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At least 361 records · Page 20

Pressure-induced phase transition in barium hydride studied with neutron scattering

Barium hydride can undergo a structural phase transition from an orthorhombic phase to a hexagonal phase induced by high temperature or high pressure. This transition causes an immediate increase in the hydrogen diffusion rates by over an order of magnitude, and therefore, understanding the origin and details of such transition is of great interest not only for fundamental reasons but also for improving materials for future applications. In this work, the pressure evolution of the crystal structure was characterized using neutron powder diffraction up to a maximum pressure of 11.3 GPa. The pressure dependence of the unit cell volumes, lattice parameters, atomic sites, and compressibilities were determined for both phases. A structural phase transition occurred over a wide pressure range of P = 1.3 GPa–4.9 GPa. The transition to the higher density hexagonal phase reduced the volume per formula unit of BaD 2 by 13.6%, hence increasing the volumetric storage density. In addition, we investigated the hydrogen diffusion process using high pressure quasi-elastic neutron scattering up to 7.1 GPa. Our results show that the hydrogen mobility increases with pressure in the hexagonal phase. This work sheds light on the structural and dynamical aspects of barium hydride caused by the application of high pressure. Finally, the results may aid in the development of advanced metal hydride systems with increased hydrogen dynamics.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Demonstration of neutron time-of-flight diffraction with an event-mode imaging detector

Neutron diffraction beamlines have traditionally relied on deploying large detector arrays of 3 He tubes or neutron-sensitive scintillators coupled with photomultipliers to efficiently probe crystallographic and microstructure information of a given material. Given the large upfront cost of custom-made data acquisition systems and the recent scarcity of 3 He, new diffraction beamlines or upgrades to existing ones demand innovative approaches. This paper introduces a novel Timepix3-based event-mode imaging neutron diffraction detector system as well as first results of a silicon powder diffraction measurement made at the HIPPO neutron powder diffractometer at the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center. Notably, these initial measurements were conducted simultaneously with the 3 He array on HIPPO, enabling direct comparison. Data reduction for this type of data was implemented in the MAUD code, enabling Rietveld analysis. Results from the Timepix3-based setup and HIPPO were benchmarked against McStas simulations, showing good agreement for peak resolution. With further development, systems such as the one presented here may substantially reduce the cost of detector systems for new neutron instrumentation as well as for upgrades of existing beamlines.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Low-Temperature Rotational Tunneling of Tetrahydroborate Anions in Lithium Benzimidazolate-Borohydride Li 2 (bIm)BH 4

To investigate the dynamical properties of the novel hybrid compound, lithium benzimidazolate-borohydride Li 2 (bIm)BH 4 (where bIm denotes a benzimidazolate anion, C 7 N 2 H 5 - ), we have used a set of complementary techniques: neutron powder diffraction, ab initio density functional theory calculations, neutron vibrational spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance, neutron spin echo, and quasi-elastic neutron scattering. Our measurements performed over the temperature range from 1.5 to 385 K have revealed the exceptionally fast low-temperature reorientational motion of BH 4 - anions. This motion is facilitated by the unusual coordination of tetrahedral BH 4 - anions in Li2(bIm)BH4: each anion has one of its H atoms anchored within a nearly square hollow formed by four coplanar Li+ cations, while the remaining -BH 3 fragment extends into a relatively open space, being only loosely coordinated to other atoms. As a result, the energy barriers for reorientations of this fragment around the anchored B-H bond axis are very small, and at low temperatures, this motion can be described as rotational tunneling. The tunnel splitting derived from the neutron spin echo measurements at 3.6 K is 0.43(2) ueV. With increasing temperature, we have observed a gradual transition from the regime of low-temperature quantum dynamics to the regime of classical thermally activated jump reorientations. The jump rate of the uniaxial 3-fold reorientations reaches 5 x 10 11 s -1 at 80 K. Nearer room temperature and above, both nuclear magnetic resonance and quasi-elastic neutron scattering measurements have revealed the second process of BH4- reorientations characterized by the activation energy of 261 meV. This process is several orders of magnitude slower than the uniaxial 3-fold reorientations; the corresponding jump rate reaches ~7 x 10 8 s -1 at 300 K.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Thermal expansion and phase transitions of α-AlF{sub 3}

ReO{sub 3}-type materials are of interest for their potential low or negative thermal expansion. Many metal trifluorides MF{sub 3} adopt the cubic form of this structure at elevated temperatures, which rhombohedrally distorts upon cooling. The rhombohedral form displays strong positive volume thermal expansion, but cubic MF{sub 3} display much lower and sometimes negative thermal expansion. The expansion behavior of α-AlF{sub 3} was characterized via synchrotron powder diffraction between 323 and 1177 K. α-AlF{sub 3} is rhombohedral at ambient conditions and displays strongly anisotropic thermal expansion. The volume coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE), α{sub V}, at 500 K is ∼86 ppm K{sup −1}, but the linear CTE along the c-axis, α{sub c}, is close to zero. α-AlF{sub 3} becomes cubic on heating to ∼713 K and continues to show positive thermal expansion above the phase transition (α{sub V}(900 K) ∼25 ppm K{sup −1}). - Graphical abstract: α-AlF{sub 3} has a rhombohedrally distorted ReO{sub 3}-type structure at ambient conditions and displays strongly positive volume thermal expansion that is highly anisotropic; the material becomes cubic on heating above ∼713 K and continues to show positive thermal expansion. - Highlights: • ReO{sub 3}-type α-AlF{sub 3} displays strongly anisotropic thermal expansion below 713 K. • α-AlF{sub 3} is cubic above 713 K and maintains positive (isotropic) thermal expansion. • The volume CTE changes from ∼86 to ∼25 ppm K{sup −1} on heating from 500 to 900 K. • The PTE of cubic α-AlF{sub 3} may be due to the presence of local octahedral tilts.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Structural properties of barium stannate

Here BaSnO 3 has attracted attention as a transparent conducting oxide with high room temperature carrier mobility. We report a series of measurements that were carried out to assess the structure of BaSnO 3 over a variety of length scales. Measurements included single crystal neutron and x-ray diffraction, Rietveld and pair distribution analysis of neutron powder diffraction, Raman scattering, and high-pressure x-ray diffraction. Results from the various diffraction probes indicate that both the long-range and local structures are consistent with the cubic symmetry. The diffraction data under pressure was consistent with a robustly cubic phase up to 48.9 GPa, which is supported by density functional calculations. Additionally, transverse phonon velocities were determined from measured dispersion of the transverse acoustic phonon branches, the results of which are in good agreement with previous theoretical estimates and ultrasound measurements.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Controlling superstructural ordering in the clathrate-I Ba 8 M 16 P 30 (M = Cu, Zn) through the formation of metal–metal bonds

Order–disorder–order phase transitions in the clathrate-I Ba 8 Cu 16 P 30 were induced and controlled by aliovalent substitutions of Zn into the framework. Unaltered Ba 8 Cu 16 P 30 crystallizes in an ordered orthorhombic ( Pbcn ) clathrate-I superstructure that maintains complete segregation of metal and phosphorus atoms over 23 different crystallographic positions in the clathrate framework. The driving force for the formation of this Pbcn superstructure is the avoidance of Cu–Cu bonds. This superstructure is preserved upon aliovalent substitution of Zn for Cu in Ba 8 Cu 16– x Zn x P 30 with 0 < x < 1.6 (10% Zn/M total ), but vanishes at greater substitution concentrations. Higher Zn concentrations (up to 35% Zn/M total ) resulted in the additional substitution of Zn for P in Ba 8 M 16+ y P 30– y (M = Cu, Zn) with 0 ≤ y ≤ 1. This causes the formation of Cu–Zn bonds in the framework, leading to a collapse of the orthorhombic superstructure into the more common cubic subcell of clathrate-I ( Pm n ). In the resulting cubic phases, each clathrate framework position is jointly occupied by three different elements: Cu, Zn, and P. Detailed structural characterization of the Ba–Cu–Zn–P clathrates-I via single crystal X-ray diffraction, joint synchrotron X-ray and neutron powder diffractions, pair distribution function analysis, electron diffraction and high-resolution electron microscopy, along with elemental analysis, indicates that local ordering is present in the cubic clathrate framework, suggesting the evolution of Cu–Zn bonds. For the compounds with the highest Zn content, a disorder–order transformation is detected due to the formation of another superstructure with trigonal symmetry and Cu–Zn bonds in the clathrate-I framework. It is shown that small changes in the composition, synthesis, and crystal structure have significant impacts on the structural and transport properties of Zn-substituted Ba 8 Cu 16 P 30 .

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Designing a hybrid electrode toward high energy density with a staged Li + and PF 6 - deintercalation/intercalation mechanism

Existing lithium-ion battery technology is struggling to meet our increasing requirements for high energy density, long lifetime, and low-cost energy storage. Here, a hybrid electrode design is developed by a straightforward reengineering of commercial electrode materials, which has revolutionized the “rocking chair” mechanism by unlocking the role of anions in the electrolyte. Our proof-of-concept hybrid LiFePO 4 (LFP)/graphite electrode works with a staged deintercalation/intercalation mechanism of Li + cations and PF 6 - anions in a broadened voltage range, which was thoroughly studied by ex situ X-ray diffraction, ex situ Raman spectroscopy, and operando neutron powder diffraction. Introducing graphite into the hybrid electrode accelerates its conductivity, facilitating the rapid extraction/insertion of Li + from/into the LFP phase in 2.5 to 4.0 V. This charge/discharge process, in turn, triggers the in situ formation of the cathode/electrolyte interphase (CEI) layer, reinforcing the structural integrity of the whole electrode at high voltage. Consequently, this hybrid LFP/graphite-20% electrode displays a high capacity and long-term cycling stability over 3,500 cycles at 10 C, superior to LFP and graphite cathodes. Importantly, the broadened voltage range and high capacity of the hybrid electrode enhance its energy density, which is leveraged further in a full-cell configuration.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

High oxygen pressure floating zone growth and crystal structure of the metallic nickelates R4Ni3O10 ( R=La,Pr )

Single crystals of the metallic Ruddlesden-Popper trilayer nickelates R 4 Ni 3 O 10 ( R = La , Pr ) were successfully grown using an optical-image floating zone furnace under oxygen pressure ( p O 2 ) of 20 bar for La 4 Ni 3 O 10 and 140 bar for Pr 4 Ni 3 O 10 . Furthermore, a combination of synchrotron and laboratory x-ray single-crystal diffraction, high-resolution synchrotron x-ray powder diffraction and measurements of physical properties revealed that R 4 Ni 3 O 10 ( R = La , Pr ) crystallizes in the monoclinic P 2 1 / a ( Z = 2 ) space group at room temperature, and that a metastable orthorhombic phase ( Bmab ) can be trapped by postgrowth rapid cooling. Both La 4 Ni 3 O 10 and Pr 4 Ni 3 O 10 crystals undergo a metal-to-metal transition (MMT) below room temperature. In the case of Pr 4 Ni 3 O 10 , the MMT is found at 157.6 K. For La 4 Ni 3 O 10 , the MMT depends on the lattice symmetry: 147.5 K for Bmab vs 138.6 K for P 2 1 / a . Lattice anomalies were found at the MMT that, when considered together with the pronounced dependence of the transition temperature on subtle structural differences between Bmab and P 2 1 / a phases, demonstrate a not insignificant coupling between electronic and lattice degrees of freedom in these trilayer nickelates.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Unraveling the nature of Fe-doping mediated inter- and intra-chain interactions in Ca 3 Co 2 O 6

The structural and magnetic properties of quasi-one-dimensional (1D) spin-chain compounds Ca 3 Co 2-x Fe x O 6 (x = 0, 0.1, 0.2 and 0.3) synthesized by a sol-gel method have been systematically studied by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), neutron powder diffraction (NPD), dc and ac magnetization measurements. The samples adopt a rhombohedral crystal structure with the space group R-3c in a temperature range of 5–100 K. Fe ions are found to locate at the trigonal prism Co2 crystallographic sites. Fe doping converts some of low-spin Co 3+ ions at Co1 octahedral sites into Co 2+ ions. For the high-temperature paramagnetic phase, the Curie paramagnetic temperature θp changes its sign from positive to negative at x = 0.2, implying that the dominant magnetic interaction is driven from ferromagnetic (FM) to antiferromagnetic (AFM) upon Fe substitution. A partial low-spin to high-spin state crossover of the Co1 ions is observed at high Fe-doping level x = 0.3. All the samples exhibit a long-range spin-density wave (SDW) AFM ordering below TN, followed by a spin-glass-like transition at Tf. These low-temperature magnetic phases were significantly suppressed upon Fe doping. The Fe substitution in Ca 3 Co 2-x Fe x O 6 weakened both intrachain and interchain magnetic interactions, caused by enhanced magnetic disorder due to the different magnetic characters of Ising Co and Heisenberg Fe spins.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Combustion of Silane-Hydrogen-Nitrous oxide Mixtures: Analysis of Laminar Flame Propagation and Condensed Products

The laminar burning rate, the explosion pressure, and the pressure rise coefficient have been measured for silane-nitrous oxide-argon mixtures using the spherically expanding flame technique in a constant volume combustion chamber. For these three parameters, the values obtained were higher than for hydrogen-nitrous oxide-argon and typical hydrocarbon-based mixtures. As an example, a maximum burning rate of 1800 g/m 2 s was measured at 101 kPa, whereas under similar conditions, a maximum burning rate around 950 g/m 2 s has been reported for hydrogen-nitrous oxide-argon mixtures. Here, the condensed combustion products formed in the silane-nitrous oxide-argon flames were sampled and characterized using electron micrograph, electronic diffraction, energy-dispersive spectroscopy, and X-ray powder diffraction. For all equivalence ratios, silica spherical particles with a mean diameter in the range 200-300 nm were observed. In addition, for mixtures with Φ ≥2.2, silicon nanowires were formed. X-ray diffraction experiments showed that the silicon nanowires are composed of a material referred to as “metal silicon” characterized by a cubic structure (lattice parameter: a = 5.425 Å) with the Fm-3m space group.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Complementary use of monochromatic and white-beam X-ray micro-diffraction for the investigation of ancient materials

Archaeological artefacts are often heterogeneous materials where several phases coexist in a wide grain size distribution. Most of the time, retrieving structure information at the micrometre scale is of great importance for these materials. Particularly, the organization of different phases at the micrometre scale is closely related to optical or mechanical properties, manufacturing processes, functionalities in ancient times and long-term conservation. Between classic X-ray powder diffraction with a millimetre beam and transmission electron microscopy, a gap exists and structure and phase information at the micrometre scale are missing. Using a micrometre-size synchrotron X-ray beam, a hybrid approach combining both monochromatic powder micro-diffraction and Laue single-crystal micro-diffraction was deployed to obtain information from nanometre- and micrometre-size phases, respectively. Therefore providing a way to bridge the aforementioned gap, this unique methodology was applied to three different types of ancient materials that all show a strong heterogeneity. In Roman terra sigillata, the specific distribution of nanocrystalline hematite is mainly responsible for the deep-red tone of the slip, while the distribution of micrometre-size quartz in ceramic bodies reflects the change of manufacturing process between pre-sigillata and high-quality sigillata periods. In the second example, we investigated the modifications occurring in Neolithic and geological flints after a heating process. By separating the diffracted signal coming from the nano- and the micrometre scale, we observed a domain size increase for nanocrystalline quartz in geological flints and a relaxation of the residual strain in larger detritic quartz. In conclusion, through the study of a Roman iron nail, we showed that the carburation process to strengthen the steel was mainly a surface process that formed 10–20 µm size domains of single–crystal ferrite and nanocrystalline cementite.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Effect of particle size and strain on phase stability of (Li{sub 0.06} Na{sub 0.94}) NbO{sub 3}

Alkaline niobates are most suitable and excellent candidates for lead free piezoceramics, as they exhibit morphotropic phase boundary and have ultra-large piezoresponse similar to them. We provide direct experimental evidence of ferroelectric to paraelectric phase transition in (Li{sub 0.06} Na{sub 0.94})NbO{sub 3} with reduction of particle size using a combination of x-ray and neutron powder diffraction techniques at room temperature. Detailed Rietveld analyses of x-ray data show variation of particle sizes from micrometer to nanometer for sintered, calcined, and ball milled powders. The ferroelectric orthorhombic phase for micron sized powder (∼1.17 μm) is found to transform to paraelectric phase by reducing particle size to ∼10.8 nm. The crystal structure of paraelectric phase has been identified with tetragonal symmetry (P4{sub 2}/mmc) and is found to be a post perovskite phase. The low temperature neutron diffraction studies on the powders with different particle sizes reveal that orthorhombic to rhombohedral phase transition gets suppressed with reducing particle size.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Enhancement of luminescence emission from GdVO{sub 4}:Er{sup 3+}/Yb{sup 3+} phosphor by Li{sup +} co-doping

This paper demonstrates the effects of Li{sup +} co-doping on the structure, morphology, and luminescence properties of GdVO{sub 4}:Er{sup 3+}/Yb{sup 3+} phosphor prepared using a high-temperature solid-state chemistry method. The GdVO{sub 4}:Er{sup 3+}/Yb{sup 3+} powders synthesized with the Li{sup +} co-dopant (in concentrations of 0, 5, 10, and 15 mol%) are characterized by X-ray powder diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and photoluminescence spectroscopy. Structural analysis showed that powders co-doped with Li{sup +} have larger crystallite sizes and slightly smaller crystal lattice parameters than powders prepared without Li{sup +} ions. Photoluminescence down-conversion (345-nm excitation) and up-conversion (980-nm excitation) spectra show characteristic Er{sup 3+} emissions, with the most intense bands peaking at 525 nm ({sup 2}H{sub 11/2}→{sup 4}I{sub 15/2} transition) and 552 nm ({sup 4}S{sub 3/2}→{sup 4}I{sub 15/2}). The intensity of up-conversion emission from GdVO{sub 4}:Er{sup 3+}/Yb{sup 3+} is enhanced (by a factor of four) by co-doping with 5 mol% of Li{sup +} ions. The mechanisms responsible for this emission enhancement are discussed. - Graphical abstract: UC emission spectra for GdVO{sub 4}:1.5-mol% Er{sup 3+}/20-mol% Yb{sup 3+} powders co-doped with different concentrations of Li{sup +} ions, recorded under 980-nm excitation. - Highlights: • 5-mol% Li{sup +} co-doped powders have 400% enhanced up-conversion emission intensity. • 15-mol% Li{sup +} co-doping produces 40% higher emission in down-conversion. • Li{sup +} co-doped powders have larger crystallite size and smaller lattice parameters.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Towards solution and refinement of organic crystal structures by fitting to the atomic pair distribution function

In this study, a method towards the solution and refinement of organic crystal structures by fitting to the atomic pair distribution function (PDF) is developed. Approximate lattice parameters and molecular geometry must be given as input. The molecule is generally treated as a rigid body. The positions and orientations of the molecules inside the unit cell are optimized starting from random values. The PDF is obtained from carefully measured X-ray powder diffraction data. The method resembles `real-space' methods for structure solution from powder data, but works with PDF data instead of the diffraction pattern itself. As such it may be used in situations where the organic compounds are not long-range-ordered, are poorly crystalline, or nanocrystalline. The procedure was applied to solve and refine the crystal structures of quinacridone (β phase), naphthalene and allopurinol. In the case of allopurinol it was even possible to successfully solve and refine the structure in P1 with four independent molecules. As an example of a flexible molecule, the crystal structure of paracetamol was refined using restraints for bond lengths, bond angles and selected torsion angles. In all cases, the resulting structures are in excellent agreement with structures from single-crystal data.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

The order-disorder transition in Cu{sub 2}ZnSnS{sub 4} – A neutron scattering investigation

In this work a series of stoichiometric Cu{sub 2}ZnSnS{sub 4} (CZTS) samples annealed at different temperatures in the range of 473–623 K were investigated. The temperature dependence of the Cu/Zn-order-disorder behavior was analyzed by neutron powder diffraction measurements. Cu fully occupies the 2a and Sn the 2b position within the whole temperature range. For Zn and the remaining Cu on sites 2d and 2c, a clear change from ordered to disordered kesterite structure is found. The critical temperature T{sub c} for this Landau-type second order transition was determined as 552±2 K. It was found that in Cu{sub 2}ZnSnS{sub 4} very long annealing times are necessary to reach equilibrium at low temperatures. - Graphical abstract: The order-disorder transition in Cu{sub 2}ZnSnS{sub 4} was investigated using neutron diffraction techniques on samples annealed in the temperature range of 473–623 K. The critical temperature T{sub c} for this Landau-type second order transition was determined as 552±2 K. Display Omitted - Highlights: • The order-disorder transformation of Cu{sub 2}ZnSnS{sub 4} follows a Landau‐type behavior for a second order transition. • The critical exponent β is 0.57±0.06. • The critical temperature was determined as 552±2 K. • A fully ordered (within the standard deviation) Cu{sub 2}ZnSnS{sub 4} sample was synthesized.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Neutron scattering study on cathode LiMn{sub 2}O{sub 4} and solid electrolyte 5(Li{sub 2}O)(P{sub 2}O{sub 5})

Neutron scattering is very important technique in order to investigate the energy storage materials such as lithium-ion battery. The unique advantages, neutron can see the light atoms such as Hydrogen, Lithium, and Oxygen, where those elements are negligible by other corresponding X-ray method. On the other hand, the energy storage materials, such as lithium ion battery is very important for the application in the electric vehicles, electronic devices or home appliances. The battery contains electrodes (anode and cathode), and the electrolyte materials. There are many challenging to improve the existing lithium ion battery materials, in order to increase their life time, cyclic ability and also its stability. One of the most scientific challenging is to investigate the crystal structure of both electrode and electrolyte, such as cathodes LiCoO{sub 2}, LiMn{sub 2}O{sub 4} and LiFePO{sub 4}, and solid electrolyte Li{sub 3}PO{sub 4}. Since all those battery materials contain Lithium ions and Oxygen, the used of neutron scattering techniques to study their structure and related properties are very important and indispensable. This article will review some works of investigating electrodes and electrolytes, LiMn{sub 2}O{sub 4} and 5(Li{sub 2}O)(P{sub 2}O{sub 5}), by using a high resolution powder diffraction (HRPD) at the multipurpose research reactor, RSG-Sywabessy of the National Nuclear Energy Agency (BATAN), Indonesia.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Materials Characterization Techniques Lecture Series: X-Ray Diffraction, A Summary of LANL's Materials Capabilities in MPA-11 [Slides]

This presentation provides an overview on X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) to cover background, fundamentals, limitations, best practices, applications, analysis, software, and resources. To summarize: XRD is a great tool for characterizing solid crystalline samples. X-Rays are E-Mag radiation and generate diffraction profiles based on the phase of the sample. Diffraction patterns are unique to the phase of the sample. Powder diffraction gives us better diffraction profiles. We can obtain both qualitative and quantitative data. Analysis requires us to know a little about our sample and a lot about our diffractometer.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗