Structural changes of (NH4)2SO4 crystals

Soft-mode driven polarity reversal in ferroelectrics mapped by ultrafast x-ray diffraction

Quantum theory has linked microscopic currents and macroscopic polarizations of ferroelectrics, but the interplay of lattice excitations and charge dynamics on atomic length and time scales is an open problem. Upon phonon excitation in the prototypical ferroelectric ammonium sulfate [(NH₄)₂SO₄], we determine transient charge density maps by femtosecond x-ray diffraction. A newly discovered low frequency-mode with a 3 ps period and sub-picometer amplitudes induces periodic charge relocations over some 100 pm, a hallmark of soft-mode behavior. The transient charge density allows for deriving the macroscopic polarization, showing a periodic reversal of polarity.

Photoinduced structural dynamics of polar solids studied by femtosecond X-ray diffraction

Femtosecond X-ray diffraction allows for real-time mapping of structural changes in condensed matter on atomic length and timescales. Sequences of diffraction patterns provide both transient geometries and charge-density maps of crystalline materials. This article reviews recent progress in this field, the main emphasis being on experimental work done with laser-driven hard X-ray sources. Both Bragg diffraction techniques for bulk and nanostructured single crystals as well as the recently implemented powder diffraction from polycrystalline samples are discussed. In ferroelectric superlattice structures, coherent phonon motions and the driving stress mechanisms are observed in real time. In molecular crystals charge-transfer processes and the concomitant changes of the lattice geometry are analyzed.

Solid-state 33S MAS NMR of inorganic sulfates

Solid-state (33)S MAS NMR spectra of a variety of inorganic sulfates have been obtained at magnetic field strengths of 4.7, 14.1, 17.6, and 18.8 T. Some of the difficulties associated with obtaining natural abundance (33)S NMR spectra have been overcome by using a high magnetic field strength and magic angle spinning (MAS). Multiple factors were considered when analyzing the spectral linewidths, including magnetic field inhomogeneity, dipolar coupling, chemical shift anisotropy, chemical shift dispersion, and quadrupolar coupling. In most of these sulfate samples, quadrupolar coupling was the dominant line broadening mechanism. Nuclear electric quadrupolar coupling constants (C(q)) as large as 2.05 MHz were calculated using spectral simulation software. Spectral information from these new data are compared with X-ray measurements and GAUSSIAN 98W calculations. A general correlation was observed between the magnitude of the C(q) and the increasing difference between S-O bond distances within the sulfate groups. Solid-state (33)S spin-lattice (T(1)) relaxation times were measured and show a significant reduction in T(1) for the hydrated sulfates. This is most likely the result of the modulation of the time-dependent electric field gradient at the nuclear site by motion of water molecules. This information will be useful in future efforts to use (33)S NMR in the compositional and structural analysis of sulfur containing materials.