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At least 1,765 records · Page 98
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2014

Synthesis, morphology and optical properties of GaN and AlGaN semiconductor nanostructures

Hexagonal Gallium Nitride (GaN) and Aluminum Gallium Nitride (AlGaN) nanoparticles were synthesized by sol-gel method using Ethylene Diamine Tetra Acetic acid (EDTA) complex route. Powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) analysis confirms the hexagonal wurtzite structure of GaN and Al{sub 0.25}Ga{sub 0.75}N nanoparticles. Surface morphology and elemental analysis were carried out by Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and Energy Dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). The room temperature Photoluminescence (PL) study shows the near band edge emission for GaN at 3.35 eV and at 3.59 eV for AlGaN nanoparticles. The Aluminum (Al) composition of 20% has been obtained from PL emission around 345 nm.

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

Anion-controlled assembly of silver-di(aminophenyl)sulfone coordination polymers: Syntheses, crystal structures, and solid state luminescence

Five silver coordination polymers, namely, ([Ag(3,3′-daps){sub 2}]·BF{sub 4}){sub n} (1), ([Ag(3,3′-daps){sub 2}]·NO{sub 3}){sub n} (2), [Ag(3,3′-daps)(CF{sub 3}SO{sub 3})]{sub n} (3), ([Ag(4,4′-daps)]·CF{sub 3}SO{sub 3}){sub n} (4), and ([Ag(4,4′-daps)]·ClO{sub 4}){sub n} (5) (3,3′-daps=di(3′-aminodiphenyl)sulfone, and 4,4′-daps=di(4′-aminodiphenyl)sulfone) have been synthesized and structural characterized by elemental analyses, IR spectra, powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) and single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses. Complex 1 displays a 1D ladder-like chain with four-connected Ag ions and bridged 3,3′-daps. Complex 2 shows other 1D ladder chain modified by tentacles. Complex 3 is a 2D layer structure with both Ag ions and 3,3′-daps are 3-connected nodes. Complex 4 is another 1D ladder chain with three-connected Ag ions and 4,4′-daps. Complex 5 shows a 2D 4{sup 4}-sql net with Ag ions and 4,4′-daps as 4-connected nodes. Moreover, their solid state luminescence and thermal stabilities also have been investigated. - Graphical abstract: Pictogram: Synthetic procedures of the five anion controlled silver coordination polymers. We reported the synthetic procedures, structure, and luminescence property of the five anion controlled silver coordination polymers based on two novel di(aminophenyl)sulfone V-shaped ligands. Display Omitted - Highlights: • Five new silver coordination polymers were synthesized and characterized. • Two novel designed V-shaped di(aminophenyl)sulfone ligands were first introduced to coordination chemistry. • Anions play important roles in determining the five silver coordination polymers. • The structural diversity and photoluminescence property were also discussed.

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

Syntheses, structures and photoluminescent properties of Zn(Ⅱ)/Co(Ⅱ) coordination polymers based on flexible tetracarboxylate ligand of 5,5′-(butane-1,4-diyl)-bis(oxy)-di isophthalic acid

Three new mixed-ligand metal-organic frameworks based on 5,5′-(butane-1,4- diyl)-bis(oxy)-diisophthalic acid and transitional metal cations with the help of two ancillary bridging N-donor pyridyl and imidazole linkers, [Zn(L){sub 0.5}(4,4′-bpy)]·2(H{sub 2}O) (1), [M(L){sub 0.5}(bib)]·4(H{sub 2}O) (M = Zn (2), Co (3)), (4,4′-bpy=4,4′–bipyridine, bib=1,4-bis (1H-imidazol-1-yl)-butane), have been synthesized under solvothermal conditions. Their structures and properties were determined by single-crystal and powder X-ray diffraction analyses, IR spectra, elemental analyses and thermogravimetric analyses (TGA). Compounds 1–3 display a 3D 3-fold interpenetrated frameworks linked by the L{sup 4−} ligands, ancillary N-donor linkers and the free water molecules in the crystal lattice. Topological analysis reveals that 1–3 are a (4,4)-connected bbf topology net with the (6{sup 4}·8{sup 2})(6{sup 6}) topology. The effects of the L{sup 4−} anions, the N-donor ligands, and the metal ions on the structures of the coordination polymers have been discussed. Furthermore, luminescence properties and thermogravimetric properties of these compounds were investigated. - Graphical abstract: Three new compounds of MOFs have been prepared and characterized. The luminescence properties and thermogravimetric properties of compounds were investigated. Display Omitted.

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

Synthesis, Crystal Structure, Electrochemical Properties, and Biological Activity of 2-((1H-Benzimidazol-2-yl)methylamino)acetic Acid

A water soluble compound, (2-((1H-benzimidazol-2-yl)methylamino)acetic acid, BIGH, has been synthesized and structurally characterized by elemental analysis, IR and UV spectroscopies, {sup 1}H-NMR, thermogravimetric and differential thermal analyses, and single crystal and powder X-ray diffraction. BIGH can act as a flexible planar ligand with three potential coordination sites. It crystallizes in a monoclinic system with the sp. gr. P2{sub 1}/c with the unit cell parameters, a = 9.3764(7) Å, b = 11.5031(8) Å, c = 10.0543(6) Å, and Z = 4. The crystal structure was stabilized through inter-molecular hydrogen bonds. The anti-microbial activity of the compound has been studied against Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus, which showed a good activity against Bacillus subtilis. Cyclic voltammogram of the compound shows that it is a redox-active molecule.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2013

On the nature of structural disorder in calcium silicate hydrates with a calcium/silicon ratio similar to tobermorite

Four calcium silicate hydrates (C-S-H) with structural calcium/silicon (Ca/Si) ratios ranging from 0.82 ± 0.02 to 0.87 ± 0.02 were synthesized at room temperature, 50, 80, and 110 °C. Their structure was elucidated by collating information from electron probe micro-analysis, transmission electron microscopy, extended X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy, and powder X-ray diffraction (XRD). A modeling approach specific to defective minerals was used because sample turbostratism prevented analysis using usual XRD refinement techniques (e.g. Rietveld analysis). It is shown that C-S-H with Ca/Si ratio of ∼ 0.8 are structurally similar to nano-crystalline turbostratic tobermorite, a naturally occurring mineral. Their structure thus consists of sheets of calcium atoms in 7-fold coordination, covered by ribbons of silicon tetrahedra with a dreierketten (wollastonite-like) organization. In these silicate ribbons, 0.42 Si per bridging tetrahedron are missing. Random stacking faults occur systematically between successive layers (turbostratic stacking). Layer-to-layer distance is equal to 11.34 Å. Crystallites have a mean size of 10 nm in the a–b plane, and a mean number of 2.6–2.9 layers stacked coherently along the c* axis.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2016

Spectroscopic and nonlinear optical studies of pure and Nd-doped lanthanum strontium borate glasses

Borate glasses of the system xNd{sub 2}O{sub 3}-(1-x) La{sub 2}O{sub 3}-SrCO{sub 3}-10H{sub 3}BO{sub 3} (with x = 0 and 0.05) were prepared by using a convectional melt quenching technique. The amorphous nature of the quenched glasses has been confirmed by powder X-ray diffraction analysis. In order to study the spectroscopic and nonlinear optical properties of fabricated glasses, ultraviolet-visible transmission spectroscopy and open aperture z-scan measurements have been employed. In Nd doped glasses, the transition {sup 4}I{sub 9/2} → {sup 4}G{sub 5/2} + {sup 2}G{sub 7/2} has found more prominent than the other transitions. Optical band gap energies of glasses have been determined and found less for Nd doped glass.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2014

Homochiral Cu(II) and Ni(II) malates with tunable structural features

Four new homochiral metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) based on S-malate anions and N-donor linkers of different length have been prepared under solvothermal conditions. [Cu(mal)(bpy)]·H{sub 2}O (1), [Cu(mal)(bpe)]·2H{sub 2}O (2), [Ni(mal)(bpy)]·1.3CH{sub 3}OH (3) and [Ni(mal)(bpe)]·4H{sub 2}O (4) (mal=S-malate, bpy=4,4′-bipyridil, bpe=trans-1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)ethylene) were characterized by a number of analytical methods including powder X-ray diffraction, elemental, thermogravimetric analyses, IR spectroscopy. Compounds 1–3 were structurally characterized by X-ray crystallography. The absence of the chiral ligand racemization under synthetic conditions was unambiguously confirmed by polarimetry experiments. Compounds 1 and 2 contain metal-malate layered motives, connected by N-donor linkers and contribute to the family of isoreticular Cu(II) malates and tartrates [Cu(mal)L] and [Cu(tart)L], (tart=tartrate; L=ditopic rigid organic ligand). The Ni-based compounds 3 and 4 share 1D chiral (Ni(mal)) motives and possess novel type of the chiral framework, previously unknown for chiral carboxylates. The linear N-donor linkers connect these chiral chains, thus controlling the channel diameter and guest accessible volume of the homochiral structure, which exceeds 60 %. - Graphical abstract: Four new homochiral metal–organic frameworks are built from Ni{sup 2+} or Cu{sup 2+} cations, S-malate anions and N-donor linkers of different length, which controls the size of pores and guest accessible volume of the homochiral structure. Display Omitted - Highlights: • Four new homohiral metal–organic frameworks based on Ni{sup 2+} and Cu{sup 2+}. • Cu(II)–malate layers and Ni(II)–malate chains are connected by N-donor linkers. • N-donor linkers of different length control the size of pores.

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

PVP capped CdS nanoparticles for UV-LED applications

Polyvinlypyrrolidone (PVP) capped cadmium sulphide (CdS) nanoparticles are synthesized by wet chemical method. The powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) result indicates that the nanoparticles are crystallized in cubic phase. The optical properties are characterized by UV-Vis absorption. The morphology of CdS nanoparticles are studied using Scanning electron microscope (SEM). The thermal behavior of the as prepared nanoparticles has been examined by Thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA). The optical absorption study of pvp capped CdS reveal a red shift confirms the UV-LED applications.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2013

Corrosion behavior of mesoporous transition metal nitrides

Transition metal nitrides (TMN) have many desirable characteristics such as high hardness and good thermal stability under reducing conditions. This work reports an initial survey of the chemical stability of mesoporous TMNs (TM=Nb, V, Cr and Ti) in water at 80 °C at neutral, acidic and alkaline pH. The mesoporous TMNs had specific surface areas of 25–60 m{sup 2}/g with average pore sizes ranging from 10 to 50 nm. The high surface areas of these materials enhance the rate of corrosion per unit mass over that of a bulk material, making detection of corrosion much easier. The products were characterized by Rietveld refinement of powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) patterns and by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Several nitrides have corrosion rates that are, within error, not distinguishable from zero (±1 Å/day). Of the nitrides examined, CrN appears to be the most corrosion resistant under acidic conditions. None of the nitrides studied are corrosion resistant under alkaline conditions. - Graphical abstract: Corrosion behavior of mesoporous transition metal nitrides (TM=Nb, V, Cr and Ti) in acidic and alkaline solutions at 80 °C for 2 weeks. Display Omitted - highlights: • Corrosion rates of mesoporous transition metal nitrides in aqueous solution is reported. • The mesoporous TMNs had surface areas of 25–60 m{sup 2}/g. • CrN is the most corrosion resistant under the conditions studied.

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

Structural, optical and transport properties of transition metals doped (A: Co, Ni and Cu) BiFe{sub 0.9}A{sub 0.1}O{sub 3}

Nanoparticles of pure and Transition metals doped (Co, Ni and Cu) BiFeO{sub 3} of the composition BiFe{sub 0.9}A{sub 0.1}O{sub 3} (A = Co, Ni and Cu) have been successfully synthesized by sol gel auto combustion method using citric acid as a chelating agent and calcinated at 300°C. Microstructural analyses were done by XRD, TEM and SEM techniques. The crystallite size was resolute by powder X-ray diffraction technique whereas, UV-VIS technique was used to study the optical properties and band gap (Eg) of all samples. The variation of a. c. conductivity has been studied as function of frequency. It was observed that doping causes decreases in the ac conductivity of the nanoparticles as compared with the pure nanoparticles. It was also observed that doping of Transition Metals affects the optical properties effectively and band gaps were also increased.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2013

Structural, morphological and spectroscopic properties of Eu{sup 3+}-doped rare earth fluorides synthesized by the hydrothermalmethod

Rare earth fluorides (REF{sub 3}, RE=Y, La, Gd or Yb) doped with 5% of Eu{sup 3+} ions were synthesized via the hydrothermal method and their physicochemical properties were compared. The synthesis was carried out in an aqueous medium at elevated pressure and temperature. The reaction was performed in situ, with use of NaBF{sub 4} as a source of fluoride ions. Structural and morphological properties of obtained nanophosphors were characterized with the use of powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and Raman spectroscopy. Synthesized products were nanocrystalline with hexagonal or orthorhombic crystal structures. They showed different morphology, from nanoplates to nanorings, depending on the used REF{sub 3} fluoride as the host for the Eu{sup 3+} ions. The elemental composition was confirmed by the energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) results. Spectroscopic properties were investigated by measuring the excitation and emission spectra. Also luminescence lifetimes were determined. The synthesized materials showed bright red luminescence, due to the presence of Eu{sup 3+} ions in their structure. - Graphical abstract: Luminescence spectra of the REF{sub 3}:Eu{sup 3+} (RE=Y, La, Gd and Yb) fluorides and their TEM images as background. Highlights: ► Nanocrystalline fluorides were synthesized using modified hydrothermal method. ► Structural and morphological properties of in situ prepared nanomaterials were studied. ► Luminescence properties of REF{sub 3}:Eu{sup 3+} (RE=Y, La, Gd, Yb) were compared and investigated.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2013

Antiferromagnetic transitions of osmium-containing rare earth double perovskites Ba{sub 2}LnOsO{sub 6} (Ln=rare earths)

The perovskite-type compounds containing both rare earth and osmium Ba{sub 2}LnOsO{sub 6} (Ln=Pr, Nd, Sm–Lu) have been prepared. Powder X-ray diffraction measurements and Rietveld analysis show that Ln{sup 3+} and Os{sup 5+} ions are structurally ordered at the M site of the perovskite BaMO{sub 3}. Magnetic susceptibility and specific heat measurements show that an antiferromagnetic ordering of Os{sup 5+} ions has been observed for Ba{sub 2}LnOsO{sub 6} (Ln=Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Lu) at 65–71 K. Magnetic ordering of Ln{sup 3+} moments occurs when the temperature is furthermore decreased. - Graphical abstract: The perovskite-type compounds containing both rare earth and osmium Ba{sub 2}LnOsO{sub 6} (Ln=Pr, Nd, Sm–Lu) have been prepared. An antiferromagnetic ordering of Os{sup 5+} ions has been observed for Ba{sub 2}LnOsO{sub 6} (Ln=Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Lu) at 65–71 K. Measurements and analysis of the specific heat for Ba{sub 2}PrOsO{sub 6} show that magnetic ordering of the Pr{sup 3+} moments should have occurred at ∼20 K. Display Omitted.

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

Grain size dependent phase stabilities and presence of a monoclinic (Pm) phase in the morphotropic phase boundary region of (1−x)Bi(Mg{sub 1/2}Ti{sub 1/2})O{sub 3}-xPbTiO{sub 3} piezoceramics

Results of the room temperature structural studies on (1−x)Bi(Mg{sub 1/2}Ti{sub 1/2})O{sub 3}-xPbTiO{sub 3} ceramics using Rietveld analysis of the powder x-ray diffraction data in the composition range 0.28 ≤ x ≤ 0.45 are presented. The morphotropic phase boundary region exhibits coexistence of monoclinic (space group Pm) and tetragonal (space group P4 mm) phases in the composition range 0.33 ≤ x ≤ 0.40. The structure is nearly single phase monoclinic (space group Pm) in the composition range 0.28 ≤ x ≤ 0.32. The structure for the compositions with x ≥ 0.45 is found to be predominantly tetragonal with space group P4 mm. Rietveld refinement of the structure rules out the coexistence of rhombohedral and tetragonal phases in the morphotropic phase boundary region reported by earlier authors. The Rietveld structure analysis for the sample x = .35 calcined at various temperatures reveals that phase fraction of the coexisting phases in the morphotropic phase boundary region varies with grain size. The structural parameters of the two coexisting phases also change slightly with changing grain size.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2016

Compressibility and thermal expansion of hydrous ringwoodite with 2.5(3) wt% H[subscript 2]O

Ringwoodite ({gamma}-Mg{sub 2}SiO{sub 4}) is the stable polymorph of olivine in the transition zone between 525-660 km depth, and can incorporate weight percent amounts of H{sub 2}O as hydroxyl, with charge compensated mainly by Mg vacancies (Mg{sup 2+} = 2H{sup +}), but also possibly as (Si{sup 4+} = 4H{sup +} and Mg{sup 2+} + 2H{sup +} = Si{sup 4+}). We synthesized pure Mg ringwoodite containing 2.5(3) wt% H{sub 2}O, measured by secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS), and determined its compressibility at 300 K by single-crystal and powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), as well as its thermal expansion behavior between 140 and 740 K at room pressure. A third-order Birch-Murnaghan equation of state (BM3 EOS) fits values of the isothermal bulk modulus K{sub T0} = 159(7) GPa and (dK{sub T}/dP){sub P = 0} = K' = 6.7(7) for single-crystal XRD; K{sub T0} = 161(4) GPa and K' = 5.4(6) for powder XRD, with K{sub T0} = 160(2) GPa and K' = 6.2(3) for the combined data sets. At room pressure, hydrous ringwoodite breaks down by an irreversible unit-cell expansion above 586 K, which may be related to dehydration and changes in the disorder mechanisms. Single-crystal intensity data were collected at various temperatures up to 736 K, and show that the cell volume V(cell) has a mean thermal expansion coefficient {alpha}{sub V0} of 40(4) x 10{sup -6}/K (143-736 K), and 29(2) x 10{sup -6}/K (143-586 K before irreversible expansion). V(Mg) have {alpha}{sub 0} values of 41(3) x 10{sup -6}/K (143-736 K), and V(Si) has {alpha}{sub 0} values of 20(3) x 10{sup -6}/K (143-586 K) and 132(4) x 10{sup -6}K (586-736 K). Based on the experimental data and previous work from {sup 29}Si NMR, we propose that during the irreversible expansion, a small amount of H{sup +} cations in Mg sites transfer to Si sites without changing the cubic spinel structure of ringwoodite, and the substituted Si{sup 4+} cations move to the normally vacant octahedral site at (1/2, 1/2, 0). Including new SIMS data on this and several Mg-ringwoodite samples from previous studies, we summarize volume-hydration data and show that the Mg{sup 2+} = 2H{sup +} dominates up to about 2 wt% H{sub 2}O, where a discontinuity in the volume vs. H{sub 2}O content trend suggests that other hydration mechanisms become important at very high H{sub 2}O contents.

Ye, Yu↗
DOE OSTI2015

Auto-combustion synthesis and characterization of Mg doped CuAlO{sub 2} nanoparticles

The synthesis of pure and Mg doped Copper aluminumoxide CuAlO{sub 2}nanoparticles, a promising p-type TCO (transparent conducting oxide) have been done bysol gel auto combustion method using NaOH as a fuel, calcinated at 600°C. The structural properties were examined by XRD and SEM techniques. The optical absorption spectra of CuAlO{sub 2} sample recorded by UV-VIS spectrophotometer in the range of 200 to 800 nm have been presented. The crystallite size was determined by powder X-ray diffraction technique. The electrical behavior of pure and Mg doped CuAlO{sub 2} has been studied over a wide range of frequencies by using complex impedance spectroscopy.The variation of a.c. conductivity has been studied as function of frequency and temperature. The data taken together conclude that doping causes decreases in the ac conductivity of the nanoparticles as compared with the pure nanoparticles. Mg doping affects the optical properties and band gap.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2016

Synthesis and photoluminescence properties of Pb{sup 2+} doped inorganic borate phosphor NaSr{sub 4}(BO{sub 3}){sub 3}

A series of Inorganic borate phosphors NaSr{sub 4}(BO{sub 3}){sub 3} doped with Pb{sup 2+} was successfully synthesized by modified solid state diffusion method. The crystal structure and the phase purity of sample were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD). The photoluminescence properties of synthesized materials were investigated using spectrofluorometer at room temperature. The phosphor show strong broad band emission spectra in UVA region maximum at 370 nm under the excitation of 289 nm. The dependence of the emission intensity on the Pb{sup 2+} concentration for the NaSr{sub 4}(BO{sub 3}){sub 3} were studied in details. The concentration quenching of Pb{sup 2+} doped NaSr{sub 4}(BO{sub 3}){sub 3} was observed at 0.02 mol. The Stokes shifts of NaSr{sub 4}(BO{sub 3}){sub 3}: Pb{sup 2+} phosphor was calculated to be 7574 cm{sup −1}.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2016

Strain development during the phase transition of La(Fe,Mn,Si){sub 13}H{sub z}

We use powder X-ray diffraction to evaluate the temperature dependence of the crystalline properties during the magnetic phase transition of La(Fe,Mn,Si){sub 13}H{sub z} as a function of the Fe/Mn/Si ratio. Both the paramagnetic and ferromagnetic phases were observed as peak overlaps in the patterns around the Curie temperature (T{sub C}) occurring continuously in a temperature range of about 5 K around T{sub C.} Using the Williamson-Hall method, we evaluate the strain developing in the crystallites during the transition and find that it is associated with the growth of the paramagnetic phase as the transition occurs. Based on our measurements and microstructure analyses, we propose that cracking during the phase transition is due to or aggravated by the small content of a La-rich phase.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2016

The many phases of CaC{sub 2}

Polymorphic CaC{sub 2} was prepared by reacting mixtures of CaH{sub 2} and graphite with molar ratios between 1:1.8 and 1:2.2 at temperatures between 700 and 1400 °C under dynamic vacuum. These conditions provided a well controlled, homogeneous, chemical environment and afforded products with high purity. The products, which were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, solid state NMR and Raman spectroscopy, represented mixtures of the three known polymorphs, tetragonal CaC{sub 2}-I and monoclinic CaC{sub 2}-II and -III. Their proportion is dependent on the nominal C/CaH{sub 2} ratio of the reaction mixture and temperature. Reactions with excess carbon produced a mixture virtually free from CaC{sub 2}-I, whereas high temperatures (above 1100 °C) and C-deficiency favored the formation of CaC{sub 2}-I. From first principles calculations it is shown that CaC{sub 2}-I is dynamically unstable within the harmonic approximation. This indicates that existing CaC{sub 2}-I is structurally/dynamically disordered and may possibly even occur as slightly carbon-deficient phase CaC{sub 2-δ}. It is proposed that monoclinic II is the ground state of CaC{sub 2} and polymorph III is stable at temperatures above 200 °C. Tetragonal I represents a metastable, heterogeneous, phase of CaC{sub 2}. It is argued that a complete understanding of the occurrence of three room temperature modifications of CaC{sub 2} will require a detailed characterization of compositional and structural heterogeneities within the high temperature form CaC{sub 2}-IV, which is stable above 450 °C. The effect of high pressure on the stability of the monoclinic forms of CaC{sub 2} was studied in a diamond anvil cell using Raman spectroscopy. CaC{sub 2}-II and -III transform into tetragonal CaC{sub 2}-I at about 4 and 1GPa, respectively. - Graphical abstract: The famous tetragonal form of CaC{sub 2}, CaC{sub 2}-I, is dynamically unstable. Why does it exist? Display Omitted - Highlights: • Critical review of complex polymorphism of the commodity chemical CaC{sub 2}. • Tetragonal CaC{sub 2}-I is identified as dynamical instable and its existence attributed to disorder. • With pressure monoclinic CaC{sub 2}-II and –III transform into tetragonal CaC{sub 2}-I. • The high temperature form CaC{sub 2}-IV is assigned a key role for understanding the polymorphism of CaC{sub 2}.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗