · 3H₂O (M = Ni, 1; Cu, 2; Zn, 3). Magnetic dilution provided by the bulky anions leads to well-resolved EPR spectra in polycrystalline samples of 2. The cations have 4+2 coordination, the carbonyl atom of the carboxylic acid groups coordinating weakly from trans positions. In the case of 2 this steric distortion is augmented by Jahn–Teller distortion. All the three structures are satisfactorily modelled by calculations based on density functional theory (DFT). The switch of the Jahn–Teller axis upon deprotonation of the complex, leading to the neutral species Cu(dipic)(H₂O)₃, is also reproduced by DFT. Electronic transition energies as well as the g-tensor component of the d⁹ complex obtained are in good agreement with experiment. However, the calculated hyperfine coupling constants are in error. DFT also fails to satisfactorily account for the electronic transition in the d⁸ ion in 1.     

A Jahn–Teller analysis of K3 and Rb3 in the electronic states 1E′ and 1E″

The potential energy surfaces (PES) of the Jahn–Teller distorted doublet 1²E′ (1B₂/1A₁) ground state and 1²E″ (2B₁/1A₂) excited state of alkali metal trimers (K₃, Rb₃) are studied with three high-level computational chemistry methods whose results are compared: single-reference coupled cluster, equation-of-motion coupled cluster and multi-reference second-order Rayleigh–Schrödinger perturbation theory. The doubly degenerate E electronic state interacts with the twofold degenerate vibrational e mode. We use the E ⊗ e Jahn–Teller effect theory to analyze in detail one- and two-dimensional cuts of the PES as a function of the symmetry-adapted internal coordinates Q_s, Q_x and Q_y and we extract the associated Jahn–Teller parameters. Spin-orbit coupling is accounted for by means of the Effective-Core-Potential-LS technique and spin-orbit splitting constants are extracted. We also provide the geometries, the binding energies and tentative vibronic spectra for the 1²E″ ← 1²E′ transitions.     

NaIrO3—A pentavalent post-perovskite

Sodium iridium (V) oxide, NaIrO_3, was synthesized by a high pressure solid state method and recovered to ambient conditions. It is found to be isostructural with CaIrO₃, the much-studied structural analog of the high-pressure post-perovskite phase of MgSiO₃. Among the oxide post-perovskites, NaIrO₃ is the first example with a pentavalent cation. The structure consists of layers of corner- and edge-sharing IrO₆ octahedra separated by layers of NaO₈ bicapped trigonal prisms. NaIrO₃ shows no magnetic ordering and resistivity measurements show non-metallic behavior. The crystal structure, electrical and magnetic properties are discussed and compared to known post-perovskites and pentavalent perovskite metal oxides.     

Relative stabilities of layered perovskite and pyrochlore structures in transition metal oxides containing trivalent bismuth

In order to investigate the factors determining the relative stabilities of layered perovskite and pyrochlore structures of transition metal oxides containing trivalent bismuth, several ternary and quaternary oxides have been investigated. While d⁰ cations stabilize the layered perovskite structure, cations containing partially-filled d orbitals (which suppress ferroelectric distortion of MO₆ octahedra) seem to favor pyrochlore-related structures. Thus, the vanadium analogue of the layered perovskite Bi₄Ti₃O₁₂ cannot be prepared; instead the composition consists of a mixture of pyrochlore-type Bi_1.33V₂O₆, Bi₂O₃, and Bi metal. The distortion of Bi_1.33V₂O₆ to orthorhombic symmetry is probably due to an ordering of anion vacancies in the pyrochlore structure. None of the other pyrochlores investigated, Bi₂NbCrO₇, Bi₂NbFeO₇, TlBiM₂O₇ (M = Nb, Ta), shows evidence for cation ordering in the X-Ray diffraction patterns, as indeed established by structure refinement of TlBiNb₂O₇.     

Raman scattering study on pressure-induced phase transformation of marokite (CaMn2O4)

An in-situ Raman Spectroscopic study was conducted to explore the pressure-induced phase transformation of CaMn₂O₄ to pressures of 73.7 GPa. Group theory yields 24 Raman active modes for CaMn₂O_4, of which 20 are observed at ambient conditions. With the slight compression below 5 GPa, the pressure-induced contraction compensates the structural distortion induced by a Jahn–Teller (JT) effect, resulting in the occurrence of the zero pressure shifts of the JT-related Raman modes. Upon elevation of pressure to nearby 35 GPa, these Raman modes start to display a significant variation in pressure shift, implying the appearance of a pressure-induced phase transformation. Group factor analyses on all possible structure polymorphs indicate that the high-pressure phase is preferentially assigned to an orthorhombic structure, having the CaTi₂O₄ structure. The cooperative JT distortion is continuously reduced in the CaMn₂O₄ polymorph up to 35 GPa. Beyond 35 GPa, it is found that the JT effect was completely suppressed by pressure in the newly formed high-pressure phase. Upon release of pressure, this high-pressure phase transforms to the original CaMn₂O₄ phase, and continuously remains stable to ambient conditions.     

Synthesis and electrochemical characteristics of oxysulfide spinel material for lithium secondary batteries

Oxysulfide spinel LiMn₂O_3.98S_0.02 powders with monodispersed, and highly homogeneous particles were synthesized by a sol-gel method using an aqueous solution of metal acetates and sulfide containing glycolic acid as a chelating agent. The oxysulfide spinel, LiMn₂O_3.98S_0.02 electrode initially delivers 80 mAh g⁻¹, steadily increases during cycling, and reaches 99 mAh g⁻¹ at the 20th cycle. The substitution of a small amount S for O in LiMn₂O₄ spinel helps to maintain structural integrity during cycling, which then overcomes the Jahn–Teller distortion in the spinel Mn phase in the 3 V region.     

A method for increasing the surface area of perovskite-type oxides

A method based on hydrothermal treatments is described for increasing the surface area of sintered ABO₃-type perovskite oxides. Influence of hydrothermal treatments, such as water treatment at 125–300°C under autogeneous pressure and steam treatment at 350–800°C, to low surface area (or sintered) LaCoO₃ and LaMnO₃ perovskite oxides on their surface properties (viz. surface area, crystal size and morphology and surface La/(Co or Mn) ratio) and also catalytic activity in complete combustion of methane at different temperatures (450–600°C) has been thoroughly investigated. The hydrothermal treatments result in the activation of the perovskite oxides by increasing their surface area very markedly.     

Structural and electronic evolution of Cr2O3 on compression to 55 GPa

Synchrotron single-crystal x-ray diffraction experiments have been performed on corundum-type Cr₂O₃ up to a pressure of 55 GPa in Ne and He pressure transmitting media. Diffraction experiments were complemented by measurements of optical absorption spectra with single crystal samples up to 60 GPa. Results of the diffraction data analysis rule out the earlier reported monoclinic distortion at 15–30 GPa, but indicate evidence of two discontinuous transitions of electronic or magnetic nature, most likely associated with a change in magnetic ordering and charge transfer. The compression mechanism established from single crystal refinements indicates much smaller distortion of the Cr³⁺ coordination environment than was previously assumed.     

Jahn-Teller distortion and dissociation of CCl4+ by transient X-ray spectroscopy simultaneously at the carbon K- and chlorine L-edge

X-ray Transient Absorption Spectroscopy (XTAS) and theoretical calculations are used to study CCl₄⁺ prepared by 800 nm strong-field ionization. XTAS simultaneously probes atoms at the carbon K-edge (280–300 eV) and chlorine L-edge (195–220 eV). Comparison of experiment to X-ray spectra computed by orbital-optimized density functional theory (OO-DFT) indicates that after ionization, CCl₄⁺ undergoes symmetry breaking driven by Jahn–Teller distortion away from the initial tetrahedral structure (T_d) in 6 ± 2 fs. The resultant symmetry-broken covalently bonded form subsequently separates to a noncovalently bound complex between CCl₃⁺ and Cl over 90 ± 10 fs, which is again predicted by theory. Finally, after more than 800 fs, L-edge signals for atomic Cl are observed, indicating dissociation to free CCl₃⁺ and Cl. The results for Jahn–Teller distortion to the symmetry-broken form of CCl₄⁺ and formation of the Cl–CCl⁺₃ complex characterize previously unobserved new species along the route to dissociation.

Dynamics of CCl₄⁺ prepared by 800 nm strong-field ionization, as studied with X-ray transient absorption spectroscopy (XTAS) and quantum chemical calculations.     

Synthesis and Properties of Lanthanide Ruthenium(III) Oxide Perovskites

An extensive series of new LnRuO₃ perovskites has been synthesized at high pressure. These ruthenium(III)‐based oxides are ruthenium deficient, and high‐pressure samples have compositions close to LnRu_0.9O₃. These phases stabilize ruthenium(III) which is very unusual in oxides. X‐ray and neutron powder diffraction studies show that the materials adopt orthorhombic perovskite superstructures in which the RuO₆ octahedra are tetragonally compressed. These distortions, and the Mott insulator properties of the materials, are driven by strong spin‐orbit coupling.     

Synthesis,structure and biological properties of several binary and ternary complexes of copper(II) with ciprofloxacin and 1,10 phenanthroline

In this study, a new binary complex [Cu(HCip)₂](NO₃)₂ · 6H₂O (1) has been synthesized and then characterized by X-ray structure analyses. In this compound, each ciprofloxacin acts as a bidentate ligand resulting in a crystallographically planar configuration; the nitrate anions are located in apical positions with an axial distance significantly larger than the equatorial distances, which would be consistent with a very weak metal ion interaction due to the Jahn–Teller effect. In addition, both the synthesis and characterization of two new ternary complexes of ciprofloxacin–copper(II)–1,10-phenanthroline, [Cu(phen)(Cip)](NO₃) · 4H₂O (2) and Cu(phen)(HCip)(NO₃)₂ · H₂O (3), have been accomplished. We have also undertaken the single crystal structural determination of 2, in which the ciprofloxacin acts as tridentate bridging ligand; the complex exhibits a five-coordinated motif in a distorted square pyramidal environment around the metal center. The chemical nuclease activity of compounds 2 and 3 has also been studied, revealing that both compounds behave as efficient chemical nucleases in the presence of ascorbate. Mechanistic studies, with various radical oxygen scavengers, indicate that the DNA cleavage reaction is mediated by hydroxyl radicals, singlet oxygen, and the superoxide anion.     

Improved photovoltaic performance from high quality perovskite thin film grown with the assistance of PC<Subscript>71</Subscript>BM

The strategy of sequentially spin-coating a perovskite film from the perovskite precursor and an electron transporting layer of [6,6]-phenyl-C₇₁-butyric acid methyl ester (PC₇₁BM) is developed to simplify the fabrication procedure of perovskite solar cells. X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy indicate that PC₇₁BM film on perovskite layer can retard the evaporation of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) efficiently, thus prolonging the transformation of intermediate phase to perovskite crystals, leading to a high quality perovskite thin film. The solar cells with the structure of indium tin oxides (ITO)/poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS)/CH₃NH₃PbI₃/PC₇₁BM/bathocuproine (BCP)/Ag made from this simplified method exhibit a higher efficiency (12.68%) than those from the conventional one-step method (9.49%).     

A new high‐pressure strontium germanate,SrGe2O5

The Sr–Ge–O system has an earth‐scientific importance as a potentially good low‐pressure analog of the Ca–Si–O system, one of the major components in the constituent minerals of the Earth's crust and mantle. However, it is one of the germanate systems that has not yet been fully examined in the phase relations and structural properties. The recent findings that the SrGeO₃ high‐pressure perovskite phase is the first Ge‐based transparent electronic conductor make the Sr–Ge–O system interesting in the field of materials science. In the present study, we have revealed the existence of a new high‐pressure strontium germanate, SrGe₂O₅. Single crystals of this compound crystallized as a co‐existent phase with SrGeO₃ perovskite single crystals in the sample recovered in the compression experiment of SrGeO₃ pseudowollastonite conducted at 6 GPa and 1223 K. The crystal structure consists of germanium–oxygen framework layers stacked along [001], with Sr atoms located at the 12‐coordinated cuboctahedral site; the layers are formed by the corner linkages between GeO₆ octahedra and between GeO₆ octahedra and GeO₄ tetrahedra. The present SrGe₂O₅ is thus isostructural with the high‐pressure phases of SrSi₂O₅ and BaGe₂O₅. Comparison of these three compounds leads to the conclusion that the structural responses of the GeO₆ and GeO₄ polyhedra to cation substitution at the Sr site are much less than that of the SrO₁₂ cuboctahedron to cation substitution at the Ge sites. Such a difference in the structural response is closely related to the bonding nature.     

Aqueous Chemical Solution Deposition of Functional Double Perovskite Epitaxial Thin Films

Double perovskite structure (A₂BB′O₆) oxides exhibit a breadth of multifunctional properties with a huge potential range of applications in fields as diverse as spintronics, magneto-optic devices, or catalysis, and most of these applications require the use of thin films and heterostructures. Chemical solution deposition techniques are appearing as a very promising methodology to achieve epitaxial oxide thin films combining high performance with high throughput and low cost. In addition, the physical properties of these materials are strongly dependent on the ordered arrangement of cations in the double perovskite structure. Thus, promoting spontaneous cationic ordering has become a relevant issue. In this work, our recent achievements by using polymer-assisted deposition (PAD) of environmentally friendly, water-based solutions for the growth of epitaxial ferromagnetic insulating double perovskite La₂CoMnO₆ and La₂NiMnO₆ thin films on SrTiO₃ and LaAlO₃ single-crystal substrates are presented. It is shown that the particular crystallization and growth process conditions of PAD (very slow rate, close to thermodynamic equilibrium conditions) promote high crystallinity and quality of the films, as well as favors spontaneous B-site cationic ordering.     

Vibronic interactions in {6} and {18}hetero(A,B)annulenes

The vibronic (vibrational–electronic) interactions and the Jahn–Teller effects in the monoanions and trianions of {6}hetero(B,N), (C,N), and (B,O)annulenes and {18}hetero(B,N), (C,N), and (B,O)annulenes are discussed. All the heteroannulenes have threefold axis of symmetry and the twofold degenerate lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMOs), and the E^′ or E vibrational modes can cause Jahn–Teller distortions in their monoanions and trianions. State vibronic coupling constants of the monoanions and trianions and orbital vibronic coupling constants concerning the LUMOs are calculated for each Jahn–Teller active vibrational mode at the B3LYP/6-31G* level of theory. Vibrational modes near 1500 cm⁻¹ of the {6}hetero(A,B)annulenes and low-frequency modes (<500 cm⁻¹) of the {18}hetero(A,B)annulenes give large coupling constants, and therefore, these modes are essential in the Jahn–Teller distortions and the vibronic interactions. The coupling constants are qualitatively analyzed by looking at the nuclear motions of the Jahn–Teller active modes and the shapes of the LUMOs on the basis of one-electron approximation.     

Synthesis and characterization of the La1−xSrxFeO3−δ system and the fluorinated phases La1−xSrxFeO3−xFx

The oxyfluorides La_1−xSr_xFeO_3−xF_x have been prepared by fluorination of the precursor oxides La_1−xSr_xFeO_3−δ via a low temperature route using poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF). The structures of the oxides and oxyfluorides were investigated in detail by the Rietveld analysis of powder diffraction data. The oxyfluorides crystallize in the space group Pnma for 0<x≤0.9 (SrFeO₂F itself is cubic, space group Pm-3m) and show a sort of two-step structural distortion for decreasing x. Furthermore, a structural comparison of the oxyfluorides with the oxides is given, revealing an increase of the volume per La_1−xSr_xFeX₃ unit during fluorination, of which the magnitude highly depends on the value of x.     

Phase Formation Study of The Substituted Lanthanum Manganites Solid Solutions

It is well known that the manganites-based solid solutions are interesting for their electric and magnetic properties. LaMnO₃ exhibits a distorted perovskite structure due to Mn³⁺ ion, which determines the presence of the Jahn–Teller effect. Replacing La³⁺ host ions by cations of lower valence leads to the disappearance of this effect and changes the characteristics of these materials. Although the formation of manganites-based solid solutions has been intensively studied, there are some unelucidated aspects concerning their formation mechanism, depending both on the precursors used and on the thermal treatment applied in order to obtain suitable properties. In this work the formation mechanism of La_0.7M_0.3MnO₃ (M=Ca, Sr, Ca+Sr in equimolecular mixture) solid solutions, in isothermal and non-isothermal conditions, was studied. For this purpose XRD, DTA/TG and spectral techniques were used. The solid solutions formation was found to be more dependent on the Mn-precursors type than the thermal treatment conditions. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Geometric distortions of octahedral cations and tetrahedral anions in disordered [Cu(bpy)3]CrO4·7.5H2O crystal – A comparative study

A novel copper(II) chromate complex of the formula [Cu(bpy)₃][CrO₄]·7.5H₂O (1) (bpy = 2,2′-bipyridine) was prepared in the crystalline form and characterized by X-ray diffraction and spectroscopic methods (EPR, FIR-IR, NIR–Vis–UV). Two non-equivalent [Cu(bpy)₃]²⁺ groups in the form of tetragonally elongated octahedron are built into the hydrogen-bonded network. The tetragonality parameter T is 0.9830 and 0.9876 for Cu(1) and Cu(2) centers, respectively, points to the significant Jahn–Teller (JT) distortion in the tris-bipyridine copper(II) cations. The EPR parameters g₁, g₂ and g₃ are equal to 2.168, 2.159 and 2.072, respectively, correspond to the Cu–N bond directions oscillating between long and short distances. The chromate moiety is a non-coordinated to the metal center and forms a very distorted tetrahedron with three bond lengths in the range 1.617(2)–1.629(2) Å. The O(3A) and O(3B) atoms execute reorientational motion between two equilibrium arrangements with equal probability. The related geometric distortion, Δ_r, is 0.097 Å. The Gaussian analysis of single crystal electronic spectra was based on the four d–d bands assigned for Cu(II) center to the ²A_1g(dx2−y2) → ²A_2g(dz2), ²B_1g(dxy), ²B_2g(dxz) and ²B_3g(dyz) transitions in D_2h symmetry.