Abstract: We apply neutron diffraction, high-resolution synchrotron x-ray diffraction, magnetization measurements, electronic structure calculations, and quantum Monte-Carlo simulations to unravel the structure and magnetism of (CuCl)LaTa2O7. Despite the pseudo-tetragonal crystallographic unit cell, this compound features an orthorhombic superstructure, similar to the Nb-containing (CuX)LaNb2O7 with X = Cl and Br. The spin lattice entails dimers formed by the antiferromagnetic fourth-neighbor coupling J(4), as well as a large number of nonequivalent interdimer couplings quantified by an effective exchange parameter J(eff). In (CuCl)LaTa2O7, the interdimer couplings are sufficiently strong to induce the long-range magnetic order with the Neel temperature T-N similar or equal to 7 K and the ordered magnetic moment of 0.53 mu(B), as measured with neutron diffraction. This magnetic behavior can be accounted for by J(eff)/J(4) similar or equal to 1.6 and J(4) similar or equal to 16 K. We further propose a general magnetic phase diagram for the (CuCl)LaNb2O7-type compounds, and explain the transition from the gapped spin-singlet (dimer) ground state in (CuCl)LaNb2O7 to the long-range antiferromagnetic order in (CuCl)LaTa2O7 and (CuBr)LaNb2O7 by an increase in the magnitude of the interdimer couplings J(eff)/J(4), with the (CuCl)LaM2O7 (M = Nb, Ta) compounds lying on different sides of the quantum critical point that separates the singlet and long-range-ordered magnetic ground states.

Abstract: We show that interlayer spins play a dual role in the Cairo pentagonal magnet Bi4Fe5O13F, on one hand mediating the three-dimensional magnetic order, and on the other driving spin-reorientation transitions both within and between the planes. The corresponding sequence of magnetic orders unraveled by neutron diffraction and Mossbauer spectroscopy features two orthogonal magnetic structures described by opposite local vector chiralities, and an intermediate, partly disordered phase with nearly collinear spins. A similar collinear phase has been predicted theoretically to be stabilized by quantum fluctuations, but Bi4Fe5O13F is very far from the relevant parameter regime. While the observed in-plane reorientation cannot be explained by any standard frustration mechanism, our ab initio band-structure calculations reveal strong single-ion anisotropy of the interlayer Fe3+ spins that turns out to be instrumental in controlling the local vector chirality and the associated interlayer order.

Abstract: A previously unreported Pb-based perovskite PbMoO3 is obtained by high-pressure and high-temperature synthesis. This material crystallizes in the Pm3m cubic structure at room temperature, making it distinct from typical Pb-based perovskite oxides with a structural distortion. PbMoO3 exhibits a metallic behavior down to 0.1 K with an unusual T-sublinear dependence of the electrical resistivity. Moreover, a large specific heat is observed at low temperatures accompanied by a peak in C-P/T-3 around 10 K, in marked contrast to the isostructural metallic system SrMoO3. These transport and thermal properties for PbMoO3, taking into account anomalously large Pb atomic displacements detected through diffraction experiments, are attributed to a low-energy vibrational mode, associated with incoherent off-centering of lone-pair Pb2+ cations. We discuss the unusual behavior of the electrical resistivity in terms of a polaronlike conduction, mediated by the strong coupling between conduction electrons and optical phonons of the local low-energy vibrational mode.

Abstract: Pr2−xCexCuO4 (x = 0.05; 0.1; 0.15) samples were synthesized and systematically characterized towards application as a cathode material for solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs). High-temperature electrical conductivity, thermal expansion, and electrocatalytic activity in the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) were examined. The electrical conductivity of Pr2−xCexCuO4 oxides demonstrates semiconducting behavior up to 900 °C. Small Ce-doping (2.5 at%) allows an increase in electrical conductivity from 100 to 130 S cm−1 in air at 500–800 °C. DFT calculations revealed that the density of states directly below the Fermi level, comprised mainly of Cu 3d and O 2p states, is significantly affected by atoms in rare earth positions, which might give an indication of a correlation between calculated electronic structures and measured conducting properties. Ce-doping in Pr2−xCexCuO4 slightly increases TEC from 11.9 × 10−6 K−1 for x = 0 to 14.2 × 10−6 K−1 for x = 0.15. Substitution of 2.5% of Pr atoms in Pr2CuO4 by Ce is effective to enhance the electrochemical performance of the material as a SOFC cathode in the ORR (ASR of Pr1.95Ce0.05CuO4 electrode applied on Ce0.9Gd0.1O1.95 electrolyte is 0.39 Ω cm2 at 750 °C in air). The peak power density achieved for the electrolyte-supported fuel cell with the Pr1.95Ce0.05CuO4 cathode is 150 mW cm−2 at 800 °C

Abstract: The existence of the [SrF(0.8)O(0.1)](2.5)[Mn(6)O(12)] = Sr(2.5)Mn(6)O(12.5 – delta)F(2) compound was established in the SrO-Mn(2)O(3)-SrF(2) system at 900A degrees C and p(O(2)) = 1 atm. The crystal structure of strontium fluoromanganite was determined from the X-ray powder diffraction data, electron diffraction, and high-resolution electron microscopy. It can be described in the monoclynic system with four Miller hklm indices: hklm: H = h a* + k b* + l c (1) (*) + m q (1), q (1), q (1) = c (2) (*) = gamma c (1) (*) , gamma a parts per thousand 0.632, a a parts per thousand a a parts per thousand 9.72 , b a parts per thousand 9.55 , c (1) a parts per thousand 2.84 , c (2) a parts per thousand 4.49 , monoclinic angle gamma a parts per thousand 95.6A degrees. The electromotive force method with a solid fluorine ion electrolyte was used to refine the composition of fluoromanganite and determine the thermodynamic functions of its formation from phases neighboring in the phase diagram (SrMn(3)O(6), Mn(2)O(3), SrF(2), and oxygen), Delta GA degrees, kJ/mol = -(111.7 +/- 1.9) + (89.5 +/- 1.5) x 10(-3) T.

Abstract: The success and continued expansion of research on metal-oxo clusters owe largely to their structural richness and wide range of functions. However, while most of them known to date are negatively charged polyoxometalates, there is only a handful of cationic ones, much less functional ones. Here, we show an all-inorganic hydroxyiodide [H(10.)7Sb(32.1)O(44)][H2.1Sb2.1I8O6][Sb0.76I6](2)center dot 25H(2)O (HSbOI), forming a face-centered cubic structure with cationic Sb32O44 clusters and two types of anionic clusters in its interstitial spaces. Although it is submicrometer in size, electron diffraction tomography of HSbOI allowed the construction of the initial structural model, followed by powder Rietveld refinement to reach the final structure. The cationic cluster is characterized by the presence of acidic protons on its surface due to substantial Sb3+ deficiencies, which enables HSbOI to serve as an excellent solid acid catalyst. These results open up a frontier for the exploration and functionalization of cationic metal-oxo clusters containing heavy main group elements.

Abstract: A comparative study of NH3-sensing performance of blank and modified nanocrystal line SnO2 was performed. Tin dioxide modified by ruthenium displayed the highest ammonia sensitivity with a maximum signal at 200 degrees C. The modifier was shown by XPS and EPR to occur in a mixed valence state of oxidized ruthenium distributed between the surface and bulk of tin dioxide nanocrystals. RuOx clustering on SnO2 surface was detected by means of electron microscopy assisted EDX-mapping. The effect of RuOx on tin dioxide interaction with ammonia was studied by temperature-programmed NH3 desorption, simultaneous Kelvin probe and DC-resistance measurements, EPR spectroscopy and analyses of the gas-solid interaction products. The modifier was shown to promote the materials reactivity to NH3 due to the catalytic activity of RuOx. The interaction with ammonia resulted in dipoles formation on the oxide surface along with reducing the grains net surface charge, established from the electron affinity increase and resistance decrease during NH3 exposure. The RuOx-catalyzed gas-solid interaction was deduced to proceed deeper than in the case of non-modified SnO2 and to yield nitrogen oxides (e.g. NO2), as was suggested by the oxidative character of gaseous products of NH3 interaction with RuOx-modified tin dioxide at 200 degrees C. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Abstract: This work reports the study of photoconductivity and visible light activated room temperature gas sensors properties of nanocrystalline ZnO thick films sensitized with colloidal CdSe quantum dots (QDs). Nanocrystalline zinc oxide (ZnO) was synthesized by the precipitation method. Colloidal CdSe quantum dots were obtained by high temperature colloidal synthesis. Sensitization was effectuated by three different procedures including direct adsorption of CdSe QDs stabilized with oleic acid on ZnO surface, anchoring to the ZnO surface through a bifunctional molecule of mercaptopropionic acid (MPA), and coating of CdSe QDs with a monolayer of MPA with subsequent adsorption on ZnO surface. Sensor measurements demonstrated that obtained QD CdSe/ZnO nanocomposites can be used for NO2 detection under visible (green) light illumination at room temperature without any thermal heating. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Abstract: Nanostructures p-CoOx/n-SnO2 based on tin oxide nanowires have been prepared by two step CVD technique and characterized in detail by XRD, XRF, XPS, HAADF-STEM imaging and EDX-STEM mapping. Depending on the temperature of decomposition of cobalt complex during the second step of CVD synthesis of nanostructures cobalt oxide forms a coating and/or isolated nanoparticles on SnO2 nanowire surface. It was found that cobalt presents in +2 and +3 oxidation states. The measurements of gas sensor properties have been carried out during exposure to CO (14 ppm), NH3 (21 ppm), and H2S (2 ppm) in dry air. The opposite trends were observed in the effect of cobalt oxide on the SnO2 gas sensitivity when detecting CO or NH3 in comparison to H2S. The decrease of sensor signal toward CO and NH3 was attributed to high catalytic activity of Co3O4 in oxidation of these gases. Contrary, the significant increase of sensor signal in the presence of H2S was attributed to the formation of metallic cobalt sulfide and removal of the barrier between p-CoOx and n-SnO2. This effect provides an excellent selectivity of p-CoOx/n-SnO2 nanostructures in H2S detection.

Abstract: Oxygen-deficient complex cobalt oxides BaCo1 − xYxO3 − y, = 0.15, 0.25 and 0.33, with a cubic perovskite structure have been synthesized in air at 1100 °C using a citrate route. Cation composition of the compounds was confirmed by energy-dispersed X-ray (EDX) microanalysis while oxygen content was determined by iodometric titration. An electron diffraction (ED) study of the x = 0.25 and 0.33 compositions show the presence of a diffuse intensity, indicating possible short-range ordering of the B cations. It was found that the treatment of BaCo0.75Y0.25O2.55 in a humid atmosphere leads to the absorption of water vapour at the first stage. Oxygen permeation studies of the ceramic membranes of BaCo0.75Y0.25O2.55 and BaCo0.67Y0.33O2.55 with variable thickness showed high oxygen fluxes of 0.170.32 µmol/cm2/s at 950 °C.