Unusual Coordination Behavior of Cr3+ in Microporous Aluminophosphates

Chromium Environment within Cr-Doped Silico-Aluminophosphate Molecular Sieves from Spin Density Studies

X-/Q-band electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and hyperfine sublevel correlation (HYSCORE) spectroscopies have been employed, in conjunction with density functional theory (DFT) modeling, to determine the location of Cr⁵⁺ions in SAPO-5 zeotype materials. The interaction of the unpaired electron of the paramagnetic Cr⁵⁺ species with ²⁷Al could be resolved, allowing for the first detailed structural analysis of Cr⁵⁺ paramagnetic ions in SAPO materials. The interpretation of the experimental results is corroborated by DFT modeling, which affords a microscopic description of the system investigated. The EPR-active species is found to be consistent with isolated Cr⁵⁺ species isomorphously substituted in the framework at P⁵⁺ sites.

Incorporation of CrIII into a Keggin Polyoxometalate as a Chemical Strategy to Stabilize a Labile {CrIIIO4} Tetrahedral Conformation and Promote Unattended Single-Ion Magnet Properties

Polyoxometalates (POMs) provide rigid and highly symmetric coordination sites and can be used as a strategy for the stabilization of magnetic ions. Herein, we report a new member of the Keggin archetype, the Cr-centered Keggin anion [α-CrW12O40]5- (CrW12), with the unusual tetrahedral coordination of CrIII reported for the first time in POMs conferring unattended magnetic properties. POM chemistry has recently presented excellent examples of single-molecule and single-ion magnets (SMMs and SIMs) as well as molecular spin qubits; however, the majority of POM-based SIMs reported to date contain lanthanoid ions. CrW12, as the first example of a chromium(III) SIM, exhibits slow relaxation of magnetization and quantum tunneling with a single-ion magnetic behavior even above 10 K with an energy barrier for the reversal of the magnetization of 3.0 K. The first 3d-metal SIM based on a nonlacunary Keggin anion is the foundation for a new research area in POM chemistry.

Low-Temperature Oxygen Storage of CrIV-CrV Mixed-Valence YCr1-xPxO4-δ Driven by Local Condensation around Oxygen-Deficient Orthochromite

The oxygen storage capability and related defect structure of tetrahedral orthochromite(V) compound YCr_1-xP_xO₄ (x = 0, 0.3, 0.5, and 0.7) were investigated by employing thermal gravimetry and in situ X-ray spectroscopy for reversible oxygen store/release driven by heating-cooling cycles in the temperature range from 50 to 600 °C. YCr_1-xP_xO₄ started releasing oxygen as heated from 50 °C under ambient atmosphere, with reduction of Cr^V to Cr^IV, while the reduced YCr_1-xP_xO_4-δ phase was significantly reoxidized via absorbing oxygen by cooling to 50 °C under ambient atmosphere, recovering the original stoichiometric phase. Operando X-ray adsorption spectroscopy and first-principles calculations demonstrate that nonstoichiometric YCr_1-xP_xO_4-δ phases were stabilized by forming linking polyhedral Cr^IV₂O₇^6- via corner sharing between oxygen-deficient Cr^IVO₃^2- and adjacent Cr^IVO₄^4-. YCr_1-xP_xO₄ was found to have an extremely low reduction enthalpy of about 20 kJ mol^-1 probably due to the relatively high reduction potential of high-valence-state Cr(V)/Cr(IV) redox pairs, thereby resulting in reversible oxygen storage in such a low-temperature region.

Systematic study of the crystallization process of CrAPO-5 using in situ high resolution X-ray diffraction

Systematic study of the hydrothermal crystallization process of CrAPO-5 by in situ high resolution X-ray powder diffraction (HRXRD).

Substituting effect of Ce3+ on the AlPO-11 molecular sieve

Substituted AlPO-11 molecular sieve with Ce³⁺ was first prepared via dry gel conversion.

Chromium Environment within Cr-Doped BaAl2O4: Correlation of X-ray Diffraction and X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy Investigations

Powder BaAl2O4 samples doped with 0 and 1.76 atom % Cr in relation to Al were hydrothermally prepared. Both samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction and synchrotron based X-ray absorption spectroscopy at the Cr K- and the Ba L3-edge. Diffraction patterns indicated that samples were nanocrystalline with a hexagonal crystal structure, space group P63. Chromium doping of barium aluminate caused an increase of the unit-cell volume and diffraction line broadening. The doped sample contained a small amount of an impurity phase, namely, BaCrO4. Analyzed Cr K-edge X-ray absorption near edge structure for the doped sample showed the presence of chromium in 6+ and 3+ oxidation states: Cr(6+) was characteristic for chromium in the impurity phase BaCrO4, while Cr(3+) participated in the formation of the doped phase BaAl2O4:Cr. Extended X-ray absorption fine structure suggested an unusual tetrahedral coordination of Cr(3+) ions within the BaAl2O4 host phase. The structure of samples was refined by the Rietveld method, simultaneously with the analysis of diffraction line broadening. Rietveld structure refinement showed that in doping the Cr(3+) ions likely substituted for Al(3+) ions on Al1 tetrahedral sites of barium aluminate crystal lattice. Crystallite sizes in the samples decreased with chromium doping, from 32 nm for pure BaAl2O4 to 24 nm for Cr-doped BaAl2O4. The dopant Cr(3+) cations acted as defects in the barium aluminate structure that increased lattice strain from 0.02% for pure BaAl2O4 to 0.14% for doped BaAl2O4 and disturbed the crystallites to grow.

Photocatalysis with chromium-doped TiO2: bulk and surface doping

The photocatalytic properties of TiO2 modified by chromium are usually found to depend strongly on the preparation method. To clarify this problem, two series of chromium-doped titania with a chromium content of up to 1.56 wt % have been prepared under hydrothermal conditions: the first series (Cr:TiO2) is intended to dope the bulk of TiO2, whereas the second series (Cr/TiO2) is intended to load the surface of TiO2 with Cr. The catalytic properties have been compared in the photocatalytic oxidation of formic acid. Characterization data provides evidence that in the Cr/TiO2 catalysts chromium is located on the surface of TiO2 as amorphous CrOOH clusters. In contrast, in the Cr:TiO2 series, chromium is mostly dissolved in the titania lattice, although a minor part is still present on the surface. Photocatalytic tests show that both series of chromium-doped titania demonstrate visible-light-driven photo-oxidation activity. Surface-doped Cr/TiO2 solids appear to be more efficient photocatalysts than the bulk-doped Cr:TiO2 counterparts.