Abstract: The most efficient use of spatial volume and the lowest potential energies in the metal oxide structures are based on cubic close packing (ccp) or hexagonal close packing (hcp) of anions with cations occupying the interstices. A promising way to tune the composition of close packed oxides and design new compounds is related to fragmenting the parent structure into modules by periodically spaced planar interfaces, such as twin planes at the unit cell scale. The unique crystal chemistry properties of cations with a lone electron pair, such as Bi3+ or Pb2+, when located at interfaces, enables them to act as chemical scissors, to help relieve configurational strain. With this approach, we synthesized a new oxide, BiMnFe2O6, where fragments of the hypothetical hcp oxygen-based MO structure (the NiAs structure type), for the first time, serve as the building modules in a complex transition metal oxide. Mn3+ and Fe3+ ions are randomly distributed in two crystallographically independent sites (M1 and M2). The structure consists of quasi two-dimensional blocks of the 2H hexagonal close packed MO structure cut along the (114) crystal plane of the hcp lattice and stacked along the c axis. The blocks are related by a mirror operation that allows BiMnFe2O6 to be considered as a polysynthetically twinned 2H hcp MO structure. The transition to an AFM state with an incommensurate spin configuration at [similar] 212 K is established by 57Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy, magnetic susceptibility, specific heat and low temperature powder neutron diffraction.

Abstract: The chemical accessibility of the Celv oxidation state enables redox chemistry to be performed on the naturally coinagemetal -deficient phases CeM1-xSO (M = Cu, Ag). A metastable black compound with the PbFC1 structure type (space group P4/nmm: a = 3.8396(1) angstrom, c = 6.607(4) angstrom, V = 97.40(6) angstrom(3)) and a composition approaching CeSO is obtained by deintercalation of Ag from CeAg0.8SO. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy reveals the presence of large defect-free regions in CeSO, but stacking faults are also evident which can be incorporated into a quantitative model to account for the severe peak anisotropy evident in all the highresolution X-ray and neutron diffractograms of bulk CeSO samples; these suggest that a few percent of residual Ag remains. A strawcolored compound with the filled PbFCI (i.e., ZrSiCuAs- or HfCuSi2type) structure (space group P4/nmm: a = 3.98171(1) angstrom, c = 8.70913(5) angstrom, V = 138.075(1) angstrom 3) and a composition close to LiCeSO, but with small amounts of residual Ag, is obtained by direct reductive lithiation of CeAga8S0 or by insertion of Li into CeSO using chemical or electrochemical means. Computation of the band structure of pure, stoichiometric CeSO predicts it to be a Ce' compound with the 4f-states lying approximately 1 eV above the sulfide-dominated valence band maximum. Accordingly, the effective magnetic moment per Ce ion measured in the CeSO samples is much reduced from the value found for the Ce3+-containing LiCeSO, and the residual paramagnetism corresponds to the Ce3+ ions remaining due to the presence of residual Ag, which presumably reflects the difficulty of stabilizing Ce' in the presence of sulfide (S2-). Comparison of the behavior of CeCu0.8SO with that of CeCu0.8SO reveals much slower reaction kinetics associated with the Cu,_xS layers, and this enables intermediate CeCui LixSO phases to be isolated.

Abstract: New hybrid materials-photosensitized nanocomposites containing nanocrystal heterostructures with spatial charge separation, show high response for practically important sub-ppm level NO2 detection at room temperature. Nanocomposites ZnO/CdSe, ZnO/(CdS@CdSe), and ZnO/(ZnSe@CdS) were obtained by the immobilization of nanocrystals-colloidal quantum dots (QDs), on the matrix of nanocrystalline ZnO. The formation of crystalline core-shell structure of QDs was confirmed by HAADF-STEM coupled with EELS mapping. Optical properties of photosensitizers have been investigated by optical absorption and luminescence spectroscopy combined with spectral dependences of photoconductivity, which proved different charge localization regimes. Photoelectrical and gas sensor properties of nanocomposites have been studied at room temperature under green light (max = 535 nm) illumination in the presence of 0.12-2 ppm NO2 in air. It has been demonstrated that sensitization with type II heterostructure ZnSe@CdS with staggered gap provides the rapid growth of effective photoresponse with the increase in the NO2 concentration in air and the highest sensor sensitivity toward NO2. We believe that the use of core-shell QDs with spatial charge separation opens new possibilities in the development of light-activated gas sensors working without thermal heating.

Abstract: Complex transition-metal oxides exhibit a wide variety of chemical and physical properties which are a strong function the local electronic states of the transition-metal centres, as determined by a combination of metal oxidation state and local coordination environment. Topochemical reduction of the double perovskite oxide, LaSrCoRuO6, using Zr, yields LaSrCoRuO5. This reduced phase contains an ordered array of apex-linked square-based pyramidal Ru3+O5, square-planar Co1+O4 and octahedral Co3+O6 units, consistent with the coordination-geometry driven disproportionation of Co2+. Coordination-geometry driven disproportionation of d(7) transition-metal cations (e.g. Rh2+, Pd3+, Pt3+) is common in complex oxides containing 4d and 5d metals. However, the weak ligand field experienced by a 3d transition-metal such as cobalt leads to the expectation that d(7+) Co2+ should be stable to disproportionation in oxide environments, so the presence of Co1+O4 and Co3+O6 units in LaSrCoRuO5 is surprising. Low-temperature measurements indicate LaSrCoRuO5 adopts a ferromagnetically ordered state below 120 K due to couplings between S=(1)/(2) Ru3+ and S=1 Co1+.

Abstract: Ca9-xPbxEu(PO4)(7) (0 <= x <= 1) solid solutions with a whitlockite-type (or beta-Ca-3(PO4)(2)-type) structure (sp.gr. R3c) were prepared by a standard solid-state method in air. Their luminescent properties under near-ultraviolet (n-UV) light were investigated. Excitation spectra of Ca9-xPbxEu(PO4)(7) showed the strongest absorption at about 395 nm, which matches well with commercially available n-UV-emitting GaN-based LED chips. Emission spectra indicated an intense red emission due to the D-5(0) -> F-7(2) transition of Eu3+, with a maximum in the intensity for Ca8.5Pb0.5Eu(PO4)(7). The emission intensity of Ca8.5Pb0.5Eu(PO4)(7) was about 1.8 times higher than that of a Ca9Eu(PO4)(7) phosphor. We suggest that the introduction of Pb2+ is an efficient approach to enhance luminescence properties of such phosphors. We clarified the influence of the Ca2+/Pb2+ substitution on intensities of three bands for the D-5(0) -> F-7(0) transition in excitation spectra of Ca9-xPbxEu(PO4)(7). In addition, we found a reversible first-order phase transition from R3c to R (3) over barc symmetry by second-harmonic generation in the range from 753 K (x = 1) to 846 K (x = 0). (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Abstract: The crystal structure of a novel compound Pb13Mn9O25 has been determined through a direct space structure solution with a Monte-Carlo-based global optimization using precession electron diffraction data (a=14.177(3) Å, c=3.9320(7) Å, SG P4/m, RF=0.239) and compositional information obtained from energy dispersive X-ray analysis and electron energy loss spectroscopy. This allowed to obtain a reliable structural model even despite the simultaneous presence of both heavy (Pb) and light (O) scattering elements and to validate the accuracy of the electron diffraction-based structure refinement. This provides an important benchmark for further studies of complex structural problems with electron diffraction techniques. Pb13Mn9O25 has an anion- and cation-deficient perovskite-based structure with the A-positions filled by the Pb atoms and 9/13 of the B positions filled by the Mn atoms in an ordered manner. MnO6 octahedra and MnO5 tetragonal pyramids form a network by sharing common corners. Tunnels are formed in the network due to an ordered arrangement of vacancies at the B-sublattice. These tunnels provide sufficient space for localization of the lone 6s2 electron pairs of the Pb2+ cations, suggested as the driving force for the structural difference between Pb13Mn9O25 and the manganites of alkali-earth elements with similar compositions.

Abstract: The structure of Bi0.81Pb0.19FeO2.905 was investigated on different length scales using a combination of electron diffraction, high-resolution scanning transmission electron microscopy, synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction, and Mössbauer spectroscopy. In the 80300 K temperature range, the average crystal structure of Bi0.81Pb0.19FeO2.905 is a cubic Pm3̅m perovskite with a = 3.95368(3) Å at T = 300 K. The (Pb2+, Bi3+) cations and O2 anions are randomly displaced along the 110 cubic directions, indicating the steric activity of the lone pair on the Pb2+ and Bi3+ cations and a tilting distortion of the perovskite framework. The charge imbalance induced by the heterovalent Bi3+ → Pb2+ substitution is compensated by the formation of oxygen vacancies preserving the trivalent state of the Fe cations. On a short scale, oxygen vacancies are located in anion-deficient (FeO1.25) layers that are approximately 6 perovskite unit cells apart and transform every sixth layer of the FeO6 octahedra into a layer with a 1:1 mixture of corner-sharing FeO4 tetrahedra and FeO5 tetragonal pyramids. The anion-deficient layers act as twin planes for the octahedral tilting pattern of adjacent perovskite blocks. They effectively randomize the octahedral tilting and prevent the cooperative distortion of the perovskite framework. The disorder in the anion sublattice impedes cooperative interactions of the local dipoles induced by the off-center displacements of the Pb and Bi cations. Magnetic susceptibility measurements evidence the antiferromagnetic ordering in Bi0.81Pb0.19FeO2.905 at low temperatures.

Abstract: ZnOCo nanocomposite thin films are synthesized by combination of pulsed laser deposition of ZnO and Co ion implantation. Both superparamagnetism and relaxor ferroelectricity as well as magnetoelectric coupling in the nanocomposites have been demonstrated. The unexpected relaxor ferroelectricity is believed to be the result of the local lattice distortion induced by the incorporation of the Co nanoparticles. Magnetoelectric coupling can be attributed to the interaction between the electric dipole moments and the magnetic moments, which are both induced by the incorporation of Co. The introduced ZnOCo nanocomposite thin films are different from conventional strain-mediated multiferroic composites.

Abstract: The low-temperature topotactic reduction of La0.33Sr0.67MnO3 with NaH results in the formation of La0.33Sr0.67MnO2.42. A combination of neutron powder and electron diffraction data show that La0.33Sr0.67MnO2.42 adopts a novel anion-vacancy ordered structure with a 6-layer OOTOOT' stacking sequence of the octahedral and tetrahedral layers (Pcmb, a=5.5804(1) Å, b=23.4104(7) Å, c=11.2441(3) Å). A significant concentration of anion vacancies at the anion site, which links neighbouring octahedral layers means that only 25% of the octahedral manganese coordination sites actually have 6-fold MnO6 coordination, the remainder being MnO5 square-based pyramidal sites. The chains of cooperatively twisted apex-linked MnO4 tetrahedra adopt an ordered -LRLR- arrangement within each tetrahedral layer. This is the first published example of a fully refined structure of this type which exhibits such intralayer ordering of the twisted tetrahedral chains. The rationale behind the contrasting structures of La0.33Sr0.67MnO2.42 and other previously reported reduced La1−xSrxMnO3−y phases is discussed.

Abstract: Ceramic materials are prone to slow crack growth, resulting in strength degradation over time. Although yttria-stabilized zirconia (Y-TZP) ceramics have higher crack resistance than other dental ceramics, their aging susceptibility threatens their long-term performance in aqueous environments such as the oral cavity. Unfortunately, increasing the aging resistance of Y-TZP ceramics normally reduces their crack resistance. Our recently conducted systematic study of doping 3Y-TZP with various trivalent cations revealed that lanthanum oxide (La2O3) and aluminum oxide (Al2O3) have the most potent effect to retard the aging kinetics of 3Y-TZP. In this study, the crack-propagation behavior of La2O3 and Al2O3 co-doped 3Y-TZP ceramics was investigated by double-torsion methods. The grain boundaries were examined using scanning transmission electron microscopy and energy-dispersive spectroscopy (STEM-EDS). Correlating these analytic data with hydrothermal aging studies using different doping systems, a strategy to strongly bind the segregated dopant cations with the oxygen vacancies at the zirconia-grain boundary was found to improve effectively the aging resistance of Y-TZP ceramics without affecting the resistance to crack propagation.

Abstract: The Ca0.85-1.5xGdxEu0.1_0.05-0.5xWO4 (0 < x < 0.567) series of cation-deficient scheelites is investigated to unveil the influence of the cation vacancies on the crystal structure and luminescent properties. The concentration of the vacancies is varied by the heterovalent substitution of Gd3+ for Ca2+, keeping the concentration of the Eu3+ luminescent centers constant in all compounds of the series. The crystal structure of the materials is studied using a combination of transmission electron microscopy and synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction. At low vacancy concentration (x = 0.1, 0.2), cations and cation vacancies are randomly distributed in the structure, and the materials preserve the I41/a symmetry of the parent scheelite structure [x = 0.1: a = 5.25151(1) Å, c = 11.39479(2) Å; x = 0.2: a = 5.25042(1) Å, c = 11.41335(2) Å]. At higher concentration, the cation-vacancy ordering gives rise to incommensurately modulated structures. The x = 0.3 structure has a (3 + 2)D tetragonal symmetry [superspace group I41/a(a,b,0)00(-b,a,0)00, a = 5.24700(1) Å, c = 11.45514(3) Å, q1 = 0.51637(14)a* + 0.80761(13)b*, q2 = -0.80761a* + 0.51637b*]. At x = 0.4, the scheelite basic cell undergoes a monoclinic distortion with the formation of the (3 + 1)D structure [superspace group I2/b(a,b,0)00, a = 5.23757(1) Å, b = 5.25035(1) Å, c = 11.45750(2) Å, g = 90.5120(2) o, q = 0.54206(8)a* + 0.79330(8)b*]. In both structures, the antiphase Ca and (Gd,Eu) occupancy modulations indicate that the ordering between the A cations and vacancies also induces partial Ca/(Gd,Eu) cation ordering. Further increase of the Gd3þ content up to x = 0.567 leads to the formation of a monoclinic phase (space group C2/c) with the Eu2/3WO4-type structure. Despite the difference in the cation-vacancy ordering patterns, all materials in the series demonstrate very similar quantum efficiency and luminescence decay lifetimes. However, the difference in the local coordination environment of the A cation species noticeably affects the line width and the multiplet splitting of the 4f6-4f6 transitions.

Abstract: The crystal structure of the Pb4Mn9O20 compound (previously known as Pb0.43MnO2.18) was solved from powder X-ray diffraction, electron diffraction, and high resolution electron microscopy data (S.G. Pnma, a=13.8888(2) Å, b=11.2665(2) Å, c=9.9867(1) Å, RI=0.016, RP=0.047). The structure is based on a 6H (cch)2 close packing of pure oxygen h-type (O16) layers alternating with mixed c-type (Pb4O12) layers. The Mn atoms occupy octahedral interstices formed by the oxygen atoms of the close-packed layers. The MnO6 octahedra share edges within the layers, whereas the octahedra in neighboring layers are linked through corner sharing. The relationship with the closely related Pb3Mn7O15 structure is discussed. Magnetization measurements reveal a peculiar magnetic behavior with a phase transition at 52 K, a small net magnetization below the transition temperature, and a tendency towards spin freezing.

Abstract: Interfaces between different materials underpin both new scientific phenomena, such as the emergent behaviour at oxide interfaces, and key technologies, such as that of the transistor. Control of the interfaces between materials with the same crystal structures but different chemical compositions is possible in many materials classes, but less progress has been made for oxide materials with different crystal structures. We show that dynamical self-organization during growth can create a coherent interface between the perovskite and fluorite oxide structures, which are based on different structural motifs, if an appropriate choice of cations is made to enable this restructuring. The integration of calculation with experimental observation reveals that the interface differs from both the bulk components and identifies the chemical bonding requirements to connect distinct oxide structures.