Yurii Prots

SrN and SrN2: Diazenides by Synthesis under High N2-Pressure

Nitride and/or diazenide ions in the octahedral holes of nearly close-packed arrangements of Sr2+ ions characterize the new compounds described herein. They were obtained as single-phase products by oxidation of Sr2 N with molecular nitrogen under high pressure.

Introducing a Magnetic Guest to a Tetrel-Free Clathrate: Synthesis, Structure, and Properties of EuxBa8–xCu16P30 (0 ≤ x ≤ 1.5)

The europium-containing clathrate-I Eu(x)Ba(8-x)Cu(16)P(30) was synthesized from the elements. Powder X-ray diffraction in combination with energy dispersive X-ray absorption spectroscopy (EDXS) and metallographic studies showed the homogeneity range with x ≤ 1.5. Determination of the crystal structure confirmed the presence of an orthorhombic superstructure of clathrate-I and revealed that Eu atoms exclusively resided in small pentagonal-dodecahedral cages. Magnetic measurements together with X-ray absorption spectroscopy are consistent with a 4f(7) (Eu(2+)) ground state for Eu(x)Ba(8-x)Cu(16)P(30). Below 3 K the Eu moments order antiferromagnetically. Resistivity measurements revealed metallic behavior of the investigated clathrate, in line with the composition deviating from the Zintl counting scheme. Local vibrations of the guest atoms inside the cages are analyzed with the help of specific heat investigations.

Shape development and structure of a complex (otoconia-like?) calcite-gelatine composite

A large number of recent publications deal with control of the size and shape of calcium carbonate in its calcite modification by organic additives acting as growth modifiers or templates. Other reports focus not only on shape control but also on the control of the calcium carbonate modification formed. Only a few publications concentrate on calcite specimens showing a habit that is more or less close to the shape of biogenic (calcite) otoconia (see Figure 1), charac-

High-pressure synthesis of the electron-excess compound CaSi6

Abstract The binary phase CaSi6 is prepared at a pressure of 10(1) GPa and a temperature of 1520(150) K. X-ray single-crystal structure refinements and powder diffraction data of quenched samples reveal that the compound crystallizes in the orthorhombic crystal system (space group Cmcm, a = 4.4953(5) Å, b = 10.078(1) Å, c = 11.469(1) Å). At ambient pressure, exothermic decomposition into CaSi2 and Si at 737(5) K indicates that the compound is a metastable high-pressure phase. Physical property measurements reveal that the new hexasilicide is diamagnetic and a bad metallic conductor, with resistivity ρ ≈ 900 μΩ cm at 300 K.

Synthesis and Characterization of Ba[CoSO]: Magnetic Complexity in the Presence of Chalcogen Ordering

Barium thio-oxocobaltate(II), Ba[CoS2/2 O2/2 ], was synthesized by the reaction of equimolar amounts of BaO, Co, and S in closed silica ampoules. The title compound (Cmcm, a=3.98808(3), b=12.75518(9), c=6.10697(4) Å) is isostructural to Ba[ZnSO]. The use of soft X-ray absorption spectroscopy confirmed that cobalt is in the oxidation state +2 and tetrahedrally coordinated. Its coordination consists of two sulfur and two oxygen atoms in an ordered fashion. High-temperature magnetic susceptibility data indicate strong low-dimensional spin-spin interactions, which are suggested to be closely related to the layer-type crystal structure and perhaps the ordered distribution of sulfur and oxygen. Antiferromagnetic ordering below TN =222 K is observed as an anomaly in the specific heat, coinciding with a significant lowering of the magnetic susceptibility. Density functional theory calculations within a generalized-gradient approximation (GGA)+U approach identify an antiferromagnetic ground state within the square-like two-dimensional layers of Co, and antiferromagnetic correlations for nearest and next nearest neighbors along bonds mediated by oxygen or sulfur. However, this magnetic state is subject to frustration by relatively strong interlayer couplings.

High-pressure Synthesis of Strontium Hexasilicide

The binary phase SrSi6 was prepared at a pressure of 10(1) GPa and a temperature of 1520(150) K. Single crystal refinements and powder diffraction data reveal that the compound crystallizes in the orthorhombic crystal system (Cmcm, a=4.4692(4), b=10.256(1), c=11.698(1)Å ) and is isopointal to EuGa2Ge4 and EuSi6. Exothermic decomposition of the compound into SrSi2 and Si at 797 K and ambient pressure indicates that the compound is a metastable high-pressure phase. Analysis of the chemical bonding using the electron localization function and calculated charge densities reveals covalent bonding within the polyanion of four-bonded silicon atoms. Strontium cations are enclosed in the 3D net resulting in an electron balance Sr2+[Si0]2− 6 . In the electronic density of states the excess electrons of the framework are assigned to a filling of antibonding bands. SrSi6 is a metallic conductor with an electrical resistivity of ρ ≈ 250 μΩ·cm at 300 K. Magnetization measurements indicate diamagnetic behaviour (χ0 = −50 · 10−6 emu·mol−1).

Cs7Nd11(SeO3)12Cl16: First Noncentrosymmetric Structure among Alkaline-Metal Lanthanide Selenite Halides

Cs7Nd11(SeO3)12Cl16, the complex selenite chloride of cesium and neodymium, was synthesized in the NdOCl-SeO2-CsCl system. The compound has been characterized using single-crystal X-ray diffraction, electron diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, luminescence spectroscopy, and second-harmonic-generation techniques. Cs7Nd11(SeO3)12Cl16 crystallizes in an orthorhombic unit cell with a = 15.911(1) Å, b = 15.951(1) Å, and c = 25.860(1) Å and a noncentrosymmetric space group Pna2(1) (No. 33). The crystal structure of Cs7Nd11(SeO3)12Cl16 can be represented as a stacking of Nd11(SeO3)12 lamellas and CsCl-like layers. Because of the layered nature of the Cs7Nd11(SeO3)12Cl16 structure, it features numerous planar defects originating from occasionally missing the CsCl-like layer and violating the perfect stacking of the Nd11(SeO3)12 lamellas. Cs7Nd11(SeO3)12Cl16 represents the first example of a noncentrosymmetric structure among alkaline-metal lanthanide selenite halides. Cs7Nd11(SeO3)12Cl16 demonstrates luminescence emission in the near-IR region with reduced efficiency due to a high concentration of Nd(3+) ions causing nonradiative cross-relaxation.

Ba3YRu0.73(2)Al1.27(2)O8 and Ba5Y2Ru1.52(2)Al1.47(2)O13.5: New Perovskite Ruthenates with Partial Octahedra Replacement

Dark red single crystals of the new phases Ba3YRu0.73(2)Al1.27(2)O8 and Ba5Y2Ru1.52(2)Al1.47(2)O13.5 have been grown from powder mixtures of BaCO3, Y2O3, Al2O3, and RuO2 . The compositions given in the formulas result from the refinements of the crystal structures based on single crystal X-ray diffraction data (hexagonal P63/mmc (No. 194), Z = 2, Ba3 YRu0.73(2)Al1.27(2)O8: a = 5.871(1), c = 14.633(3) Å , R1 = 0.035, wR2 = 0.069 and Ba5Y2Ru1.52(2)Al1.47(2)O13.5: a = 5.907(1), c = 24.556(5) Å, R1 = 0.057, wR2 = 0.114). Ba3YRu0.73(2)Al1.27(2)O8 crystallizes in a 6H perovskite structure, Ba5Y2Ru1.52(2)Al1.47(2)O13.5 has been characterized as a 10H Perovskite. Due to similar spatial extensions of (Ru2O9) facesharing pairs of octahedra and (Al2O7) vertex-sharing pairs of tetrahedra, both structures show partial mutual substitution of these units. Consequently, the title compounds may be written as Ba3Y(Ru2O9)1−x(Al2O7)x, x = 0.64(1) and Ba5Y2RuO6(Ru2O9)1−x(Al2O7)x, x = 0.74(1). This interpretation is supported by the results of electron probe microanalysis using wavelength-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. An oxidation state of Ru close to +5 for the (Ru2O9) units, as can be derived from the distances d(Ru-Ru), additionally leads to similar charges of both the (Ru2O9) and the (Al2O7) units.

On the crystal structure of γ-AgMg4

Abstract The title compound with the trivial name γ-AgMg4 is obtained by melting the elements in weld-sealed tantalum ampoules and subsequent annealing. The alloys were characterized by chemical, metallographic, thermal and X-ray powder analyses. γ-AgMg4 is formed by a peritectoid reaction at 472(2) °C from ɛ′-Ag17Mg54 and δ-(Mg). The exact composition corresponds to the formulas AgMg4.08 or Ag9Mg36.7 with 80.3(1) at-% Mg concentration. The title compound is a complex metallic alloy phase due to the large number of atoms and intrinsic structural disorder. γ-AgMg4 crystallizes hexagonal in the space group P63/m with a = 12.4852(8) Å and c = 14.4117(9) Å in a unique structure type without a perceptible homogeneity range. The crystal structure has been studied including disorder phenomena by means of Rietveld refinements of X-ray and neutron powder diffraction data and X-ray single crystal structure analyses. The crystal structure is a hitherto unknown I3 cluster phase, i.e., an intermetallic compound with building blocks of three vertex connected icosahedra as the fundamental structural units joined via a small number of connection types (here B- and L-type). Channels along [001] reveal distinct structural disorder described as a packing of approximately 1.9 icosahedra, 1.3 tricapped trigonal prisms and 0.4 Frank-Kasper Z15 polyhedra per unit cell. The findings support the usefulness of the I3 cluster concept as a construction kit concerning not only simple subunits but also more complex “patches” with inherent structural disorder.

Synthesis, crystal structure and properties of the new superconductors TaRuB and NbOsB

Two new ternary compounds TaRuB and NbOsB were synthesized by arc-melting and annealing at 1500-1850 °C. They crystallize in orthorhombic primitive structures with space group Pbam. Magnetic susceptibility, electrical resistivity, and specific heat measurements reveal bulk superconductivity for metallic TaRuB with a T(c) ≈ 4 K. Electronic structure calculations by DFT methods show that 4d and 5d transition-metal states dominate the density of states (DOS) at the Fermi level E(F) with a pronounced quasi one-dimensional behaviour along the [0 0 1] direction. Comparison of the calculated DOS at E(F) with specific heat data reveals a moderate electron-phonon coupling. Possible small boron vacancies could significantly reduce the DOS at E(F), hence decrease T(c) for samples annealed at higher temperatures. For NbOsB, the DOS(E(F)) is strongly reduced due to an increase of covalent bonding interactions between Os and B. Accordingly, a lower T(c) ≈ 1 K is observed.