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At least 343 records · Page 19
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2023

Multilevel atomic structural model for interstratified opal materials

The structure of opal has long fascinated scientists. It occurs in a number of structural states, ranging from amorphous to exhibiting features of stacking disorder. Opal-CT, where C and T signify cristobalite- and tridymite-like interstratification, represents an important link in the length scales between amorphous and crystalline states. However, details about local atomic (dis)order and arrangements extending to long-range stacking faults in opal polymorphs remain incompletely understood. Here, a multilevel modeling approach is reported that considers stacking states in correlation with the abundance of C and T segments as a high-level structural parameter (i.e. not each atom). Optimization accounting for inter-tetrahedral bond lengths and angles and the regularity of the silicate tetrahedra is included as lower levels of structural parameters. Together, a set of parameters with both coarse-grained and atomistic features for different levels of structural details is refined. Structural disorder at the ~10–100 Å distance scale is evaluated using experimental pair distribution function and diffraction datasets, comparing peak intensities, widths and asymmetry. Here this work presents a complete multilevel structural description of natural opal-CT and explains many of the unusual features observed in X-ray powder diffraction patterns. This modeling approach can be adopted generally for analyzing layered materials and their assembly into 3D structures.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2020

Fast-current-heating devices to study in situ phase formation in metallic glasses by using high-energy synchrotron radiation

Details of fast-resistive-heating setups, controlled heating ranging from ~10 1 K s –1 to ~10 3 K s –1 , to study in situ phase transformations (on heating and on cooling) in metallic glasses by high-energy synchrotron x-ray diffraction are discussed here. Both setups were designed and custom built at the Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research Dresden (IFW Dresden) and have been implemented at the P02.1 Powder Diffraction and Total Scattering Beamline and the P21.1 Swedish Materials Science Beamline at PETRA III storage ring, DESY, Hamburg. The devices are interchangeable at both beamlines. Joule heating is triggered automatically and is timed with the incident beam and detector. The crystallization process can be controlled via a feedback circuit by monitoring the change in the time-dependent resistivity and temperature of glasses. Different ambient atmospheres, such as vacuum and inert gases (He and Ar), can be used to control oxidation and cooling. The main focus of these devices is on understanding the crystallization mechanism and kinetics in metallic glasses, which are brittle and for which fast heating gives defined glass–crystal composites with enhanced plasticity. As an example, phase-transformation sequence(s) in a prototyped Cu–Zr-based metallic glass is described on heating, and a crystalline phase beneficial to the plasticity is identified.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗
NASA NTRS2003

High Pressure X-Ray Diffraction Studies on Nanocrystalline Materials

Application of in situ high pressure powder diffraction technique for examination of specific structural properties of nanocrystals based on the experimental data of SiC nanocrystalline powders of 2 to 30 nrn diameter in diameter is presented. Limitations and capabilities of the experimental techniques themselves and methods of diffraction data elaboration applied to nanocrystals with very small dimensions (< 30 nm) are discussed. It is shown that due to the complex structure, constituting a two-phase, core/surface shell system, no unique lattice parameter value and, consequently, no unique compressibility coefficient can satisfactorily describe the behavior of nanocrystalline powders under pressure. We offer a tentative interpretation of the distribution of macro- and micro-strains in nanoparticles of different grain size.

Palosz, B.↗
DOE OSTI2015

Ca{sub 2}Cr{sub 0.5}Ga{sub 1.5}O{sub 5}—An extremely redox-stable brownmillerite phase

Investigation of the Ca{sub 2}Cr{sub x}Ga{sub 2−x}O{sub 5} compositional series reveals a maximum chromium solubility of 25%. The most chromium rich composition, Ca{sub 2}Cr{sub 0.5}Ga{sub 1.5}O{sub 5}, adopts a brownmillerite-type anion deficient perovskite structure described in space group Pnma (a=5.368 Å, b=14.547 Å, c=5.593 Å). Neutron powder diffraction data reveals rigorous B-site cation order, with all of the tetrahedral coordination sites occupied exclusively by gallium and the octahedral coordination sites occupied by gallium or chromium. Annealing studies reveals Ca{sub 2}Cr{sub 0.5}Ga{sub 1.5}O{sub 5} is stable in both oxidizing (100% O{sub 2}) and reducing (5% H{sub 2} in N{sub 2}) conditions up to 800 °C, suggesting it could find application as a stable host lattice for fuel cell electrodes or electrolytes with suitable doping to enhance catalytic behaviour and/or anionic conductivity. - Graphical abstract: Ca{sub 2}Cr{sub 0.5}Ga{sub 1.5}O{sub 5}, adopts a brownmillerite-type anion deficient perovskite structure yet it is stable in both oxidizing (100% O{sub 2}) and reducing (5% H{sub 2} in N{sub 2}) conditions up to 800 °C. - Highlights: • Anion deficient oxide stable to both oxidation and reduction up to 800 °C. • Cation-ordered brownmillerite structure determined by powder neutron diffraction. • Low solubility of Cr{sup 3+} in framework due to spherical d{sup 3} electron configuration.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2016

A novel orange-red emitting NaCaVO{sub 4}:Sm{sup 3+} phosphor for solid state lighting

The samarium doped NaCaVO{sub 4} phosphor was synthesized by the combustion method. The X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) analysis confirmed that the phosphor powder crystallized as orthorhombic structure belonging to space group Cmcm. From Williamson-Hall analysis the grain size and microstrain in the powder was estimated. The Fourier- transform infrared (FT-IR) studies further validated the formation of vanadate phase of the phosphor. Photoluminescence (PL) study revealed that the phosphor could be efficiently excited by UV-VIS from 200 nm to 500 nm. The 565 nm, 602 nm, 648 nm and 713 nm emissions were ascribed to {sup 4}G{sub 5/2} to {sup 6}H{sub J} (J = 5/2, 7/2, 9/2 and 11/2) transitions of the Sm{sup 3+} ion. The present material may be explored as a novel phosphor to be excited by UV light emitting diodes (LEDs) chips for solid-state lighting and display applications.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2021

Chiral properties of the zero-field spiral state and field-induced magnetic phases of the itinerant kagome metal YMn 6 Sn 6

Applying a magnetic field in the hexagonal plane of YMn 6 Sn 6 leads to a complex magnetic phase diagram of commensurate and incommensurate phases, one of which coexists with the topological Hall effect (THE) generated by a unique fluctuation-driven mechanism. Using unpolarized neutron diffraction, we report on the solved magnetic structure for two previously identified, but unknown, commensurate phases. These include a low-temperature, high-field fanlike phase and a room-temperature, low-field canted antiferromagnetic phase. Here, an intermediate incommensurate phase between the fanlike and forced ferromagnetic phases is also identified as the last known phase of the in-plane field-temperature diagram. Additional characterization using synchrotron powder diffraction reveals extremely high-quality, single-phase crystals, which suggests that the presence of two incommensurate magnetic structures throughout much of the phase diagram is an intrinsic property of the system. Interestingly, polarized neutron diffraction shows that the centrosymmetric system hosts preferential chirality in the zero-field double-flat-spiral phase, which, along with the THE, is a topologically nontrivial characteristic.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2017

In Situ Neutron Diffraction Studies of the Ion Exchange Synthesis Mechanism of Li 2 Mg 2 P 3 O 9 N: Evidence for a Hidden Phase Transition

Motivated by predictions made using a bond valence sum difference map (BVS-DM) analysis, the novel Li-ion conductor Li 2 Mg 2 P 3 O 9 N was synthesized in this paper by ion exchange from a Na 2 Mg 2 P 3 O 9 N precursor. Impedance spectroscopy measurements indicate that Li 2 Mg 2 P 3 O 9 N has a room temperature Li-ion conductivity of about 10 –6 S/cm (comparable to LiPON), which is 6 orders of magnitude higher than the extrapolated Na-ion conductivity of Na 2 Mg 2 P 3 O 9 N at this temperature. The structure of Li 2 Mg 2 P 3 O 9 N was determined from ex situ synchrotron and time-of-flight neutron diffraction data to retain the P2 1 3 space group, though with a cubic lattice parameter of a = 9.11176(8) Å that is significantly smaller than the a = 9.2439(1) Å of Na 2 Mg 2 P 3 O 9 N. The two Li-ion sites are found to be very substantially displaced (~0.5 Å) relative to the analogous Na sites in the precursor phase. The non-molten salt ion exchange method used to prepare Li 2 Mg 2 P 3 O 9 N produces a minimal background in powder diffraction experiments, and was therefore exploited for the first time to follow a Li + /Na + ion exchange reaction using in situ powder neutron diffraction. Lattice parameter changes during ion exchange suggest that the reaction proceeds through a Na 2–x Li x Mg 2 P 3 O 9 N solid solution (stage 1) followed by a two-phase reaction (stage 2) to form Li 2 Mg 2 P 3 O 9 N. However, full Rietveld refinements of the in situ neutron diffraction data indicate that the actual transformation mechanism is more complex and instead involves two thermodynamically distinct solid solutions in which the Li exclusively occupies the Li1 site at low Li contents (stage 1a) and then migrates to the Li3 site at higher Li contents (stage 1b), a crossover driven by the different signs of the local volume change at these sites. Finally, in addition to highlighting the importance of obtaining full structural data in situ throughout the ion exchange process, these results provide insights into the general question of what constitutes a thermodynamic phase.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2017

Photophysical properties of [Ru(2,2′-bipyridine){sub 3}]{sup 2+} encapsulated within the Uio-66 zirconium based metal organic framework

The ability to encapsulate photo-active guest molecules within the pores of metal organic frameworks (MOFs) affords the opportunity to develop robust photocatalysts as well as solar energy conversion systems. An important criteria for such systems is stability of the new materials towards moisture, high temperatures, etc which preclude the use of many MOF frameworks. Here, the ability to encapsulate [Ru(II)(2,2′-bipyridine){sub 3}]{sup 2+}([Ru(bpy){sub 3}]{sup 2+}) into the cavities of the zirconium based MOF Uio-66 as well as the photophysical properties of the complex are reported. The X-ray powder diffraction data of the orange Uio-66 powder are consistent with the formation of Uio-66 in the presence of [Ru(bpy){sub 3}]{sup 2+}. The steady state emission exhibits a significant bathochromic shift from 603 nm in ethanol to 610 nm in Uio-66. The corresponding emission decay of the encapsulated [Ru(bpy){sub 3}]{sup 2+} complex is biexponential with a fast component of 128 ns and a slower component of 1176 ns (20 deg C). The slow component is consistent with encapsulation of [Ru(bpy){sub 3}]{sup 2+} into cavities with restricted volume that prevents the population of a triplet ligand field transition that is anti-bonding with respect to the Ru-N bonds. The origin of the fast component is unclear but may involve interactions of the [Ru(bpy){sub 3}]{sup 2+} encapsulated within large cavities formed through missing ligand defect sites within the Uio-66 materials. Co-encapsulated quenchers contained within these larger cavities gives rise to the reduced lifetimes of the [Ru(bpy){sub 3}]{sup 2+} complexes. - Graphical abstract: One-pot synthesis of Ru(II)tris(2,2-bipyridine)@Uio-66 (left) and the effects of encapsulation on the excited state energy levels and decay pathways of the Ru(II)tris(2,2-bipyridine) complex (right).

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2018

Three-dimensional copper(II) carboxylates based on 4,4′,4″-benzene-1,3,5-triyltris(benzoic acid)

The homochiral coordination polymers [Cu{sub 4}(CH{sub 3}OH)(H{sub 2}O){sub 4}(Hbtb)(S-mal){sub 2}]•4H{sub 2}O and [Cu{sub 4}(CH{sub 3}OH)(H{sub 2}O){sub 4}(Hbtb)(R-mal){sub 2}]•4H{sub 2}O were synthesized by heating S- or R-malic acid (H{sub 3}mal), 4,4′,4″-benzene-1,3,5-triyltris(benzoic acid) (H{sub 3}btb), and copper(II) acetate in an aqueous methanolic solution. The reaction with copper(II) nitrate in aqueous dioxane afforded the coordination framework [Cu{sub 6}(C{sub 4}H{sub 8}O{sub 2}){sub 3}(H{sub 2}O){sub 3}(btb){sub 4}]•4C{sub 4}H{sub 8}O{sub 2}•10H{sub 2}O, which does not contain chiral ligands. The compositions and crystal structures of the new compounds were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction and confirmed by X-ray powder diffraction, IR spectroscopy, thermogravimetric and elemental analysis.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2017

The assembly of two isomorphous coordination compounds based on 1,4-cyclohexanedicarboxylic acid and 2,4-diamino-6-phenyl-1,3,5-triazine

The compounds [Co(e,a-cis-1,4-chdc)(phdat)]{sub n} (1) and [Cd(e,a-cis-1,4-chdc)(phdat)]{sub n} (2) have been synthesized under hydrothermal method by using 1,4-cyclohexanedicarboxylic acid (1,4-H{sub 2}chdc), 2,4-diamino-6-phenyl-1,3,5-triazine (phdat) as well as CoCl{sub 2}·6H{sub 2}O, CdCl{sub 2}·2.5H{sub 2}O respectively and characterized by IR spectra, X-ray single-crystal diffraction, powder X-ray single-crystal diffraction (PXRD), elemental analyses and thermogravimetric analyses (TGA). The results show the compounds 1 and 2 are isomorphous and exhibit paddle-wheel dinuclear Co{sub 2}(CO{sub 2}){sub 4}/Cd{sub 2}(CO{sub 2}){sub 4} units, which are further connected to 1D chain structures by μ{sub 4}:η{sup 1}:η{sup 1}:η{sup 1}:η{sup 1} 1,4-chdc{sup 2–} ligands and extended into a 3D structures via different hydrogen bonding and π…π stacking interactions. Furthermore, compound 1 exhibits antiferromagnetic behavior and compound 2 displays luminescent behavior at solid state. - Graphical abstract: Two isomorphous coordination compounds 1–2 have been synthesized and characterized by XRD, IR spectra and TGA etc. Compound 1 and 2 display antiferromagnetic behavior and luminescent behavior respectively. - Highlights: • Two novel polymers based on 1,4-cyclohexanedicarboxylic acid have been synthesized. • Compounds 1 and 2 feather 1D chain structure built up from paddle-wheel SBUs. • The magnetism of 2 is investigated. • The electrochemical property and luminescent property of 1 are investigated.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2022

Structure of diopside, enstatite, and magnesium aluminosilicate glasses: A joint approach using neutron and x-ray diffraction and solid-state NMR

Neutron diffraction with magnesium isotope substitution, high energy x-ray diffraction, and 29 Si, 27 Al, and 25 Mg solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy were used to measure the structure of glassy diopside (CaMgSi 2 O 6 ), enstatite (MgSiO 3 ), and four (MgO) x (Al 2 O 3 ) y (SiO 2 ) 1–x–y glasses, with x = 0.375 or 0.25 along the 50 mol. % silica tie-line (1 – x – y = 0.5) or with x = 0.3 or 0.2 along the 60 mol. % silica tie-line (1 – x – y = 0.6). The bound coherent neutron scattering length of the isotope 25 Mg was remeasured, and the value of 3.720(12) fm was obtained from a Rietveld refinement of the powder diffraction patterns measured for crystalline 25 MgO. The diffraction results for the glasses show a broad asymmetric distribution of Mg–O nearest-neighbors with a coordination number of 4.40(4) and 4.46(4) for the diopside and enstatite glasses, respectively. As magnesia is replaced by alumina along a tie-line with 50 or 60 mol. % silica, the Mg–O coordination number increases with the weighted bond distance as less Mg 2+ ions adopt a network-modifying role and more of these ions adopt a predominantly charge-compensating role. 25 Mg magic angle spinning (MAS) NMR results could not resolve the different coordination environments of Mg 2+ under the employed field strength (14.1 T) and spinning rate (20 kHz). The results emphasize the power of neutron diffraction with isotope substitution to provide unambiguous site-specific information on the coordination environment of magnesium in disordered materials.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2025

The structures of mcgovernite and carlfrancisite reconsidered: static disorder or ordered defects and twinning?

Here, the minerals mcgovernite and carlfrancisite possess an extraordinary rhombohedral unit cell [mcgovernite: a = b = 8.206 Å and c = 204.118 Å, with the complex formula unit M 2+ 19 Zn 3 (OH) 21 (AsO 3 )(AsO 4 ) 3 (SiO 4 ) 3 (M = Mn, Mg, Zn); carlfrancisite similar]. Hawthorne [(2018), Mineral. Mag. 82, 1101–1118] reported a single-crystal study using a centrosymmetric model ($R\bar{3}c$) containing disorder on three cationic sites and an AsIII lone-pair site for both mcgovernite and carlfrancisite. A solution of the structure of mcgovernite from high-resolution synchrotron powder diffraction data suggests a reinterpretation of the crystal structures of mcgovernite and carlfrancisite as noncentrosymmetric R3c with ordered planar defects which allows for merohedral twinning.

carlfrancisite↗
DOE OSTI2017

Designing pseudocubic perovskites with enhanced nanoscale polarization

A crystal-chemical framework has been proposed for the design of pseudocubic perovskites with nanoscale ferroelectric order, and its applicability has been demonstrated using a series of representative solid solutions that combined ferroelectric (K 0.5 Bi 0.5 TiO 3 , BaTiO 3 , and PbTiO 3 ) and antiferroelectric (Nd-substituted BiFeO 3 ) end members. The pseudocubic structures obtained in these systems exhibited distortions that were coherent on a scale ranging from sub-nanometer to tens of nanometers, but, in all cases, the macroscopic distortion remained unresolvable even if using high-resolution X-ray powder diffraction. Different coherence lengths for the local atomic displacements account for the distinctly different dielectric, ferroelectric, and electromechanical properties exhibited by the samples. The guidelines identified provide a rationale for chemically tuning the coherence length to obtain the desired functional response.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2019

Using powder XRD and pair distribution function to determine anisotropic atomic displacement parameters of orthorhombic tridymite and tetragonal cristobalite

Determination of the crystal structures of low-temperature tridymite and cristobalite using single-crystal XRD has been challenging because they generally occur as metastable fine-grained crystals in the geological environment. Therefore, using powder diffraction and scattering techniques is critical to study the low-temperature crystals. Synchrotron powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), pair distribution function (PDF) and transmission electron microscopy were used to investigate the structure of orthorhombic tridymite with C 222 1 symmetry and tetragonal cristobalite with P 4 1 2 1 2 symmetry, including their anisotropic atomic displacement parameters (ADPs). Rietveld refinement was used to determine the unit-cell parameters, fractional coordinates and isotropic atomic displacement parameters ( U iso ) of the tridymite and cristobalite. The PDF method was used to determine ADPs for each atom. The results suggest that the crystal structure with high quality ADP values can be obtained using the combined methods of XRD and PDF analyses. The method can be used for characterizing crystals that are not suitable for single-crystal XRD.

Lee, Seungyeol (ORCID:0000000201751389)↗
DOE OSTI2020

Dehydration synthesis and crystal structure of terbium oxychloride, TbOCl

Terbium oxychloride, TbOCl, was synthesized via a simple heat-treatment of TbCl3·6H2O. The structure was determined using X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) data. The TbOCl compound crystallizes within the tetragonal P4/nmm space group, and its crystal structure is composed of alternating layers of (TbO)n and n Cl- anions. The unit cell parameters, volume, and density were compared to the literature data of other isostructural rare-earth oxychlorides in the P4/nmm space group and showed a good agreement when fitted to the calculated trendlines.

oxychloride, rare-earth oxyhalide, powder diffract↗