Abstract: The Fe-vacancy ordering patterns in the superconducting KxFe2ySe2 and nonsuperconducting Kx(Fe,Co)2ySe2 samples have been investigated by electron diffraction and high angle annular dark field scanning transmission electron microscopy. The Fe-vacancy ordering occurs in the ab plane of the parent ThCr2Si2-type structure, demonstrating two types of patterns. Superstructure I retains the tetragonal symmetry and can be described with the aI = bI = as√5 (as is the unit cell parameter of the parent ThCr2Si2-type structure) supercell and I4/m space group. Superstructure II reduces the symmetry to orthorhombic with the aII = as√2, bII = 2as√2 supercell and the Ibam space group. This type of superstructure is observed for the first time in KxFe2ySe2. The Fe-vacancy ordering is inhomogeneous: the disordered areas interleave with the superstructures I and II in the same crystallite. The observed superstructures represent the compositionally dependent uniform ordering patterns of two species (the Fe atoms and vacancies) on a square lattice. More complex uniform ordered configurations, including compositional stripes, can be predicted for different chemical compositions of the KxFe2ySe2 (0 < y < 0.5) solid solutions.

Abstract: The cubic perovskite Ba(0.5)Sr(0.5)Co(0.8)Fe(0.2)O(3-delta) (denoted BSCF) is the state-of-the-art ceramic membrane material used for oxygen separation technologies above 1150 K. BSCF is a mixed oxygen-ion and electron conductor (MIEC) and exhibits one of the highest oxygen permeabilities reported so far for dense oxides. Additionally, it has excellent phase stability above 1150 K. In the intermediate temperature range (750-1100 K), however, BSCF suffers from a slow decomposition of the cubic perovskite into variants with hexagonal stacking that are barriers to oxygen transport. To elucidate details of the decomposition process, both sintered BSCF ceramic and powder were annealed for 180-240 h in ambient air at temperatures below 1123 K and analyzed by different transmission electron microscopy techniques. Aside from hexagonal perovskite Ba(0.5)Sr(0.5)CoO(3-delta) , the formation of lamellar noncubic phases was observed in the quenched samples. The structure of the lamellae with the previously unknown composition Ba(1-x)Sr(x)Co(2-y)Fe(y)O(5-delta) was found to be related to the 15R hexagonal perovskite polytype. The valence and spin-state transition of cobalt leading to a considerable diminution of its ionic radius can be considered a reason for BSCF's inherent phase instability at intermediate temperatures.

Abstract: The crystal structure of the Sr2Fe2O5 brownmillerite has been investigated using electron diffraction and high resolution electron microscopy. The Sr2Fe2O5 structure demonstrates two-dimensional order: the tetrahedral chains with two mirror-related configurations (L and R) are arranged within the tetrahedral layers according to the −L−R−L−R− sequence, and the layers themselves are displaced with respect to each other over 1/2[111] or 1/2[11] vectors of the brownmillerite unit cell, resulting in different ordered stacking variants. A unified superspace model is constructed for ordered stacking sequences in brownmillerites based on the average brownmillerite structure with a = 5.5298(4)Å, b = 15.5875(12)Å, c = 5.6687(4)Å, and (3 + 1)-dimensional superspace group I2/m(0βγ)0s, q = βb* + γc*, 0 ≤ β ≤ 1/2, 0 ≤ γ ≤ 1.

Abstract: The crystal structure of BiSr8-xCa3+xO22 has been determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. This phase is the same as Bi9Sr11Ca5Oy that was previously studied by several authors as a secondary phase in the Bi-Sr-Ca-Cu-O system and coexists in thermodynamic equilibrium with the superconductors Bi2Sr2CuO6 and Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8 It crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2(1)/c, with cell parameters a 11.037(3) Angstrom, b = 5.971(2) Angstrom, c = 19.703(7) Angstrom, beta = 101.46(3)degrees Z = 2. The structure was solved by direct methods and full-matrix least-squares refinement. It is built up by perovskite-related blocks of composition [Sr8-xBi2Ca3+xO16] that intergrow with double rows [Bi4O6] running along b. The perovskite blocks are formed by groups of five octahedra that are shifted from each other 3/2 root 2a(p) along [110](p) (a(p) being the parameter of the cubic perovskite subcell) in a zigzag configuration and are aligned with this direction parallel to the one forming an angle of 25" with the c axis. In turn, the perovskite blocks [Sr8-xBi2Ca3+xO16] are shifted from each other 1/2 of both a(p) and root 2a(p) along [100](p) and [110](p), respectively. In the double rows, two trivalent bismuth atoms are placed, forming dimeric anion complexes [Bi2O6].(6-).6- The oxygen atoms around bismuth in these dimers are placed in the vertexes of a distorted trigonal bipyramid, with one vacant position that would be occupied by the lone pairs characteristic for the electronic configuration of Bi(III). The B sites in the perovskite blocks are occupied by pentavalent bismuth atoms and calcium atoms; the remaining Sr and Ca ions occupy the A sites of the perovskite blocks with coordination numbers with oxygen ranging from 10 to 12. The mean valence for Bi is +3.67 [33.3% of Bi(V) and 66.7% of Bi(III)]. The oxygen vacancies are located in the boundaries between domains having the two possible configurations of the perovskite subcell as in the anionic superconductor Bi3BaO5.5. The oxidation of Bi6Sr8-xCa3+xO22 at 650 degrees C allows the complete filling of the oxygen vacancies to form the double perovskite (Sr2-xCax)Bi1.4Ca0.6O6 that shows 92.5% of bismuth in +5 oxidation state. The experimental high-resolution electon microscopy image and the electron diffraction pattern of powder samples along the [010]* zone axis are in good agreement with those calculated from the structural model obtained by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The material is almost free of defects and the occurrence of planar defects is very exceptional.

Abstract: The (1 − x)BiFeO3−xLaFeO3 system has been investigated and characterized by room-temperature and high-temperature laboratory and synchrotron powder X-ray diffraction, electron diffraction, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and magnetization measurements. At room temperature, the ferroelectric R3c phase is observed for 0.0 ≤ x ≤ 0.10. The PbZrO3-related √2ap × 2√2ap × 4ap superstructure (where ap is the parameter of the cubic perovskite subcell) is observed for Bi0.82La0.18FeO3, while an incommensurately modulated phase is formed for 0.19 ≤ x ≤ 0.30 with the √2ap × 2ap × √2ap basic unit cell. The GdFeO3-type phase with space group Pnma (√2ap × 2ap × √2ap) is stable at 0.50 ≤ x ≤ 1. Bi0.82La0.18FeO3 has no detectable homogeneity range (space group Pnam, a = 5.6004(1) Å, b = 11.2493(3) Å, c = 15.6179(3) Å). The incommensurately modulated Bi0.75La0.25FeO3 structure was solved from synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction data (Imma(00γ)s00 superspace group, a = 5.5956(1) Å, b = 7.8171(1) Å, c = 5.62055(8) Å, q = 0.4855(4)c*, RP = 0.023, RwP = 0.033). In this structure, cooperative displacements of the Bi and O atoms occur, which order within the (AO) (where A = Bi, La) layers, resulting in an antipolar structure. Local fluctuations of the intralayer antipolar ordering are compensated by an interaction with the neighboring (AO) layers. A coupling of the antipolar displacements with the cooperative tilting distortion of the perovskite octahedral framework is proposed as the origin of the incommensurability. All the phases transform to the GdFeO3-type structure at high temperatures. Bi0.82La0.18FeO3 shows an intermediate PbZrO3-type phase with √2ap × 2√2ap × 2ap (space group Pbam; a = 5.6154(2) Å, b = 11.2710(4) Å, and c = 7.8248(2) Å at 570 K). The compounds in the compositional range of 0.18 ≤ x ≤ 0.95 are canted antiferromagnets.

Abstract: Surface and interface control is fundamentally important for crystal growth engineering, catalysis, surface enhanced spectroscopies, and self-assembly, among other processes and applications. Understanding the role of ligands in regulating surface properties of plasmonic metal nanocrystals during growth has received considerable attention. However, the underlying mechanisms and the diverse functionalities of ligands are yet to be fully addressed. In this contribution,
we report a systematic study of ligand-mediated interface control in seeded growth of gold nanocrystals, leading to diverse and exotic nanostructures with an improved surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) activity. Three dimensional transmission electron microscopy (3D TEM) revealed an intriguing gold shell growth process mediated by the bifunctional ligand 1,4-benzenedithiol (BDT), which leads to a unique crystal growth mechanism as compared to other ligands, and subsequently to the concept of interfacial energy control mechanism. Volmer-Weber growth mode was proposed to be responsible for BDT-mediated seeded growth, favoring the strongest interfacial energy and generating an asymmetric island growth pathway with internal crevices/gaps. This additionally favors incorporation of BDT at the plasmonic nanogaps, thereby generating strong SERS activity with a maximum efficiency for a core-semishell configuration obtained along seeded growth. Numerical modeling was used to explain this observation. Interestingly, the same strategy can be used to engineer the structural diversity of this system, by using gold nanoparticle seeds with various sizes and shapes, and varying the [Au3+]/[Au0] ratio. This rendered a series of diverse and exotic plasmonic nanohybrids such as semishell-coated gold nanorods, with embedded Raman-active tags and Janus surface with distinct surface functionalities.
These would greatly enrich the plasmonic nanostructure toolbox for various studies and applications such as anisotropic nanocrystal engineering, SERS, and high-resolution Raman bioimaging or nanoantenna devices.

Abstract: Solid-state ion conductors based on closo-polyborate anions combine high ionic conductivity with a rich array of tunable properties. Cation mobility in these systems is intimately related to the strength of the interaction with the neighboring anionic network and the energy for reorganizing the coordination polyhedra. Here, we explore such factors in solid electrolytes with two anions of the weakest coordinating ability, [HCB11H5Cl6](-) and [HCB11H5Br6](-), and a total of 11 polymorphs are identified for their lithium and sodium salts. Our approach combines ab initio molecular dynamics, synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry, and AC impedance measurements to investigate their structures, phase-transition behavior, anion orientational mobilities, and ionic conductivities. We find that M(HCB11H5X6) (M = Li, Na, X = Cl, Br) compounds exhibit order-disorder polymorphic transitions between 203 and 305 degrees C and display Li and Na superionic conductivity in the disordered state. Through detailed analysis, we illustrate how cation disordering in these compounds originates from a competitive interplay among the lattice symmetry, the anion reorientational mobility, the geometric and electronic asymmetry of the anion, and the polarizability of the halogen atoms. These factors are compared to other closo-polyborate-based ion conductors to suggest guidelines for optimizing the cation-anion interaction for fast ion mobility. This study expands the known solid-state poly(carba)borate-based materials capable of liquid-like ionic conductivities, unravels the mechanisms responsible for fast ion transport, and provides insights into the development of practical superionic solid electrolytes.

Abstract: Solar energy plays an important role in solving serious environmental
problems and meeting the high energy demand. However, the lack of suitable
materials hinders further progress of this technology. Here, we present the largest
inorganic solar cell material search till date using density functional theory (DFT) and
machine-learning approaches. We calculated the spectroscopic limited maximum
efficiency (SLME) using the Tran−Blaha-modified Becke−Johnson potential for 5097
nonmetallic materials and identified 1997 candidates with an SLME higher than 10%,
including 934 candidates with a suitable convex-hull stability and an effective carrier
mass. Screening for two-dimensional-layered cases, we found 58 potential materials
and performed G0W0 calculations on a subset to estimate the prediction uncertainty. As the above DFT methods are still computationally expensive, we developed a high accuracy machine-learning model to prescreen efficient materials and applied it to over a million materials. Our results provide a general framework and universal strategy for the design of high-efficiency solar
cell materials. The data and tools are publicly distributed at: https://www.ctcms.nist.gov/~knc6/JVASP.html, https://www.
ctcms.nist.gov/jarvisml/, https://jarvis.nist.gov/, and https://github.com/usnistgov/jarvis.

Abstract: Sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) are potential cost-effective solutions for stationary energy storage applications. Unavailability of suitable anode materials, however, is one of the important barriers to the maturity of SIBs. Here, we report a Na2+xTi4O9/C composite as a promising anode candidate for SIBs with high capacity and cycling stability. This anode is characterized by a capacity of 124 mAh g(-1) (plus 11 mAh g(-1) contributed by carbon black), an average discharge potential of 0.9 V vs Na/Na+, a good rate capability and a high stability (89% capacity retention after 250 cycles at a rate of 1 degrees C). The mechanisms of sodium insertion/deinsertion and of the formation of Na2+xTi4O9/C are investigated with the aid of various ex/in situ characterization techniques. The in situ formed carbon is necessary for the formation of the reduced sodium titanate. This synthesis method may enable the convenient synthesis of other composites of crystalline phases with amorphous carbon.

Abstract: Searching for novel high-capacity electrode materials combining cationic and anionic redox processes is an ever-growing activity within the field of Li-ion batteries. In this respect, we report on the exploration of the Li3RuyNb1-yO4 (O <= y <= 1) system with an O/M ratio of 4 to maximize the number of oxygen lone pairs, responsible for the anionic redox. We show that this system presents a very rich crystal chemistry with the existence of four structural types, which derive from the rocksalt structure but differ in their cationic arrangement, creating either zigzag, helical, jagged chains or clusters. From an electrochemical standpoint, these compounds are active on reduction via a classical cationic insertion process. The oxidation process is more complex, because of the instability of the delithiated phase. Our results promote the use of the rich Li3MO4 family as a viable platform for a better understanding of the relationships between structure and anionic redox activity.

Abstract: Scheelite related compounds (A',A '') [(B',B '')O-4], with B', B '' = W and/or Mo are promising new light-emitting materials for photonic applications, including phosphor converted LEDs (light-emitting diodes). In this paper, the creation and ordering of A-cation vacancies and the effect of cation substitutions in the scheelite-type framework are investigated as a factor for controlling the scheelite-type structure and luminescent properties. CaGd2(1-x)Eu2x(MoO4)(4(1-y))(WO4)(4y) (0 <= x <= 1, 0 <= y <= 1) solid solutions with scheelite-type structure were synthesized by a solid state method, and their structures were investigated using a combination of transmission electron microscopy techniques and powder X-ray diffraction. Within this series all complex molybdenum oxides have (3 + 2)D incommensurately modulated structures with superspace group I4(1)/a(alpha,beta,0)00(-beta,alpha,0)00, while the structures of all tungstates are (3 + 1)D incommensurately modulated with superspace group I2/b(alpha beta 0)00. In both cases the modulation arises because of cation-vacancy ordering at the A site. The prominent structural motif is formed by columns of A-site vacancies running along the c-axis. These vacant columns occur in rows of two or three aligned along the [110] direction of the scheelite subcell. The replacement of the smaller Gd3+ by the larger Eu3+ at the A-sublattice does not affect the nature of the incommensurate modulation, but an increasing replacement of Mo6+ by W6+ switches the modulation from (3 + 2)D to (3 + 1)D regime. Thus, these solid solutions can be considered as a model system where the incommensurate modulation can be monitored as a function of cation nature while the number of cation vacancies at the A sites remain constant upon the isovalent cation replacement. All compounds' luminescent properties were measured, and the optical properties were related to the structural properties of the materials. CaGd2(1-x)(MoO4)(4(1-y))(WO4)(4y) phosphors emit intense red light dominated by the D-5(0)-F-7(2) transition at 612 nm, along with other transitions from the D-5(1) and D-5(0) excited states. The intensity of the 5D0-7F2 transition reaches a maximum at x = 0.5 for y = 0 and 1.

Abstract: Recently, CsTlCl3 and CsTlF3 perovskites were theoretically predicted to be potential superconductors if they were optimally doped. The syntheses of these two compounds together with a complete characterization of the samples are reported. CsTlCl3 was obtained as orange crystals in two different polymorphs: a tetragonal phase (I4/m) and a cubic phase (Fm (3) over barm). CsTlF3 was formed as a light brown powder, and also as a double cubic perovskite (Fm (3) over barm). In all three CsTlX3 phases, Tl+ and Tl3+ were located in two different crystallographic positions that accommodate their different bond lengths. In CsTlCl3, some Tl vacancies were found in the Tl+ position. The charge ordering between Tl+ and Tl3+ was confirmed by X-ray absorption and Raman spectroscopy. The Raman spectroscopy of CsTlCl3 at high pressure (58 GPa) did not indicate any phase transition to a possible single Tl2+ state. However, the highly insulating material became less resistive with an increasing high pressure, while it underwent a change in its optical properties, from transparent to deeply opaque red, indicative of a decrease in the magnitude of the band gap. The theoretical design and experimental validation of the existence of CsTlF3 and CsTlCl3 cubic perovskites are the necessary first steps in confirming the theoretical prediction of superconductivity in these materials.

Abstract: Pt doped semiconducting metal oxides and Pt metal clusters embedded in an oxide matrix are of interest for applications such as catalysis and gas sensing, energy storage and memory devices. Accurate tuning of the dopant level is crucial for adjusting the properties of these materials. Here, a novel atomic layer deposition (ALD) based method for doping Pt into In2O3 in specific, and metals in metal oxides in general, is demonstrated. This approach combines alternating exposures of Pt and In2O3 ALD processes in a single ‘supercycle’, followed by supercycle repetition leading to multilayered nanocomposites. The atomic level control of ALD and its conformal nature make the method suitable for accurate dopant control even on high surface area supports. Oxidation state, local structural environment and crystalline phase of the embedded Pt dopants were obtained by means of X-ray characterization methods and high angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy (HAADF-STEM). In addition, this approach allows characterization of the nucleation stages of metal ALD processes, by stacking those states multiple times in an oxide matrix. Regardless of experimental conditions, a few Pt ALD cycles leads to the formation of oxidized Pt species due to their highly dispersed nature, as proven by X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS). Grazing-incidence small-angle X-ray scattering (GISAXS) and highresolution scanning transmission electron microscopy, combined with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (HR-STEM/EDXS) show that Pt is evenly distributed in the In2O3 metal oxide matrix without the formation of clusters. For a larger number of Pt ALD
cycles, typ. > 10, the oxidation state gradually evolves towards fully metallic, and metallic Pt clusters are obtained within the In2O3 metal oxide matrix. This work reveals how tuning of the ALD supercycle approach for Pt doping allows controlled engineering of the Pt compositional and structural configuration within a metal oxide matrix.

Abstract: Polycrystalline samples of Cs1.17In0.81Cl3 were prepared by annealing a mixture of CsCl, InCl, and InCl3, stoichiometric for the targeted CsInCl3. Synchrotron powder X-ray diffraction refinement and chemical analysis by energy dispersive X-ray indicated that Cs1.17In0.81Cl3, a tetragonal distorted perovskite derivative (I4/m), is the thermodynamically stable product. The refined unit cell parameters and space group were confirmed by electron diffraction. In the tetragonal structure, In+ and In3+ are located in four different crystallographic sites, consistent with their corresponding bond lengths. In1, In2, and In3 are octahedrally coordinated, whereas In4 is at the center of a pentagonal bipyramid of Cl because of the noncooperative octahedral tilting of In4Cl6. The charged-ordered In+ and In3+ were also confirmed by X-ray absorption and Raman spectroscopy. Cs1.17In0.81Cl3 is the first example of an inorganic halide double perovskite derivative with charged-ordered In+ and In3+. Band structure and optical conductivity calculations were carried out with both generalized gradient approximation (GGA) and modified Becke-Johnson (mBJ) approach; the GGA calculations estimated the band gap and optical band gap to be 2.27 eV and 2.4 eV, respectively. The large and indirect band gap suggests that Cs1.17In0.81Cl3 is not a good candidate for photovoltaic application.

Abstract: Palladium nanoparticles (NPs) have received tremendous attention over the years due to their high catalytic activity for various chemical reactions. However, unlike other noble metal nanoparticles such as Au and Ag NPs, they exhibit poor plasmonic properties with broad extinction spectra and less scattering efficiency, and thus limiting their applications in the field of plasmonics. Therefore, it has been challenging to integrate tunable and strong plasmonic properties into catalytic Pd nanoparticles. Here we show that plasmonic Au@Pd nanorods (NRs) with relatively narrow and remarkably tunable optical responses in the NIR region can be obtained by directional growth of Pd on penta-twinned Au NR seeds. We found the presence of bromide ions facilitates the stabilization of facets for the directional growth of Pd shell to obtain Au@Pd nanorods (NR) with controlled length scales. Interestingly, it turns out the Au NR supported Pd NRs exhibit much narrow extinction compared to pure Pd NRs, which makes them suitable for plasmonic sensing applications. Moreover, these nanostructures display, to the best of our knowledge, one of the highest ensemble refractive index sensitivity values reported to date (1067 nm per refractive index unit, RIU). Additionally, we showed the application of such plasmonic Au@Pd NRs for localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR)-based sensing of hydrogen both in solution as well as on substrate. Finally, we demonstrate the integration of excellent plasmonic properties in catalytic palladium enables the in situ monitoring of a reaction progress by surface-enhanced Raman scattering. We postulate the proposed approach to boost the plasmonic properties of Pd nanoparticles will ignite the design of complex shaped plasmonic Pd NPs to be used in various plasmonic applications such as sensing and in situ monitoring of various chemical reactions.