Ba2[Ni3N2]: a low-valent nitridonickelate-synthesis, crystal structure, and physical properties

The ternary alkaline-earth nitridonickelate Ba2[Ni3N2] (Ba2[NiI2Ni0N2]) was prepared by the reaction of mixtures of Ba2N and Ni in nitrogen gas of ambient back-pressure at 1173 K. The crystal structure determined by X-ray single-crystal and powder diffraction methods as well as from neutron diffraction data at various temperatures between 2 and 298 K is orthorhombic (Cmca (no. 64), 298 K: a=715.27(18) pm, b=1032.99(21) pm, c=740.12(20) pm) and provides the first example of a nitridonickelate with a two-dimensional complex anion. The Ni2 atom is described with a split position and the corresponding superstructure variants are investigated by theoretical full-potential nonorthogonal local-orbital calculations (FPLO). The average oxidation state of Ni in Ba2[Ni3N2] is +0.67, the lowest average value observed in nitridonickelates so far. Investigations of the physical properties demonstrate that Ba2[Ni3N2] acts as a "poor" metal with a large resistivity of approximately 2.7 mOmega cm at 300 K and exhibits low-dimensional magnetism with antiferromagnetic ordering at T approximately 90 K. XAS spectra correspond with low-valent Ni states.     

New layered compounds with honeycomb ordering: Li3Ni2BiO6, Li3NiM'BiO6 (M' = Mg, Cu, Zn), and the delafossite Ag3Ni2BiO6

The new layered compound Li(3)Ni(2)BiO(6) has been prepared by a solid-state reaction. It crystallizes in the monoclinic C2/m space group; its lamellar structure is characterized by a honeycomb ordering between Ni(2+) and Bi(5+) within the slabs, while Li(+) ions occupy octahedral sites in the interslab space. Stacking defects weakly alter the XRD pattern. By substitution of half of the nickel ions, the new phases Li(3)NiM'BiO(6) (M' = Mg, Cu, Zn) isostructural with Li(3)Ni(2)BiO(6) have been synthesized under similar conditions. All these compounds demonstrate paramagnetic behavior at high temperature, and Li(3)Ni(2)BiO(6) exhibits an antiferromagnetic ordering at 5.5 K. By topotactic molten salt ionic exchange, the new delafossite compound Ag(3)Ni(2)BiO(6) has been also obtained and characterized.     

Preparation and crystal structure of Li6Zr2O7 and Li6Hf2O7

Li₆Zr₂O₇ was obtained by annealing an intimate mixture of LiOH · H₂O and freshly prepared ZrO₂ in a stream of argon. It is monoclinic: C2/c, a = 1 044.5(1), b = 598.9(1), c = 1 020.0(1) pm, β = 100.26(1)°, Z = 4, R = 0.016 for 1 218 F values and 55 variables. The structure is closely related to that of NaCl with an ordered distribution of the metal atoms on the sodium sites while the oxygen atoms occupy seven eighths of the chlorine positions. Li has square pyramidal, Zr octahedral oxygen coordination. The corresponding Hf compound is isotypic: a = 1 040.2(1), b = 596,2(1), c = 1 015.0(1) pm, β = 100.36(1)°. ⁷Li nuclear magnetic resonance spectra of this compound give no indication for a high mobility of the Li⁺ ions.     

Li4Cs3B7O14: synthesis, crystal structure, and optical properties

A new noncentrosymmetric polyborate, Li(4)Cs(3)B(7)-O(14), has been synthesized using the conventional solid state reaction method. It crystallizes in the trigonal space group P3(1)21 (No. 152) with unit cell parameters of a = 6.9313(6) ?, c = 26.799(3) ?, and Z = 3. The new structure contains an infinite three-dimensional matrix that is built from B(7)O(14) building blocks rarely found in anhydrous borate compounds and LiO(n) (n = 4, 5), CsO(n) (n = 9, 10) polyhedra. The optical characterization of the compound indicates that the compound is phase matchable, and the UV cutoff edge is below 190 nm. IR spectroscopy, thermal analysis, and second-harmonic generation were also performed on the reported material.     

A novel two-dimensional Ni(II) fumarato complex: Solvothermal synthesis, crystal structure and magnetic properties

Dark green single crystals of [Ni(fum)(phen)] (fum = fumarato, phen = 1,10-phenanthroline) (1) have been prepared under solvothermal conditions. Its crystal structure exhibits two dimensional (2D) character. The formed layers are built of dimers of crystallographically non-equivalent Ni(II) atoms linked by bridging fumarato ligands; one is of the μ₄-bridge type with both carboxylato groups coordinated in syn-anti fashion while in the second one both carboxylate groups form a chelate-like coordination. Both Ni(II) atoms are hexa-coordinated in the cis-NiO₄N₂ form; two coordination positions are occupied by a N-bonded chelate phen molecule and four positions by oxygen atoms from the fum ligands. The layers are interconnected by π–π interactions operating between aromatic rings of the phen ligands. The analysis of the experimental thermodynamic data supports the structural assumptions and showed that magnetic subsystem of 1 can be approximated by an array of antiferromagnetic S = 1 dimers with easy-axis uniaxial magnetic anisotropy D comparable to intradimer exchange coupling J, D/J ≈ 1 and D/k_B = −6 K. The specific heat data clearly indicate the absence of a phase transition to the ordered state at least at temperatures down to 2 K.     

Heterotrimetallic 4f-3d coordination polymers: synthesis, crystal structure, and magnetic properties

A series of cyano-bridged heterotrimetallic complexes [CuL](2)Ln(H(2)O)(2)M(CN)(6).7H(2)O have been synthesized by the reactions of CuL (L(2)(-) = dianion of 1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotradecane-2,3-dione), Ln(3+) (Ln = Gd or La), and [M(CN)(6)](3)(-) (M = Co, Fe, or Cr). X-ray diffraction analysis reveals that these complexes are isostructural and have a novel chain structure. The Ln(3+) ion is eight-coordinated by six oxygen atoms of two CuL and two water molecules and two nitrogen atoms of the bridging cyano ligands of two [M(CN)(6)](3)(-), while the [M(CN)(6)](3)(-) anion connects two Ln(3+) using two trans-CN(-) ligands giving rise to a chainlike structure. In the chain, every CuL group tilts toward the CN(-) ligand of adjacent [M(CN)(6)](3)(-) with the Cu-N(cyano) contacts ranging from 2.864(6) to 2.930(6) A. Magnetic studies on the CuGdCo complex (1) indicate the presence of ferromagnetic coupling between Cu(II) and Gd(III). The CuLaCr (5) and CuLaFe (2) complexes exhibit ferromagnetic interaction between paramagnetic Cu(II) and Cr(III)/Fe(III) ions through the weak cyano bridges (Cu-N(cyano) = 2.930(6) A for 2). A global ferromagnetic interaction is operative in the CuGdFe complex (3) with the concurrence of dominant ferromagnetic Cu(II)-Gd(III) and minor antiferromagnetic Gd(III)-Fe(III) as well as the ferromagnetic Cu(II)-Fe(III) interaction. For the CuGdCr complex (4), an overall antiferromagnetic behavior was observed, which is attributed to the presence of dominant antiferromagnetic Cr(III)-Gd(III) coupling and the minor ferromagnetic Cu(II)-Gd(III) and Cu(II)-Cr(III) interaction. Moreover, a spin frustration phenomenon was found in complex 4, which results from the ferro-ferro-antiferromagnetic exchanges in the trigonal Cu-Gd-Cr units. The magnetic susceptibilities of these complexes were simulated using suitable models. The magneto-structural correlation was investigated. These complexes did not show a magnetic phase transition down to 1.8 K.     

1,2,4,5-benzenetetracarboxylate- and 2,2'-bipyrimidine-containing cobalt(II) coordination polymers: preparation, crystal structure, and magnetic properties

Three new mixed-ligand cobalt(II) complexes of formula [Co2(H2O)6(bta)(bpym)]n.4nH2O (1), [Co2(H2O)2(bta)(bpym)]n (2), and [Co2(H2O)4(bta)(bpym)]n.2nH2O ( 3) (bpym = 2,2'-bipyrimidine and H 4bta = 1,2,4,5-benzenetretracaboxylic acid) have been synthesized and characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction. 1 is a chain compound of mer-triaquacobalt(II) units which are linked through regular alternating bis-bidentate bpym and bis-monodentate bta groups. 2 and 3 are three-dimensional compounds where aquacobalt(II) ( 2) and cis-diaquacobalt(II) ( 3) entities are linked by bis-bidentate bpym ( 2 and 3) and tetrakis- ( 2 and 3) and octakis-monodentate ( 2) bta ligands. The cobalt atoms in 1- 3 exhibit somewhat distorted octahedral surroundings. Two bpym-nitrogen atoms ( 1- 3) and either two bta-oxygens ( 2) or one bta-oxygen and a water molecule ( 1 and 3) build the equatorial plane, whereas the axial positions are filled either by two water molecules ( 1) or by a bta-oxygen atom and a water molecule ( 2 and 3). The values of the cobalt-cobalt separation across the bridging bpym vary in the range 5.684(2)-5.7752(7) A, whereas those through the bta bridge cover the ranges 5.288(2)-5.7503(5) A (across the anti-syn carboxylate) and 7.715(3)-11.387(1) A (across the phenyl ring). The magnetic properties of 1- 3 have been investigated in the temperature range 1.9-290 K. They are all typical of an overall antiferromagnetic coupling with the maxima of the magnetic susceptibility at 14.5 ( 1) and 11.5 K ( 2 and 3). Although exchange pathways through bis-bidentate bpym and carboxylate-bta in different coordination modes are involved in 1- 3, their magnetic behavior is practically governed by that across the bpym bridge, the magnitude of the exchange coupling being J = -5.59(2) ( 1), -4.41(2) ( 2), and -4.49(2) ( 3) with the Hamiltonian H = - JS 1 S 2.     

Li2B12Si2: the first ternary compound in the system Li/B/Si: synthesis, crystal structure, hardness, spectroscopic investigations, and electronic structure

We present the synthesis, crystal structure, hardness, IR/Raman and UV/Vis spectra, and FP-LAPW calculations of the electronic structure of Li(2)B(12)Si(2), the first ternary compound in the system Li/B/Si. Yellow, transparent single crystals were synthesized from the elements in tin as solvent at 1500 degrees C in h-BN crucibles in arc-welded Ta ampoules. Li(2)B(12)Si(2) crystallizes orthorhombic in the space group Cmce (no. 64) with a=6.1060(6), b=10.9794(14), c=8.4050(8) A, and Z=4. The crystal structure is characterized by a covalent network of B(12) icosahedra connected by Si atoms and Li atoms located in interstitial spaces. The structure is closely related to that of MgB(12)Si(2) and fulfils the electron-counting rules of Wade and Longuet-Higgins. Measurements of Vickers (H(V)=20.3 GPa) and Knoop microhardness (H(K)=20.4 GPa) revealed that Li(2)B(12)Si(2) is a hard material. The band gap was determined experimentally and calculated by theoretical means. UV/Vis spectra revealed a band gap of 2.27 eV, with which the calculated value of 2.1 eV agrees well. The IR and Raman spectra show the expected oscillations of icosahedral networks. Theoretical investigations of bonding in this structure were carried out with the FP-LAPW method. The results confirm the applicability of simple electron-counting rules and enable some structural specialties to be explained in more detail.     

Octanuclear metallocyclic Ni4Fc4 compound: synthesis, crystal structure, and electrochemical sensing for Mg2+

New, neutral octanuclearmacrocyclic compound Ni(4)Fc(4) was achieved via self-assembly from Ni(BF(4))(2) and a ferrocene-containing bis-tridentate ligand. The compound exhibits a channeled structure with cavities inside and senses the Mg(2+) electrochemically in the solid state.     

Heterotrimetallic oxalato-bridged ReIV2MII complexes (M=Mn, Co, Ni, Cu): synthesis, crystal structure, and magnetic properties

The use of the (NBu4)2[ReIVCl4(ox)] mononuclear species as a ligand toward divalent first row transition metal ions in the presence of imidazole affords the new trinuclear compounds of formula (NBu4)2[{ReIVCl4(mu-ox)}2MII(Him)2] [NBu4+=tetra-n-butylammonium cation, ox=oxalate dianion, Him=imidazole; M=Mn (1), Co (2), Ni (3), Cu (4)] whose preparation, crystal structures, and magnetic properties are reported. 1-4 are isostructural complexes which are made up of discrete trinuclear [{ReIVCl4(mu-ox)}2MII(Him)2]2- anions and bulky NBu4+ cations. The Re and M atoms exhibit somewhat distorted octahedral surroundings which are built by four chloro and two oxalate oxygens (Re) and two imidazole nitrogen and four oxalate oxygen atoms (M), the central M atom being linked to the two peripheral Re atoms through bis-bidentate oxalate. The values of the Re...M separation across bridging oxalate vary in the range 5.646(2) (M=Ni) to 5.794(2) A (M=Mn). Magnetic susceptibility measurements on polycrystalline samples of 1-4 in the temperature range 1.9-300 K show the occurrence of significant intramolecular antiferro- (1) and ferromagnetic (2-4) interactions. The nature and magnitude of the magnetic coupling in 1-4 are qualitatively understood through orbital symmetry considerations.     

Closely related rare-earth metal germanides RE2Li2Ge3 and RE3Li4Ge4 (RE = La-Nd, Sm): synthesis, crystal chemistry, and magnetic properties

Reported are the syntheses, crystal structures, and magnetic susceptibilities of two series of closely related rare-earth metal-lithium germanides RE(2)Li(2)Ge(3) and RE(3)Li(4)Ge(4) (RE = La-Nd, Sm). All title compounds have been synthesized by reactions of the corresponding elements at high temperatures, and their structures have been established by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. RE(2)Li(2)Ge(3) phases crystallize in the orthorhombic space group Cmcm (No. 63) with the Ce(2)Li(2)Ge(3) structure type, while the RE(3)Li(4)Ge(4) phases crystallize in the orthorhombic space group Immm (No. 71) with the Zr(3)Cu(4)Si(4) structure type, respectively. Both of their structures can be recognized as the intergrowths of MgAl(2)Cu- and AlB(2)-like slabs, and these traits of the crystal chemistry are discussed. Temperature-dependent direct-current magnetization measurements indicate Curie-Weiss paramagnetism in the high-temperature regime for RE(2)Li(2)Ge(3) and RE(3)Li(4)Ge(4) (RE = Ce, Pr, Nd), while Sm(2)Li(2)Ge(3) and Sm(3)Li(4)Ge(4) exhibit Van Vleck-type paramagnetism. The data are consistent with the local-moment magnetism expected for RE(3+) ground states. At temperatures below ca. 20 K, magnetic ordering transitions have been observed. The experimental results have been complemented by tight-binding linear muffin-tin orbital electronic-band-structure calculations.     

Synthesis,crystal structure and magnetic properties of 2D bi-layered coordination polymer

A new coordination polymer, [Ni(pydc)(H₂O)₂]?·?H₂O (1) (H₂pydc?=?pyridine-3,4-dicarboxylic acid), have been synthesized by treating Ni(II) nitrate with 3,4-pyridinedicarboxylic acid under hydrothermal conditions. The single-crystal X-ray structure reveals that 1 is a 2D bi-layered coordination polymer. Single-crystals are triclinic, space group P 1 , with a?=?7.065(3), b?=?7.812(4), c?=?9.031(4)?Å, α?=?75.568(8), β?=?68.970(8), γ?=?75.927(8)°, V?=?444.0(3)?ų, Z?=?2. Variable temperature magnetic susceptibility measurements demonstrate a ferromagnetic interaction in 1.     

Li intercalation and anion/cation substitution of transition metal chalcogenides: Effects on crystal structure,microstructure, magnetic properties and Li+ ion mobility

We investigated experimentally the effect of Li intercalation on the structural, microstructural and magnetic properties as well as on the Li ion diffusivity of the complex chalcogenides Cr_5?yTi_ySe₈. In addition, the effect of anion substitution in TiS_2?zSe_z on the Li diffusion parameters was studied by ⁷Li nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spin-lattice relaxation measurements.For Cr_5?yTi_ySe₈ the Li⁺ insertion is accompanied by an irreversible phase transition from monoclinic to trigonal symmetry which is electronically driven. The maximal Li content in the host material depends on the Ti content and decreases with increasing y in Cr_5?yTi_ySe₈. The intercalated materials can be deintercalated and the minimal Li content in the residual compound increases with Ti abundance. The intercalation process is accompanied by drastic changes of the microstructure. Electrochemical discharge curves depend significantly on the Ti. According to the results of XANES investigations performed on Cr₄TiSe₈, Ti is first reduced during Li uptake and Cr atoms accept electrons at later stages of the intercalation reaction. In-situ energy dispersive X-ray diffraction experiments show that the Li intercalation at room temperature proceeds via two different mechanisms while intercalation at 60 °C is faster and is dominated by one mechanism. ⁷Li MAS NMR measurements revealed a variety of transition metal environments around the Li sites corresponding to the Cr/Ti disorder. The NMR studies also indicate fast Li dynamics. The magnetism of the educts is dominated by strong antiferromagnetic exchange interactions in the high temperature region and by spin-glass behavior in the low temperature range. Intercalation of Li weakens the antiferromagnetic exchange and for fully intercalated materials ferromagnetic exchange is observed. The interpretation of the experimental results is supported by accompanying band structure calculations.In layer-structured Li_xTiS_2?zSe_z (x ≈ 0.7) the Li diffusivity was investigated by various NMR techniques and compared with results obtained for the pure end members Li_xTiS₂ and Li_xTiSe₂. In particular, anion substitution clearly influences the slopes of the low-T flanks of the diffusion induced NMR relaxation-rate peaks. The corresponding activation barriers characterizing local hopping processes are reduced in the mixed samples with 0 < z < 2 and can be explained by a domain model. DFT calculations yield very small hopping barriers along S-rich and Se-rich domain boundaries while the barriers for Li migration inside the domains are rather high. It is therefore assumed that Li migrates along the domain boundaries.     

Magnetic,transport and thermodynamic properties of Ce5Ni2Si3 compound

The magnetization M(T,H), specific heat C_p(T,H), electrical resistivity ρ(T), magnetoresistance MR(T,H), thermal conductivity κ(T) and thermopower S(T) measurements were performed on the antiferromagnetic compound Ce₅Ni₂Si₃ with the Néel temperature T_N = 5.7 K. The estimated effective moment μ_eff is close to the free ion value of Ce in its trivalent state. The negative sign of the paramagnetic Curie temperature θ_p indicate the antiferromagnetic nature of the magnetic ordering. The variation of magnetic resistivity ρ_mag with temperature in Ce₅Ni₂Si₃ can be explained by a competition of the crystal electric field (CEF) splitting, the Kondo effect and the magnetic order. Based on the thermopower and employing a simple single-ion Kondo model the Kondo temperature have been estimated. Magnetocaloric effect is small but shows a sign change, which may be caused by a metamagnetic behavior.     

Synthesis, crystal structure and magnetic properties of the new one-dimensional manganate Cs3Mn2O4

Cs(3)Mn(2)O(4), a new member of the small family of ternary manganese (II/III) mixed-valent compounds, has been synthesized via the azide/nitrate route and studied using powder and single crystal X-ray diffraction, magnetic susceptibility measurements and density functional theory (DFT). Its crystal structure (P2(1)/c, Z = 8, a = 1276.33(1) pm, b = 1082.31(2) pm, c = 1280.29(2) pm, β = 118.390(2)°) is based on one-dimensional MnO(2)(1.5-) chains built up from edge-sharing MnO(4) tetrahedra. The title compound is the first example of an intrinsically doped transition metalate of the series A(x)MnO(2), (A = alkali metal) where a complete 1:1 charge ordering of Mn(2+) and Mn(3+) is observed along the chains (-Mn(2+)-Mn(3+)-Mn(2+)-Mn(3+)-). From the magnetic point of view it basically consists of ferrimagnetic MnO(2) chains, where the Mn(2+) and Mn(3+) ions are strongly antiferromagnetically coupled up to high temperatures. Very interestingly, their long-range three-dimensional ordering below the Néel temperature (T(N)) ~12 K give rise to conspicuous field dependent magnetic ordering phenomena, for which we propose a consistent picture based on the change from antiferromagnetic to ferromagnetic coupling between the chains. Electronic structure calculations confirm the antiferromagnetic ordering as the ground state for Cs(3)Mn(2)O(4) and ferrimagnetic ordering as its nearly degenerate state.