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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 505 records · Page 28
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2016

Low-temperature hydrothermal synthesis of ZnO nanorods: Effects of zinc salt concentration, various solvents and alkaline mineralizers

Highlights: • We synthesized ZnO nanorods by a simple hydrothermal process at 60 °C. • Effects of zinc salt concentration, solvent and alkaline mineralizer was studied. • Increasing concentration of zinc salt changed ZnO nucleation system. • NaOH yielded better results in the production of nanorods in both solvents. • Methanol performed better in the formation of nanorods using the two mineralizers. - Abstract: ZnO has been produced using various methods in the solid, gaseous, and liquid states, and the hydrothermal synthesis at low temperatures has been shown to be an environmentally-friendly one. The current work utilizes a low reaction temperature (60 °C) for the simple hydrothermal synthesis of ZnO nanorod morphologies. Furthermore, the effects of zinc salt concentration, solvent type and alkaline mineralizer type on ZnO nanorods synthesis at a low reaction temperature by hydrothermal processing was studied. Obtained samples were analyzed using X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Increasing the concentration of the starting zinc salt from 0.02 to 0.2 M changed ZnO nucleation system from the homogeneous to the heterogeneous state. The XRD results confirmed the production hexagonal ZnO nanostructures of with a crystallite size of 40.4 nm. Varying the experimental parameters (mineralizer and solvent) yielded ZnO nanorods with diameters ranging from 90–250 nm and lengths of 1–2 μm.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2017

Sulvanite (Cu 3 VS 4 ) nanocrystals for printable thin film photovoltaics

Copper Vanadium Sulfide (Cu 3 VS 4 ), also known as sulvanite, has recently emerged as a suitable absorber material for thin film photovoltaics. The synthesis of Cu 3 VS 4 nanocrystals via a rapid solvothermal route is reported for the first time. The phase purity of the Cu 3 VS 4 nanocrystals has been confirmed by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) and Raman spectroscopy, while the nanoparticle size, of about 10 nm, was evaluated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Successful ligand exchange with sulfide, an inorganic ligand, demonstrated that the nanoparticles are amenable to surface modifications, key element in solution processing. Further annealing of as-synthesized nanocrystals under a sulfur/argon atmosphere at 600 °C, rendered highly crystalline Cu 3 VS 4 powders exhibiting an impurity that could be potentially mitigated by annealing temperature optimization. Furthermore, Cu 3 VS 4 , formed solely from Earth-abundant elements, could provide an inexpensive, reliable approach to fabricating solution processed thin film photovoltaic absorbers.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2015

Oxygen transport pathways in Ruddlesden–Popper structured oxides revealed via in situ neutron diffraction

Ruddlesden-Popper structured oxides, general form A n+1 B n O 3n+1 , consist of n-layers of the perovskite structure stacked in between rock-salt layers, and have potential application in solid oxide electrochemical cells and ion transport membrane reactors. Three materials with constant Co/Fe ratio, LaSrCo 0.5 Fe 0.5 O 4-δ (n = 1), La 0.3 Sr 2.7 CoFeO 7-δ (n = 2), and LaSr 3 Co 1.5 Fe 1.5 O 10-δ (n = 3) were synthesized and studied via in situ neutron powder diffraction between 765 K and 1070 K at a pO 2 of 10 -1 atm. Then, the structures were fit to a tetragonal I4/mmm space group, and were found to have increased total oxygen vacancy concentration in the order La 0.3 Sr 2.7 CoFeO 7-δ > LaSr 3 Co 1.5 Fe 1.5 O 10-δ > LaSrCo 0.5 Fe 0.5 O 4-δ , following the trend predicted for charge compensation upon increasing Sr 2+ /La 3+ ratio. The oxygen vacancies within the material were almost exclusively located within the perovskite layers for all of the crystal structures with only minimal vacancy formation in the rock-salt layer. Finally, analysis of the concentration of these vacancies at each distinct crystallographic site and the anisotropic atomic displacement parameters for the oxygen sites reveals potential preferred oxygen transport pathways through the perovskite layers.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2016

Synthesis and photoluminescence properties of LiSrPO{sub 4}:Eu{sup 2+} phosphor for solid state lighting

A novel method to prepare orthophosphate LiSrPO{sub 4}: Eu{sup 2+} phosphor for white light-emitting diodes (w-LEDs) is given in this paper. Phosphor was successfully synthesized by Pechini (citrate gel) method which is efficient than conventional high temperature solid state reaction. X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) analysis confirmed the single phase formation of LiSrPO{sub 4}:Eu{sup 2+} with monoclinic crystal structure. Luminescence results showed that the phosphor could be efficiently excited by near UV and exhibited bright blue emission at λ{sub em} = 420 nm corresponding to 5d– 4f transition of Eu{sup 2+}. The phosphor exhibits blue emission bands under 350 nm excitation. This mercury-free excitation is useful for solid state lighting and light-emitting diode (LED). Hence it could be useful for solid state lighting and light-emitting diode (LED) application.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2016

Selective growth of ZnO thin film nanostructures: Structure, morphology and tunable optical properties

The ZnO nanostructures (spherical, rod shape) have been successfully fabricated via a thermal evaporation followed by dip coating method. The pure, doped ZnO thin films were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and UV-Vis spectroscopy, respectively. A possible growth mechanism of the spherical, rod shape ZnO nanostructures are discussed. XRD patterns revealed that all films consist of pure ZnO phase and were well crystallized with preferential orientation towards (002) direction. Doping by PVA, PVA+Cu has effective role in the enhancement of the crystalline quality and increases in the band gap.

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2016

Chromium doping effects on structural and dielectric properties of Mn-Zn cobaltites

The effect of transition metal Cr{sup 2+} ion as a dopant of Zn{sup 2+} in Mn{sub 0.5}Zn{sub 0.5}Co{sub 2}O{sub 4} is investigated. Co-doped Mn{sub 0.5}Zn{sub 0.5-x}Cr{sub x}Co{sub 2}O{sub 4} (x = 0, 0.3 and 0.5) cobaltites were prepared by solid-state reaction route. X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) analysis reveals that the samples prepared are polycrystalline single-phase cubic spinel in structure having a space group Fd3m. An increase in average particle size observed with Cr{sup 2+} doping. However other structural parameters such as X-ray density, micro strain and dislocation density shows almost a similar decreasing trend with increase in Cr{sup 2+}. High value of permittivity ∼10{sup 5} is observed for the parent Mn{sub 0.5}Zn{sub 0.5}Co{sub 2}O{sub 4} and shows a substantial decrease with increase in the Cr{sup 2+} doping. Higher doping of Cr{sup 2+} also increases the dielectric loss and hence limits its technological importance. At lower frequencies ac conductivity has been found to increase with increase in Cr{sup 2+} content.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2016

Honeycomb-shaped coordination polymers based on the self-assembly of long flexible ligands and alkaline-earth ions

Two novel coordination polymers, namely, [Ca(NCP){sub 2}]{sub ∞} (I) and [Sr(NCP){sub 2}]{sub ∞} (II) were synthesized under hydrothermal conditions based on 2-(4-carboxyphenyl)imidazo(4,5-f)-(1,10)phenanthroline (HNCP) and characterized by elemental analysis, infrared spectrometry, X-ray powder diffraction and single crystal X-ray diffraction. Findings indicate that I and II are isomorphous and isostructural, containing the unit of M(NCP{sup −}){sub 4} (M=Ca(II) and Sr(II)), based on which to assemble into three-dimensional (3D) porous 4-fold interpenetration honeycomb-shaped neutral coordination polymers (CPs). Between the adjacent lamellar structures in I and II, there exist π–π interactions between the pyridine rings belonging to phenanthroline of NCP{sup −} which stabilize the frameworks. Both I and II display stronger fluorescence emissions as well as high thermal stability. - Graphical abstract: One-dimensional nanotubular channels with the cross dimension of 37.1959(20)×23.6141(11)Å{sup 2} in the three-dimensional honeycomb-shaped coordination network of II are observed. The topological analysis of II indicates that there exists a typical diamond framework possessing large adamantanoid cages, which containing four cyclohexane-shaped patterns in chair conformations. - Highlights: • Two isomorphous and isostructural coordination polymers based on flexible ligand and two alkaline-earth metal salts have been synthesized and characterized. • Structural analysis indicates that I and II are assembled into 3D porous honeycomb-shaped metal-organic frameworks. • Both I and II display stronger fluorescence emissions and higher thermal stability.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2014

Broadband sensitization of downconversion phosphor YPO{sub 4} by optimizing TiO{sub 2} substitution in host lattice co-doped with Pr{sup 3+}-Yb{sup 3+} ion-couple

This study demonstrates a feasible and efficient route to alleviate the absorption problem of the terrestrial solar spectrum and enhance broadband luminescence from a promising down conversion powder phosphor YPO{sub 4} co-doped with Pr{sup 3+}-Yb{sup 3+} lanthanide ion-couple: incorporating a third sensitizing transition metal ion, e.g., Ti{sup 4+}. The x-ray powder diffraction results confirm the lattice substitution by the solid-state reaction doping rather than the formation of any secondary phase. The emission spectral results and the luminescence decay curve analysis show that the downconversion luminescence can be enhanced by 200%–300% and the quantum efficiency enhanced by more than 20% at the wavelength of around 980 nm, the best response spectrum for Si-based solar cells, by optimizing TiO{sub 2} doping concentration at 7 mol. %.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2015

Structure of β-AgGaO{sub 2}; ternary I–III–VI{sub 2} oxide semiconductor with a wurtzite-derived structure

The structure of the wurtzite-derived β-AgGaO{sub 2} was refined by Rietveld analysis of high-resolution powder diffraction data obtained using synchrotron X-ray radiation. The space group of the crystal is Pna2{sub 1} with lattice parameters of a{sub 0}=5.56175 Å, b{sub 0}=7.14749 Å, and c{sub 0}=5.46875 Å. The deviation of O–Ag–O and M–O–M bond angles from the regular tetrahedral angle of 109.5° was very large at ∼8° and ∼11°, respectively. The electronic structure of β-AgGaO{sub 2} is discussed based on its structure, and the indirect band gap of β-AgGaO{sub 2} was related to significant tetrahedral distortion. Although β-AgGaO{sub 2} decomposes into metallic silver and Ga{sub 2}O{sub 3} at a high temperature in any atmosphere, β-AgGaO{sub 2} is stable up to 690 °C under an O{sub 2} atmosphere. No direct transformation from the wurtzite-derived phase to a delafossite phase occurs in β-AgGaO{sub 2}. - Graphical abstract: Crystal structure of β-AgGaO{sub 2} was refined by Rietveld analysis. AgO{sub 4} and O(Ag,Ga){sub 4} tetrahedra are significantly distorted from ideal tetrahedron. - Highlights: • Orthorhombic β-AgGaO{sub 2} with a wurtzite-derived β-NaFeO{sub 2} structure was synthesized. • Its structure was refined by Rietveld analysis of high-resolution XRD data. • Silver and oxygen tetrahedra are significantly distorted from an ideal tetrahedron. • The extent of this tetrahedral distortion is related to the band gap nature. • β-AgGaO{sub 2} is a metastable phase but is stable up to 690 °C in an O{sub 2} atmosphere.

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

A new approach to synthesize supported ruthenium phosphides for hydrodesulfurization

Highlights: • We bring out a new method to synthesize noble metal phosphides at low temperature. • Both RuP and Ru{sub 2}P were synthesized using triphenylphosphine as phosphorus sources. • Ru{sub 2}P was the better active phase for HDS than RuP and metal Ru. • RuP/SiO{sub 2} prepared by new method had better HDS activity to that by TPR method. - Abstract: Supported noble metal ruthenium phosphides were synthesized by one-step H{sub 2}-thermal treatment method using triphenylphosphine (TPP) as phosphorus sources at low temperatures. Two phosphides RuP and Ru{sub 2}P can be prepared by this method via varying the molar ratio of metal salt and TPP. The as-prepared phosphides were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), low-temperature N{sub 2} adsorption, CO chemisorption and transmission electronic microscopy (TEM). The supported ruthenium phosphides prepared by new method and conventional method together with contradistinctive metallic ruthenium were evaluated in hydrodesulfurization (HDS) of dibenzothiophene (DBT). The catalytic results showed that metal-rich Ru{sub 2}P was the better active phase for HDS than RuP and metal Ru. Besides this, ruthenium phosphide catalyst prepared by new method exhibited superior HDS activity to that prepared by conventional method.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2014

Phase transformation of Ca{sub 4}[Al{sub 6}O{sub 12}]SO{sub 4} and its disordered crystal structure at 1073 K

The phase transformation of Ca{sub 4}[Al{sub 6}O{sub 12}]SO{sub 4} and the crystal structure of its high-temperature phase were investigated by differential thermal analysis, temperature-dependent Raman spectroscopy and high-temperature X-ray powder diffraction (CuKα{sub 1}). We determined the starting temperature of the orthorhombic-to-cubic transformation during heating (=711 K) and that of the reverse transformation during cooling (=742 K). The thermal hysteresis was negative (=−31 K), suggesting the thermoelasticity of the transformation. The space group of the high temperature phase is I4{sup ¯}3m with the unit-cell dimensions of a=0.92426(2) nm and V=0.78955(2) nm{sup 3} (Z=2) at 1073 K. The initial structural model was derived by the direct methods and further refined by the Rietveld method. The final structural model showed the orientational disordering of SO{sub 4} tetrahedra. The maximum-entropy method-based pattern fitting method was used to confirm the validity of the split-atom model, in which conventional structure bias caused by assuming intensity partitioning was minimized. At around the transformation temperature during heating, the vibrational spectra, corresponding to the Raman-active SO{sub 4} internal stretching mode, showed the continuous and gradual change in the slope of full width at half maximum versus temperature curve. This strongly suggests that the orthorhombic-to-cubic phase transformation would be principally accompanied by the statistical disordering in orientation of the SO{sub 4} tetrahedra, without distinct dynamical reorientation. - Graphical abstract: (Left) Three-dimensional electron-density distributions of the SO{sub 4} tetrahedron with the split-atom model, and (right) a bird's eye view of electron densities on the plane parallel to (111). - Highlights: • Crystal structure of Ca{sub 4}[Al{sub 6}O{sub 12}]SO{sub 4} at 1073 K is determined by powder XRD. • The atom arrangements are represented by the split-atom model. • The MPF method is used to confirm the validity of the model. • The phase transition is accompanied by orientational disordering of SO{sub 4} tetrahedra.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2015

Ferroelectric, and piezoelectric properties of BaTi{sub 1−x}Al{sub x}O{sub 3}, 0 ≤ x ≤ 0.015

Single phase polycrystalline samples of BaTi{sub 1−x}Al{sub x}O{sub 3}, 0 ≤ x ≤ 0.015, have been prepared by a conventional powder processing method. The Rietveld refinements of X- ray powder diffraction patterns at room temperature indicate that the samples crystallize in tetragonal structure with group symmetry P4mm. Because of the oxygen vacancies, the volume of the unit cell increases with increasing x. Field emission scanning electron microscopy revealed that the particle size of pure BTO ceramics was affected by the Al content. Dielectric, ferroelectric and piezoelectric properties of pure BTO as well as Al-doped BTO were studied. It was found that the dielectric permittivity (ε′) increases significantly with increasing x while the transition from ferroelectric phase to a paraelectric phase changes slightly. The Curie-Weiss law is verified over a wide temperature range. Both ferroelectric and piezoelectric properties of BTO are enhanced by the substitution of Ti{sup 4+} by Al{sup 3+} ions. Piezoelectric strains of Al-doped BTO showed a suitable behavior for application compared with that of pure BTO compound. Finally, the results obtained in this work are discussed and compared with those for similar materials.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2016

Rietveld refined structural and room temperature vibrational properties of BaTiO{sub 3} doped La{sub 0.67}Ba{sub 0.33}MnO{sub 3} composites

The composites of (1-x) La{sub 0.67}Ba{sub 0.33}MnO{sub 3} (LBMO) + xBaTiO{sub 3} (BTO) (x = 0, 0.25 and 1.0) were synthesized by conventional solid-state reaction method. Rietveld refinement was employed to characterize the structural information of the prepared ceramics. The result of the Rietveld refinement of X-ray powder diffraction of La{sub 0.67}Ba{sub 0.33}MnO{sub 3} and BaTiO{sub 3} shows that these compounds crystallize in rhombohedral (R3c) and tetragonal (P4mm), respectively. The structural parameters and the reliability factors for the LBMO-BTO composite ceramics were successfully determined by the Rietveld refinement. At room temperature, Raman active phonon modes predicted by the group theory were observed only in BaTiO{sub 3} and composite sample. Pure LBMO does not show any Raman active Phonon mode at room temperature.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2013

High-resolution neutron diffraction study of CuNCN: New evidence of structure anomalies at low temperature

Copper carbodiimide (CuNCN) is the nitrogen-containing analogue of cupric oxide. Based on high-resolution neutron-diffraction data, CuNCN's lattice parameters are derived as a function of the temperature. In accordance with a recent synchrotron study, a clear trend in the cell parameter a is observed accompanying the changing magnetic behavior. With decreasing temperature, a slowly decreases to a minimum at ∼100 K after which it rises again. The same trend—albeit more pronounced—is observed for the c lattice parameter at ∼35 K. The herein presented neutron powder-diffraction data also support the conjectured sequence of transitions from the high-temperature one-dimensional resonating valence-bond (RVB) state to a transient two-dimensional RVB state and eventually, at lowest temperatures, into another two-dimensional RVB state, presumably the ground state.

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

Magnetic and absorbing properties of M-type substituted hexaferrites BaFe{sub 12–x}Ga{sub x}O{sub 19} (0.1 < x < 1.2)

X-ray powder diffraction is used to determine the unit cell parameters and to refine the crystal structure of the solid solutions of M-type hexagonal barium ferrite BaFe{sub 12–x}Ga{sub x}O{sub 19} (x = 0.1–1.2) with isostructural diamagnetic cation Ga{sup 3+} substitution at T = 300 K. As the level of substitution increases, the unit cell parameters are shown to decrease monotonically. The temperature (300 K ≤ T ≤ 750 K, H = 8.6 kOe) and field (T = 300 K,–20 kOe ≤ H ≤ 20 kOe) dependences of the saturation magnetization of these solid solutions are studied with a vibrating-sample magnetometer. The concentration dependences of the Curie temperature T{sub C}, the specific spontaneous magnetization, and the coercive force are plotted. The magnetic parameters are found to decrease with increasing substitution. The microwave properties of the solid solutions are analyzed in an external magnetic field (0 ≤ H ≤ 4 kOe). As the cation Ga{sup 3+} concentration increases from x = 0.1 to 0.6, the natural ferromagnetic resonance (NFMR) frequency decreases; as the concentration increases further to x = 1.2, this frequency again increases. As the cation Ga{sup 3+} concentration increases, the NFMR line width increases, which indicates a widening of the frequency range where electromagnetic radiation is intensely absorbed. Here, the resonance curve peak amplitude changes insignificantly. The shift of the NFMR frequency in an applied magnetic field is more pronounced for samples with low cation Ga{sup 3+} concentrations. The role of diamagnetic substitution is revealed, and the prospects and advantages of Ga-substituted beryllium hexaferrite as the material absorbing high-frequency electromagnetic radiation are demonstrated.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2016

Colossal thermoelectric power in charge-ordered Li-doped La{sub 0.75}Li{sub 0.25}MnO{sub 3} manganite system

A detail study of transport and magnetic properties of La{sub 1-x}Li{sub x}MnO{sub 3+δ} (0.05 ≤ x ≤ 0.3) system synthesized by wet-chemical mixing route has been done. The room temperature x-ray powder diffraction (XRD) data show single phase behavior of all samples except x = 0.3. Rietveld refinement of XRD data shows structural transition from rhombohedral (R3-C) to orthorhombic (Pnma) symmetry occurs at the Li-doping level x > 0.2 with both the lattice parameter and unit-cell volume decrease with increase of ‘x’. All the samples show ferromagnetic (FM) behavior while metallic behavior are shown by the samples up to Li-concentration x = 0.2. With further Li doping i.e. for x = 0.25, the sample shows insulating behavior accompanied by charge-order transition around T ~ 225 K. Metallic part of the resistivity data of the samples is best fitted with an expression ρ(T) = ρ{sub 0} + ρ{sub 4.5}T{sup 4.5} + C/ sinh{sup 2}(hv{sub s}/2k{sub B}T) containing small-polaron contribution (last term). Most interesting finding in the present study is the observation of large anomalous decrease in thermoelectric power (S) below 100 K shown by the sample with x = 0.25. Probable mechanisms responsible for the observed colossal thermoelectric power have been discussed.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2021

Synthesis, structure, linear and nonlinear optical properties of noncentrosymmetric quaternary diamond-like semiconductors, Cu 2 ZnGeSe 4 (CZGSe) and the novel Cu 4 ZnGe 2 Se 7

In this work, two quaternary diamond-like semiconductors (DLSs) in the Cu-Zn-Ge-Se system, the known Cu 2 ZnGeSe 4 (also referred to as CZGSe) and the new Cu 4 ZnGe 2 Se 7 , are compared in terms of their crystal structures, electronic structures and physicochemical properties. Both compounds were prepared by high-temperature, solid-state synthesis at 800 degrees C. Single crystal X-ray diffraction was used to determine the structure of Cu 4 ZnGe 2 Se 7 . The structures of both Cu 2 ZnGeSe 4 and Cu 4 ZnGe 2 Se 7 can be considered as derivatives of cubic diamond. Cu 4 ZnGe 2 Se 7 , with a reduced symmetry due to the cation ordering pattern, adopts the Cu 4 NiSi 2 S 7 structure type, with space group C2. The corner-sharing tetrahedra in Cu 4 ZnGe 2 Se 7 are slightly distorted because the charge for some of the S 2 - anions is not compensated by the first-nearest-neighbor cations. Rietveld refinements using synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction data were used to assess the phase purity of the samples and confirm the bulk structural behavior. Diffuse reflectance UV/Vis/NIR spectroscopy shows that Cu 2 ZnGeSe 4 and Cu 4 ZnGe 2 Se 7 have direct optical bandgaps of 1.38 and 0.91 eV, respectively. Electronic structure calculations implementing density functional theory confirm the direct bandgap for Cu 4 ZnGe 2 Se 7 , with a calculated value of 0.62 eV. Both compounds are air stable, thermally stable up to relatively high temperatures, undergo phase transitions and have wide windows of optical clarity. The Kurtz-Perry powder technique was used to determine the second harmonic generation (SHG) responses using a commercial AgGaSe 2 standard. While Cu 4 ZnGe 2 Se 7 displays a weak SHG response, Cu 2 ZnGeSe 4 exhibits a response that is greater than several benchmark materials, with a large SHG coefficient, χ (2) , of 43 ± 6 pm/V at λ = 2900 nm.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2017

Direct synthesis and characterization of mixed-valent Li 0.5$-$δ CoPO 4 , a Li-deficient derivative of the Cmcm polymorph of LiCoPO 4

While the majority of research activities on LiCoPO 4 is focussed on the thermodynamically stable olivine-type Pnma polymorph, the metastable Pna 2 1 and Cmcm modifications have recently attracted considerable attention due to their interesting material properties. In this study, we present the first Li-deficient structural derivative of the Cmcm modification with the nominal composition Li 0.5–δ CoPO 4 . As opposed to the substoichiometric olivine ( Pnma ) phases Li x CoPO 4 (x = 0; 2/3), which are exclusively accessible by electrochemical or chemical Li extraction techniques, this is also the first time that a direct soft-chemical synthesis route towards a Li x CoPO 4 -type material is accomplished. X-ray and neutron diffraction studies indicate that Cmcm -type Li 0.5–δ CoPO 4 shows vacancies on both the Li and Co sites, whereas X-ray absorption spectra demonstrate that the structure features heterovalent Co ions (+2/+3) to compensate for the Li deficit. Magnetic measurements reveal a long-range antiferromagnetic order below 10.5 K. A thorough investigation of the thermal stability using thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, and temperature-dependent in situ X-ray powder diffraction demonstrates that Li 0.5–δ CoPO 4 is metastable and exhibits a complex, multi-step thermal decomposition mechanism. In the first step at 394 °C, it decomposes to α-Co 2 P 2 O 7 ( P 2 1 /c) and LiCoPO 4 ( Cmcm ) upon O 2 release. The LiCoPO 4 ( Cmcm ) intermediate is then irreversibly transformed to olivine-type LiCoPO 4 (Pnma) at 686 °C. Furthermore, the material properties of Li 0.5–δ CoPO 4 are further compared to the fully lithiated, isostructural LiCoPO 4 ( Cmcm ) phase, for which an improved structure solution as well as Co L 2,3 -edge X-ray absorption spectra are reported for the first time.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗