Refinement of the crystal structure of the high-temperature phase G{sub 0} in (NH{sub 4}){sub 2}WO{sub 2}F{sub 4} (powder, X-ray, and neutron scattering)
The (NH{sub 4}){sub 2}WO{sub 2}F{sub 4} compound undergoes a series of phase transitions: G{sub 0} {yields} 201, K {yields} G{sub 1} {yields} 160, and K {yields} G{sub 2}, with a significant change in entropy ({Delta}S{sub 1} {approx} Rln10 at the G{sub 0} {yields} G{sub 1} transition), which indicates significant orientational disordering in the G{sub 0} phase and the order-disorder type of the phase transition. X-ray diffraction is used to identify the crystal structure of the G{sub 0} phase as rhombohedral (sp. gr. Cmcm, Z = 4), determine the lattice parameters and the positions of all atoms (except hydrogen), and show that [WO{sub 2}F{sub 4}]{sup 2-} ions can form a superposition of dynamic and static orientational disorders in the anionic sublattice. A determination of the orientational position of [NH{sub 4}]{sup +} ions calls for the combined method of elastic and inelastic neutron scattering. Inelastic neutron scattering is used to determine the state of hindered rotation for ammonium ions in the G{sub 0} phase. Powder neutron diffraction shows that the orientational disorder of NH{sub 4} ions can adequately be described within the free-rotation approximation.