Anisotropic optical properties of single-crystal GdBa2Cu3O7−δ

The optical spectrum of reduced-T _c GdBa₂Cu₃O_7– has been measured for polarizations parallel and perpendicular to theab plane. The sample was an oxygen-deficient single crystal with a large face containing thec axis. The polarized reflectance from this face was measured from 20–300 K in the spectral region from 30–3000 cm^–1, with 300 K data to 30000 cm^–1. Kramers-Kronig analysis was used to determine the spectral dependence of theab and thec components of the dielectric tensor. The optical properties are strongly anisotropic. Theab-plane response resembles that of other reduced-T _c materials whereas thec axis, in contrast, shows only the presence of several phonons. There is a complete absence of charge carrier response alongc aboveand belowT _c. This observation allows us to set an upper limit to the free-carrier spectral weight for transport perpendicular to the CuO₂ planes.Permanent address: Institute of Physics, CSAV, Prague, Czechoslovakia     

Copper(I) Complexes with N-Allylquinolinium Bromide [C9H7N(C3H5)]CuBr2 and [C9H7N(C3H5)]Cu2Br3: Synthesis and Crystal Structure

Crystals of [₉₇N(₃₅)]uBr₂ (IV) and [₉₇N(₃₅)][u₂Br₃] (V) were prepared by ac electrochemical synthesis from uBr₂, N-allylquinolinium bromide, on copper electrodes in the ethanol–benzene medium. X-ray diffraction study has shown that crystals IV and V are monoclinic: space group A2₁/a, a = 13.776(3) Å, b = 14.304(3) Å, c = 13.147(2) Å, = 107.90(1) Å, V = 2465(2) ų, Z = 8 for IV and space group P2₁/n, a = 13.881(2) Å, b = 15.446(2) Å, c = 7.111(1) Å, = 104.64(1)°, V = 1475.0(8) ų, Z = 4 for V. Structures IV and V are built of the N-allylquinolinium cations and different anions i.e., (CuBr₂) ^n- _n forming infinite chains in IV and peculiar {[Cu^I ₄Br₆]^2–} _n arranged in polymeric chains in V. In the latter case, two independent metal atoms have trigonal–pyramidal and trigonal–planar environments. In the structures of both compounds, the C=C bond of the allyl group is not involved in coordination with the Cu(I) atom.     

The crystal structure of the LiAg2In compound

The newly established intermetallic compound LiAg₂In crystallizes in the MnCu₂Al-type structure (Fm-3m, Heusler phase) with . The homogeneity range of this phase in the ternary Li-Ag-In phase diagram along the adjacent quasibinary cut Li_0.25(Ag_1−xIn_x)_0.75 was determined by X-ray powder diffraction and extends from x∼0.33, Li_0.25Ag_0.50In_0.25, up to x∼0.44, Li_0.25Ag_0.42In_0.33. The homogeneity ranges of Heusler- and Zintl-type phases in the Li-Ag-In system are separated from each other by a broad heterogeneous region.     

Li4Ge2B as a new derivative of the Mo2B5 and Li5Sn2 structure types

Binary and multicomponent intermetallic compounds based on lithium and p‐elements of Groups III–V of the Periodic Table are useful as modern electrode materials in lithium‐ion batteries. However, the interactions between the components in the Li–Ge–B ternary system have not been reported. The structure of tetralithium digermanium boride, Li₄Ge₂B, exhibits a new structure type, in the noncentrosymmetric space group R3m, in which all the Li, Ge and B atoms occupy sites with 3m symmetry. The title structure is closely related to the Mo₂B₅ and Li₅Sn₂ structure types, which crystallize in the centrosymmetric space group Rm. All the atoms in the title structure are coordinated by rhombic dodecahedra (coordination number = 14), similar to the atoms in related structures. According to electronic structure calculations using the tight‐binding–linear muffin‐tin orbital–atomic spheres approximation (TB–LMTO–ASA) method, strong covalent Ge—Ge and Ge—B interactions were established.     

Li12Cu16+xAl26−x (x = 3.2): a new intermetallic structure type

The new ternary lithium copper aluminide, Li₁₂Cu_16+xAl_26−x (x = 3.2), dodecalithium nonadecacopper tricosaaluminide, crystallizes in a new structure type with space group P4/mbm. Among nine independent atomic positions, two Al (one of which is statistically disordered with Cu) and three Li atoms have point symmetry m.2m, two statistically disordered Al/Cu atoms are in m.. sites, one Al atom is in a 4/m.. site and one Cu atom occupies a general site. The framework of Li₁₂Cu_16+xAl_26−x consists of pseudo‐Frank–Kasper polyhedra enclosing channels of hexagonal prisms occupied by Li atoms. The crystallochemical peculiarity of this new structure type is discussed in relation to the derivatives from Laves phases (LiCuAl₂ and Li₈Cu_12+xAl_6−x) and to the well known CaCu₅ structure.     

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.