B1-to-B2 Structural Transitions in Rock Salt Intergrowth Structures

Sequential Pressure-Induced B1-B2 Transitions in the Anion-Ordered Oxyhydride Ba2YHO3

We present a detailed experimental and computational investigation of the influence of pressure on the mixed-anion oxyhydride phase Ba₂YHO₃, which has recently been shown to support hydride conductivity. The unique feature of this layered perovskite is that the oxide and hydride anions are segregated into distinct regions of the unit cell, in contrast to the disordered arrangement in closely related Ba₂ScHO₃. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations reveal that the application of pressure drives two sequential B1–B2 transitions in the interlayer regions from rock salt to CsCl-type ordering, one in the hydride-rich layer at approximately 10 GPa and another in the oxide-rich layer at 35–40 GPa. To verify the theoretical predictions, we experimentally observe the structural transition at 10 GPa using high-pressure X-ray diffraction (XRD), but the details of the structure cannot be solved due to peak broadening of the XRD patterns. We use DFT to explore the structural impact of pressure on the atomic scale and show how the pressure-dependent properties can be understood in terms of simple electrostatic engineering.

We investigate a sequence of pressure-induced phase transitions in Ba₂YHO₃, a perovskite oxyhydride with a unique layered anion ordering. Density functional theory and X-ray diffraction together provide a detailed and informative picture of the changes to the crystal structure across the pressure range. This work provides new insights into nonuniform structural flexibility in 2D materials, which can aid targeted materials design in other chemical systems.

Pressure-Induced Transitions in the 1-Dimensional Vanadium Oxyhydrides Sr2VO3H and Sr3V2O5H2, and Comparison to 2-Dimensional SrVO2H

High-pressure X-ray diffraction measurements on the layered oxyhydrides Sr₂VO₃H and Sr₃V₂O₅H₂ reveal that both compounds undergo a pressure-induced rock-salt to CsCl (B1-B2) structural transition, similar to those observed in binary compounds (oxides, halides, chalcogenides, etc.). This structural transition, observed at 43 and 45 GPa in Sr₂VO₃H and Sr₃V₂O₅H₂, respectively, relieves almost all of the accumulated strain on the infinite V-O-V ladders, such that the V-O bond lengths are almost identical at 0 and 50 GPa but are substantially compressed at intermediate pressures. The resistances of both materials with 1-dimensional VO ladders decrease with increasing pressure, but unlike SrVO₂H that contains 2-dimensional VO₂ sheets, they remain insulating even at the highest accessible pressures. The reduction in dimensionality from planar to linear VO networks reduces the dispersion of the V-O π bands that define the band gap and leads to insulating behavior at all measured pressures.

High-Pressure Synthesis of A2 NiO2 Ag2 Se2 (A=Sr, Ba) with a High-Spin Ni2+ in Square-Planar Coordination

Square-planar coordinate Ni2+ ions in oxides are exclusively limited to a low-spin state (S=0) owing to extensive crystal field splitting. Layered oxychalcogenides A2 NiII O2 Ag2 Se2 (A=Sr, Ba) with the S=1 NiO2 square lattice are now reported. The structural analysis revealed that the Ni2+ ion is under-bonded by a significant tensile strain from neighboring Ag2 Se2 layers, leading to the reduction in crystal field splitting. Ba2 NiO2 Ag2 Se2 exhibits a G-type spin order at 130 K, indicating fairly strong in-plane interactions. The high-pressure synthesis employed here possibly assists the expansion of NiO2 square lattice by taking the advantage of the difference in compressibility in oxide and selenide layers.

Well-defined SiO2-coated Fe2Co nanoparticles prepared by reduction with CaH2

Well-defined SiO₂-coated Fe₂Co nanoparticles can be prepared by the reduction of SiO₂-coated CoFe₂O₄ nanoparticles with CaH₂ even at 250 °C.