Compounds with a 'stuffed' anti-bixbyite-type structure, analysed in terms of the Zintl-Klemm and coordination-defect concepts

Effect of annealing conditions on the luminescence properties and thermometric performance of Sr3Al2O5Cl2:Eu2+ and SrAl2O4:Eu2+ phosphors

We report on the synthesis, photoluminescence optimization and thermometric properties of Sr3Al2O5Cl2:Eu2+ and SrAl2O4:Eu2+ phosphor powders. The photoluminescence of Sr2.9Al2O5Cl2:0.1Eu2+ phosphors exhibits a blue-shift with an increasing annealing temperature owing to a decrease in the crystal field strength of the host caused by evaporation of Cl from the material. The quenching of the blue band in favour of the red band observed in the luminescence spectra of Sr2.9Al2O5Cl2:0.1Eu2+ with an increased annealing temperature was explained using the mechanism of the Landau-Zener transitions. The quantum yield and the lifetime of the phosphors depend on the annealing temperature. Phosphor samples annealed at 850 °C, 1000 °C, 1200 °C and 1500 °C were found to be potential luminescence thermometers using the luminescence spectral method. For Sr3Al2O5Cl2:Eu2+ annealed at 1000 °C, the temperature-dependent dual-band intensity ratio demonstrated a high-temperature sensitivity of ∼1.47%/°C in the temperature range of 23 °C to 40 °C which is superior to other reported phosphors with a microsecond decay time, suggesting that the material has potential for sensitive thermometry applications at ambient temperatures.

Structural and Lattice-Dynamical Properties of Tb2O3 under Compression: A Comparative Study with Rare Earth and Related Sesquioxides

We report a joint experimental and theoretical investigation of the high pressure structural and vibrational properties of terbium sesquioxide (Tb₂O₃). Powder X-ray diffraction and Raman scattering measurements show that cubic Ia3̅ (C-type) Tb₂O₃ undergoes two phase transitions up to 25 GPa. We observe a first irreversible reconstructive transition to the monoclinic C2/m (B-type) phase at ∼7 GPa and a subsequent reversible displacive transition from the monoclinic to the trigonal P3̅m1 (A-type) phase at ∼1₂ GPa. Thus, Tb₂O₃ is found to follow the well-known C → B → A phase transition sequence found in other cubic rare earth sesquioxides with cations of larger atomic mass than Tb. Our ab initio theoretical calculations predict phase transition pressures and bulk moduli for the three phases in rather good agreement with experimental results. Moreover, Raman-active modes of the three phases have been monitored as a function of pressure, while lattice-dynamics calculations have allowed us to confirm the assignment of the experimental phonon modes in the C- and A-type phases as well as to make a tentative assignment of the symmetry of most vibrational modes in the B-type phase. Finally, we extract the bulk moduli and the Raman-active mode frequencies together with their pressure coefficients for the three phases of Tb₂O₃. These results are thoroughly compared and discussed in relation to those reported for rare earth and other related sesquioxides as well as with new calculations for selected sesquioxides. It is concluded that the evolution of the volume and bulk modulus of all the three phases of these technologically relevant compounds exhibit a nearly linear trend with respect to the third power of the ionic radii of the cations and that the values of the bulk moduli for the three phases depend on the filling of the f orbitals.

Rationalization of the crystal structure of eudidymite Na2Be2[Si[4]6O15]·H2O in light of the extended Zintl-Klemm concept

The structure of eudidymite is described in light of the extended Zintl-Klemm concept which considers that Na and Be atoms transfer their six valence electrons to the six Si atoms, converting them into Ψ-P which forms a skeleton characteristic of pentels (Group 15 elements) and is similar to that described in the compound (NH₄)₂Ge^[6][Ge^[4]₆O₁₅] when analysed in the same manner. The Si^[4] skeleton is formed of bilayers that are connected through Be₂O₆ groups which are in fact fragments of the β-BeO structure which bridge the two contiguous Si-bilayers by sharing O atoms. In this context, the Be atoms play a dual role, i.e. on the one hand converting the Si atoms into Ψ-P, on the other hand replicating fragments of its own β-BeO structure. The Be atoms partially reproduce their own structure despite it being enclosed in a more complex network such as in Na₂Be₂[Si^[4]₆O₁₅]·H₂O. Calculations of the ionic strength I considering Si as Ψ-P is energetically more favourable than when I is calculated on the basis of tetravalent Si in the silicate, justifying this new approach of developing the theory of pseudo-structure generation. This approach offers a major new development in the study of crystal structures.

Unique thermodynamic relationships for Δf H o and Δf G o for crystalline inorganic salts. I. Predicting the possible existence and synthesis of Na2SO2 and Na2SeO2

The concept that equates oxidation and pressure has been successfully utilized in explaining the structural changes observed in the M 2S subnets of M 2SO x (x = 3, 4) compounds (M = Na, K) when compared with the structures (room- and high-pressure phases) of their parent M 2S `alloy' [Martínez-Cruz et al. (1994), J. Solid State Chem. 110, 397–398; Vegas (2000), Crystallogr. Rev. 7, 189–286; Vegas et al. (2002), Solid State Sci. 4, 1077–1081]. These structural changes suggest that if M 2SO2 would exist, its cation array might well have an anti-CaF2 structure. On the other hand, in an analysis of the existing thermodynamic data for M 2S, M 2SO3 and M 2SO4 we have identified, and report, a series of unique linear relationships between the known Δf H o and Δf G o values of the alkali metal (M) sulfide (x = 0) and their oxyanion salts M 2SO x (x = 3 and 4), and the similarly between M 2S2 disulfide (x = 0) and disulfur oxyanion salts M 2S2O x (x = 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7) and the number of O atoms in their anions x. These linear relationships appear to be unique to sulfur compounds and their inherent simplicity permits us to interpolate thermochemical data (Δf H o) for as yet unprepared compounds, M 2SO (x = 1) and M 2SO2 (x = 2). The excellent linearity indicates the reliability of the interpolated data. Making use of the volume-based thermodynamics, VBT [Jenkins et al. (1999), Inorg. Chem. 38, 3609–3620], the values of the absolute entropies were estimated and from them, the standard Δf S o values, and then the Δf G o values of the salts. A tentative proposal is made for the synthesis of Na2SO2 which involves bubbling SO2 through a solution of sodium in liquid ammonia. For this attractive thermodynamic route, we estimate ΔG o to be approximately −500 kJ mol−1. However, examination of the stability of Na2SO2 raises doubts and Na2SeO2 emerges as a more attractive target material. Its synthesis is likely to be easier and it is stable to disproportionation into Na2S and Na2SeO4. Like Na2SO2, this compound is predicted to have an anti-CaF2 Na2Se subnet.

On the charge transfer between conventional cations: the structures of ternary oxides and chalcogenides of alkali metals

The structures of ternary oxides and chalcogenides of alkali metals are dissected in light of the extended Zintl-Klemm concept. This model, which has been successfully extended to other compounds different to the Zintl phases, assumes that crystal structures can be better understood if the cation substructures are contemplated as Zintl polyanions. This implies the occurrence of charge transfer between cations, even if they are of the same kind. In this article, the charge transfer between cations is even more illustrative because the two alkali atoms have different electronegativity, so that the less electropositive alkali metal and the O/S atom always form skeletons characteristic of the group 14 elements. Thus, partial structures of the zincblende-, wurtzite-, PbO- and SrAl(2)-type are found in the oxides/sulfides. In this work, such an interpretation of the structures remains at a topological level. The analysis also shows that this interpretation is complementary to the model developed by Andersson and Hyde which contemplates the structures as the intergrowth of structural slabs of more simple compounds.