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At least 973 records · Page 54

Filling the holes in the CaFe 4 As 3 structure: Synthesis and magnetism of CaCo 5 As 3

Here, we investigate single crystals of CaCo 5 As 3 by means of single-crystal x-ray diffraction, microprobe, magnetic susceptibility, heat capacity, and pressure-dependent transport measurements. CaCo 5 As 3 shares the same structure of CaFe 4 As 3 with an additional Co atom filling a lattice vacancy and undergoes a magnetic transition at T M = 16 K associated with a frustrated magnetic order. CaCo 5 As 3 displays metallic behavior and its Sommerfeld coefficient (γ = 70 mJ/mol K 2 ) indicates a moderate enhancement of electron-electron correlations. Transport data under pressures to 2.5 GPa reveal a suppression of T M at a rate of - 0.008 K/GPa. First-principles electronic structure calculations show a complex three-dimensional band structure and magnetic moments that depend on the local environment at each Co site. Our results are compared with previous data on CaFe 4 As 3 and provide a scenario for a magnetically frustrated ground state in this family of compounds.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Spin-glass behavior and vacancy order in van der Waals layered β - MoCl 4

Two-dimensional ${\beta}\text{-}{\mathrm{MoCl}}_{4}$ is an attractive material from the perspectives of magnetism in $4d$ transition metal compounds, geometrically frustrated lattices, and magnetic van der Waals layered materials, but the magnetism in this compound has not been particularly well studied to date. In this paper the magnetic properties and crystal structure of ${\mathrm{MoCl}}_{4}$ are revisited, and results of ac and dc magnetic measurements and single crystal x-ray diffraction are reported. Crystals grow as well-formed and easily cleaved hexagonal plates that are unstable in air. The revised structural model comprises ${\mathrm{CdCl}}_{2}$-type layers with 50% Mo vacancies distributed over the sites of the triangular cation net. Interestingly, a structural ambiguity regarding the vacancy distribution is identified in the analysis of the diffraction data. The orbital moment is not expected to be quenched in this $4{d}^{2}$ compound. Accordingly, magnetization measurements indicate an effective moment that is about 20% lower than the spin-only value. The magnetic data reveal an anomaly near 5 K, below which a divergence of field-cooled and zero-field-cooled dc magnetization, a slow relaxation of thermoremanent magnetization, and enhanced frequency dependence of ac magnetization are observed. Finally and thus, ${\beta}\text{-}{\mathrm{MoCl}}_{4}$ represents an uncommon example of a cleavable spin-glass system.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Crystal structure and magnetic properties of the layered van der Waals compound VB r 3

Single crystals of the layered, van der Waals compound VBr 3 were synthesized by a vapor transport technique, and characterized by single-crystal x-ray diffraction, temperature- and field-dependent magnetization, and temperature-dependent specific-heat measurements. VBr 3 has a honeycomb-based BiI 3 -type structure with space group $R$-3 (no. 148) at 100 K, analogous to the structure of other honeycomb trihalides. Structural stacking faults were observed as evidenced by the streaking of reflections along $c*$ in the diffraction data. VBr 3 goes through a structural phase transition at 90.4 K and a subsequent antiferromagnetic phase transition at 26.5 K, below which the magnetic moments are primarily aligned along the $c$-axis.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Complex transport and magnetism in inhomogeneous mixed valence Ce 3 Ir 4 Ge 13

We report the discovery of Ce 3 Ir 4 Ge 13 , a Remeika phase with a complex array of structural, electronic, and magnetic properties. In this work, our single crystal x-ray diffraction measurements show that Ce 3 Ir 4 Ge 13 forms in the tetragonally distorted $I4_1/amd$ space group, which has three distinct rare earth sites. The electrical resistivity is almost temperature independent over three decades in temperature, from 0.4 K to 400 K, while the Hall coefficient measurements are consistent with a low-carrier semimetal. Magnetic susceptibility measurements reveal an effective moment, $μ^\text{exp}_\text{eff} = 1.87μ_B/$Ce, that falls significantly short of the expected value for Ce 3+ , suggesting that two of the rare earth sites are occupied by magnetic Ce 3+ while the third is occupied by nonmagnetic Ce 4+ . Upon cooling, Ce 3 Ir 4 Ge 13 first enters a short range magnetically ordered state below $T_\text{SRO}$ = 10 K, marked by a deviation from Curie-Weiss behavior in susceptibility and a broad field-independent heat capacity anomaly. At lower temperatures, we observe a second, sharper peak in the heat capacity at $T^\ast$ = 1.7 K, concurrent with a splitting of the field-cooled and zero-field-cooled susceptibilities. A small resistivity drop at $T^\ast$ suggests a loss of spin disorder scattering consistent with a magnetic ordering or spin freezing transition. Ce 3 Ir 4 Ge 13 is therefore a rare example of an inhomogeneous mixed valence compound with a complex array of thermodynamic and transport properties.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Observation of a C -type short-range antiferromagnetic order in layer spacing expanded FeS

Here, we report neutron diffraction studies of FeS single crystals obtained from Rb x Fe 2-y S 2 single crystals via a hydrothermal method. While no $\sqrt{5}$×$\sqrt{5}$ iron vacancy order or block antiferromagnetic order typical of Rb x Fe 2-y S 2 is found in our samples, we observe C-type short-range antiferromagnetic order with moments pointed along the c axis hosted by a different phase of FeS with an expanded interlayer spacing. The Néel temperature for this magnetic order is determined to be 170 ± 4 K. Our finding of a variant FeS structure hosting this C-type antiferromagnetic order demonstrates that the known FeS phase synthesized in this method is in the vicinity of a magnetically ordered ground state, providing insights into understanding a variety of phenomena observed in FeS and the related FeSe 1-x S x iron chalcogenide system.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Tuning magnetic order in the van der Waals metal $Fe_5GeTe_2$ by cobalt substitution

Fe 5 - x GeTe 2 is a van der Waals material with one of the highest reported bulk Curie temperatures, T C ≈ 310 K . Here, theoretical calculations and experiments are utilized to demonstrate that the magnetic ground state is highly sensitive to local atomic arrangements and the interlayer stacking. Cobalt substitution is found to be an effective way to manipulate the magnetic properties while also increasing the ordering temperature. In particular, cobalt substitution up to ≈ 30 % enhances T C and changes the magnetic anisotropy, while ≈ 50 % cobalt substitution yields an antiferromagnetic state. Single crystal x-ray diffraction evidences a structural change upon increasing the cobalt concentration, with a rhombohedral cell observed in the parent material and a primitive cell observed for ≈ 46 % cobalt content relative to iron. First-principles calculations demonstrate that it is a combination of high cobalt content and the concomitant change to primitive layer stacking that produces antiferromagnetic order. These results illustrate the sensitivity of magnetism in Fe 5 - x GeTe 2 to composition and structure, and emphasize the important role of local structural order-disorder and layer stacking in cleavable magnetic materials.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Ferromagnetic MnBi 4 Te 7 obtained with low-concentration Sb doping: A promising platform for exploring topological quantum states

The tuning of the magnetic phase, chemical potential, and structure is crucial to observe diverse exotic topological quantum states in Mn Bi 2 Te 4 (Bi 2 Te 3 ) m (m = 0–3). Here we show a ferromagnetic (FM) phase with a chiral crystal structure in Mn (Bi 1–x Sb x ) 4 Te 7 , obtained via tuning the growth conditions and Sb concentration. Unlike previously reported Mn (Bi 1–x Sb x ) 4 Te 7 , which exhibits FM transitions only at high Sb doping levels, our samples show FM transitions (T C = 13.5 K) at 15%–27% doping levels. Furthermore, our single-crystal x-ray-diffraction structure refinements find Sb doping leads to a chiral structure with the space group of P3, contrasted with the centrosymmetric $P\bar{3}m1$ crystal structure of the parent compound MnBi 4 Te 7 . Through angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy measurements, we also demonstrated that the nontrivial band topology is preserved in the Sb-doped FM samples. Given that the nontrivial band topology of this system remains robust for low Sb doping levels, our success in making FM Mn(Bi 1–x Sb x ) 4 Te 7 with x = 0.15, 0.175, 0.2, and 0.27 paves the way for realizing the predicted topological quantum states, such as the axion insulator and Weyl semimetals. Additionally, we also observed magnetic glassy behavior in both antiferromagnetic MnBi 4 Te 7 and FM Mn (Bi 1–x Sb x )4 Te 7 samples, which we believe originates from cluster spin-glass phases coexisting with long-range antiferromagnetic/FM orders. Further, we have also discussed how the antisite Mn ions impact the interlayer magnetic coupling and how FM interlayer coupling is stabilized in this system.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Single crystal synthesis and magnetic properties of a Shastry-Sutherland lattice compound BaNd 2 ZnS 5

In this study, single crystals of a Shastry-Sutherland magnetic semiconductor, BaNd 2 ZnS 5 , were synthesized through a high-temperature solution growth technique. Physical properties were characterized by powder and single crystal x-ray diffraction, temperature- and field-dependent magnetization, and temperature-dependent specific heat measurements. BaNd 2 ZnS 5 orders antiferromagnetically at 2.9 K, with magnetic moments primarily aligned within the $ab$ -plane. Magnetic isothermal measurements show metamagnetic transitions at ~ 15 kOe for the [110] direction and ~ 21 kOe for the [100] direction. Estimated magnetic entropy suggests a double ground state for each neodymium ion.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Unconventional magnetotransport and antiferromagnetic order in Eu 2 ⁢InTe 5

Here, we report on the structural characterization and physical properties of Eu 2 ⁢InTe 5 , a distorted square-net motif antiferromagnetic semiconductor. Single crystal x-ray diffraction measurements reveal a distortion of the Te square-net layers such that an orthorhombic supercell is necessary to accurately describe the structure. Magnetization, resistivity, and specific heat measurements confirm antiferromagnetic ordering at 𝑇 𝑁 = 7.3K. Anisotropy in magnetization data suggests the magnetic moments are oriented parallel to the 𝑐 axis. We observe an unconventional transverse magnetoresistance and Hall resistivity in the paramagnetic state (𝑇 ≤ 80K), indicating strong coupling between localized Eu 2+ magnetic moments and conduction electrons. Resistivity and Hall measurements indicate the material is a heavily doped semiconductor, with impurity states related to disorder. Our findings highlight a relatively unexplored Eu-based antiferromagnetic semiconductor with unconventional magnetotransport behavior.

Cook, Matthew S. [Oak Ridge National Laboratory (O↗

Observation of a re-entrant phase transition in the molecular complex tris(μ 2 -3,5-diisopropyl-1,2,4-triazolato-κ 2 N 1 : N 2 )trigold(I) under high pressure

We report a molecular crystal that exhibits four successive phase transitions under hydro­static pressure, driven by aurophilic interactions, with the ground-state structure re-emerging at high pressure. The effect of pressure on two polytypes of tris(μ 2 -3,5-diiso­propyl-1,2,4-triazolato-κ 2 N 1 : N 2 )trigold(I) (denoted Form-I and Form-II) has been analysed using luminescence spectroscopy, single-crystal X-ray diffraction and first-principles computation. A unique phase behaviour was observed in Form-I, with a complex sequence of phase transitions between 1 and 3.5 GPa. The ambient C 2/c mother cell transforms to a P 2 1 /n phase above 1 GPa, followed by a P 2 1 /a phase above 2 GPa and a large-volume C 2/c supercell at 2.70 GPa, with the previously observed P 2 1 /n phase then reappearing at higher pressure. The observation of crystallographically identical low- and high-pressure P 2 1 /n phases makes this a rare example of a re-entrant phase transformation. The phase behaviour has been characterized using detailed crystallographic theory and modelling, and rationalized in terms of molecular structural distortions. The dramatic changes in conformation are correlated with shifts of the luminescence maxima, from a band maximum at 14040 cm –1 at 2.40 GPa, decreasing steeply to 13550 cm –1 at 3 GPa. A similar study of Form-II displays more conventional crystallographic behaviour, indicating that the complex behaviour observed in Form-I is likely to be a direct consequence of the differences in crystal packing between the two polytypes.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Crystal structure across the β to α phase transition in thermoelectric Cu 2– x Se

Here, the crystal structure uniquely imparts the specific properties of a material, and thus provides the starting point for any quantitative understanding of thermoelectric properties. Cu 2–x Se is an intensely studied high performing, non-toxic and cheap thermoelectric material, and here for the first time, the average structure of β-Cu 2–x Se is reported based on analysis of multi-temperature single-crystal X-ray diffraction data. It consists of Se–Cu layers with additional copper between every alternate layer. The structural changes during the peculiar zT enhancing phase transition mainly consist of changes in the inter-layer distance coupled with subtle Cu migration. Just prior to the transition the structure exhibits strong negative thermal expansion due to the reordering of Cu atoms, when approached from low temperatures. The phase transition is fully reversible and group–subgroup symmetry relations are derived that relate the low-temperature β-phase to the high-temperature α-phase. Weak superstructure reflections are observed and a possible Cu ordering is proposed. The structural rearrangement may have a significant impact on the band structure and the Cu rearrangement may also be linked to an entropy increase. Both factors potentially contribute to the extraordinary zT enhancement across the phase transition.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Evolution of structure and spectroscopic properties of a new 1,3-diacetylpyrene polymorph with temperature and pressure

A new polymorph of 1,3-diacetylpyrene has been obtained from its melt and thoroughly characterized using single-crystal X-ray diffraction, steady-state UV–Vis spectroscopy and periodic density functional theory calculations. Experimental studies covered the temperature range from 90 to 390 K and the pressure range from atmospheric to 4.08 GPa. Optimal sample placement in a diamond anvil cell according to our previously presented methodology ensured over 80% data coverage up to 0.8 Å for a monoclinic sample. Unrestrained Hirshfeld atom refinement of the high-pressure crystal structures was successful and anharmonic behavior of carbonyl oxygen atoms was observed. Unlike the previously characterized polymorph, the structure of 2°AP-β is based on infinite π-stacks of antiparallel 2°AP molecules. 2°AP-β displays piezochromism and piezofluorochromism which are directly related to the variation in interplanar distances within the π-stacking. The importance of weak intermolecular interactions is reflected in the substantial negative thermal expansion coefficient of -55.8 (57) MK -1 in the direction of C—H∙∙∙O interactions.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Crystal structure refinements of tetragonal (OH,F)-rich spessartine and henritermierite garnets

Cubic garnet (space group Ia\overline 3 d) has the general formula X 3 Y 2 Z 3 O 12 , where X , Y and Z are cation sites. In the tetragonal garnet (space group I 4 1 / acd ), the corresponding cation sites are X 1 and X 2, Y , and Z 1 and Z 2. In both space groups only the Y site is the same. The crystal chemistry of a tetragonal (OH,F)-rich spessartine sample from Tongbei, near Yunxiao, Fujian Province, China, with composition X (Mn 2.82 Fe^{2+}_{0.14}Ca 0.04 ) Σ3 Y {Al 1.95 Fe^{3+}_{0.05}} Σ2 Z [(SiO 4 ) 2.61 (O 4 H 4 ) 0.28 (F 4 ) 0.11 ] Σ3 (Sps 94 Alm 5 Grs 1 ) was studied with single-crystal X-ray diffraction and space group I 4 1 / acd . The deviation of the unit-cell parameters from cubic symmetry is small [ a = 11.64463(1), c = 11.65481 (2) Å, c / a = 1.0009]. Point analyses and back-scattered electron images, obtained by electron-probe microanalysis, indicate a homogeneous composition. The Z 2 site is fully occupied, but the Z 1 site contains vacancies. The occupied Z 1 and Z 2 sites with Si atoms are surrounded by four O atoms, as in anhydrous cubic garnets. Pairs of split sites are O1 with F11 and O2 with O22. When the Z 1 site is vacant, a larger [(O 2 H 2 )F 2 ] tetrahedron is formed by two OH and two F anions in the O22 and F11 sites, respectively. This [(O 2 H 2 )F 2 ] tetrahedron is similar to the O 4 H 4 tetrahedron in hydrogarnets. These results indicate ^{X}{{\rm Mn}^ {2+}_{3}}\,^{Y}{\rm Al}_{2}^{Z}[({\rm SiO}_{4})_{2}({\rm O}_{2}{\rm H}_{2})_{0.5}({\rm F}_{2})_{0.5}]_{\Sigma3} as a possible end member, which is yet unknown. The H atom that is bonded to the O22 site is not located because of the small number of OH groups. In contrast, tetragonal henritermierite, ideally ^{X}{\rm Ca}_{3}\,^{Y}{\rm Mn}^{3+}_{2}\,^{Z}[({\rm SiO}_{4})_{2}({\rm O}_{4}{\rm H}_{4})_1]_{\Sigma3}, has a vacant Z 2 site that contains the O 4 H 4 tetrahedron. The H atom is bonded to an O3 atom [O3—H3 = 0.73 (2) Å]. Because of O2—Mn 3+ —O2 Jahn–Teller elongation of the Mn 3+ O 6 octahedron, a weak hydrogen bond is formed to the under-bonded O2 atom. This causes a large deviation from cubic symmetry ( c / a = 0.9534).

Antao, Sytle M.↗

Effects of composition and growth parameters on phase formation in multicomponent aluminum garnet crystals

The effects of com­position on the phase formation of multicom­ponent garnet crystals grown via directional solidification by the micro-pulling-down method are studied. A relatively wide range of rare-earth (RE) average ionic radii (AIR) is explored by formulating ten com­positions from the system (Lu,Y,Ho,Dy,Tb,Gd) 3 Al 5 O 12 . Crystals were grown at either 0.05 or 0.20 mm min -1 . The hypothesis is that multicom­ponent com­pounds with large AIR will form secondary phases as the single-RE aluminum garnets formed by larger Tb 3+ or Gd 3+ ; this will result in crystals of poor optical quality. Crystals with large AIR have a central opaque region in optical microscopy images, which is responsible for their reduced transparency com­pared to crystals with small AIR. Slow pulling rates suppress the formation of the opaque region in crystals with inter­mediate AIR. Powder and single-crystal X-ray diffraction and electron probe microanalysis results indicate that the opaque region is a perovskite phase. Scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive spectroscopy measurements reveal eutectic inclusions at the outer surface of the crystals. Finally, the concentration of the eutectic inclusions increases with increasing AIR.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Polymorphism of Pb 5 (PO 4 ) 3 OH δ within the LK-99 mixture

During the synthetic exploration targeting the polycrystalline compound LK-99, an unexpected phase, Pb 5 (PO 4 ) 3 OH δ , was identified as a byproduct. We elucidated the composition of this compound through single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Subsequent synthesis of the target compounds was achieved via high-temperature solid-state pellet reactions. The newly identified Pb 5 (PO 4 ) 3 OH δ has an orthorhombic crystal structure with space group Pnma , representing a unique structure differing from the hexagonal apatite phases of Pb 10 (PO 4 ) 6 O and Pb 5 (PO 4 ) 3 OH. Comprehensive temperature- and magnetic-field-dependent magnetization studies unveiled a temperature-independent magnetic characteristic of Pb 5 (PO 4 ) 3 OH δ . Solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy was employed to decipher the origins of the phase stability and confirm the presence of hydrogen atoms in Pb 5 (PO 4 ) 3 OH δ . These investigations revealed the presence of protonated oxygen sites, in addition to the interstitial water molecules within the structure, which may play critical roles in stabilizing the orthorhombic phase.

Xu, Mingyu (ORCID:0000000171386009)↗

Two novel bimetallic transition metal–uranyl one-dimensional coordination polymers with manganese(II) and cobalt(II) incorporating bridging diglycolate (2,2'-oxydiacetate) ligands

The crystal structures of two new bimetallic uranyl–transition metal compounds with diglycolic acid [or 2-(carboxymethoxy)acetic acid] have been hydrothermally synthesized and structurally characterized via single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The compounds, namely catena -poly[[[tetraaquamanganese(II)]-μ-2,2'-oxydiacetato-[dioxidouranium(VI)]-μ-2,2'-oxydiacetato] dihydrate], {[MnU(C 4 H 4 O 5 ) 2 O 2 (H 2 O) 4 ]·2H 2 O} n , and catena -poly[[[tetraaquacobalt(II)]-μ-2,2'-oxydiacetato-[dioxidouranium(VI)]-μ-2,2'-oxydiacetato] dihydrate], {[CoU(C 4 H 4 O 5 ) 2 O 2 (H 2 O) 4 ]·2H 2 O} n , both crystallize in the triclinic space group P -1. These compounds form one-dimensional chains via alternating uranyl and transition metal building units. The chains then assemble into three-dimensional supramolecular networks through several hydrogen bonds between water molecules and diglycolate ligands. Luminescence measurements were conducted and no uranyl emission was observed in either compound.

nuclear (including radiation effects), materials a↗

On the effect of Ga and In substitutions in the Ca 11 Bi 10 and Yb 11 Bi 10 bismuthides crystallizing in the tetragonal Ho 11 Ge 10 structure type

The Ga- and In-substituted bismuthides Ca 11 Ga x Bi 10– x , Ca 11 In x Bi 10– x , Yb 11 Ga x Bi 10– x , and Yb 11 In x Bi 10– x ( x < 2) can be readily synthesized employing molten Ga or In metals as fluxes. They crystallize in the tetragonal space group I 4/ mmm and adopt the Ho 11 Ge 10 structure type (Pearson code tI 84; Wyckoff sequence n 2 m j h 2 e 2 d ). The structural response to the substitution of Bi with smaller and electron-poorer In or Ga has been studied by single-crystal X-ray diffraction methods for the case of Ca 11 In x Bi 10– x [ x = 1.73 (2); octabismuth undecacalcium diindium]. The refinements show that the In atoms substitute Bi only at the 8 h site. The refined interatomic distances show an unconventional – for this structure type – bond-length distribution within the anionic sublattice. The latter can be viewed as consisting of isolated Bi 3- anions and [In 4 Bi 8 20- ] clusters for the idealized Ca 11 In 2 Bi 8 model. Formal electron counting and first-principle calculations show that the peculiar bonding in this compound drives the system toward an electron-precise state, thereby stabilizing the observed bond-length pattern.

Chemistry↗

Zirconium tetrachloride revisited

We present that zirconium tetrachloride, ZrCl 4 , is a strategic material with wide-ranging applications. Until now, only one crystallographic study on ZrCl 4 has been reported [Krebs (1970). Z. Anorg. Allg. Chem. 378 , 263–272] and that was more than 40 years ago. The compound used for the previous determination was prepared from ZrO 2 and Cl 2 –CCl 4 , and single-crystal X-ray diffraction (SCXRD) studies on ZrCl 4 obtained from Zr metal have not yet been reported. In this context, we prepared ZrCl 4 from the reaction of Zr metal and Cl 2 gas in a sealed tube and investigated its structure at 100, 150, 200, 250, and 300 K. At 300 K, the SCXRD analysis indicates that ZrCl 4 crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group Pca 2 1 [ a = 6.262 (9), b = 7.402 (11), c = 12.039 (17) Å, and V = 558.0 (14) Å 3 ] and consists of infinite zigzag chains of edge-sharing ZrCl 6 octahedra. This chain motif is similar to that observed previously in ZrCl 4 , but the structural parameters and space group differ. Finally, in the temperature range 100–300 K, no phase transformation was identified, while elongation of intra-chain Zr...Zr [3.950 (1) Å at 100 K and 3.968 (5) Å at 300 K] and inter-chain Cl...Cl [3.630 (3) Å at 100 K and 3.687 (9) Å at 300 K] distances occurred.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗