The traditional way for determination of molecular groups structure in crystals is the X-Ray diffraction analysis and it is based on an estimation of the interatomic distances. Here, we report the ...analysis of structural units in Y2O2SO4 using density functional theory calculations of electronic properties, lattice dynamics and experimental vibrational spectroscopy. The Y2O2SO4 powder was successfully synthesized by decomposition of Y2(SO4)3 at high temperature. According to the electronic band structure calculations, yttrium oxysulfate is a dielectric material. The difference between the oxygen–sulfur and oxygen–yttrium bond nature in Y2O2OS4 was shown based on partial density of states calculations. Vibrational modes of sulfur ions and Y2O22+ chains were obtained theoretically and corresponding spectral lines observed in experimental Infrared and Raman spectra.
RbEu(MoO4)2 is synthesized by the two-step solid state reaction method. The crystal structure of RbEu(MoO4)2 is defined by Rietveld analysis in space group Pbcn with cell parameters a = 5.13502(5), ...b = 18.8581(2) and c = 8.12849(7) Å, V = 787.13(1) Å3, Z = 4 (RB = 0.86%). This molybdate possesses its phase transition at 817 K and melts at 1250 K. The Raman spectra were measured with the excitation at λ = 1064 and 514.5 nm. The photoluminescence spectrum is evaluated under the excitation at 514.5 nm. The absolute domination of hypersensitive 5D0→7F2 transition is observed. The ultranarrow 5D0→7F0 transition in RbEu(MoO4)2 is positioned at 580.2 nm being 0.2 nm blue shifted, with respect to that in Eu2(MoO4)3.
•RbEu(MoO4)2 is synthesized by the two-step solid state reaction method.•The crystal structure of RbEu(MoO4)2 is defined by Rietveld analysis in space group Pbcn.•The absolute domination of hypersensitive 5D0.→7F2 transition is observed.
Crystalline hydrate of double cesium europium sulfate CsEu(H2O)3(SO4)2·H2O was synthesized by the crystallization from an aqueous solution containing equimolar amounts of 1Cs+:1Eu3+:2SO42− ions. ...Anhydrous salt CsEu(SO4)2 was formed as a result of the thermal dehydration of the crystallohydrate. The unusual effects observed during the thermal dehydration were attributed to the specific coordination of water molecules in the CsEu(H2O)3(SO4)2·H2O structure. The crystal structure of CsEu(H2O)3(SO4)2·H2O was determined by a single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis, and the crystal structure of CsEu(SO4)2 was obtained by the Rietveld method. CsEu(H2O)3(SO4)2·H2O crystallizes in the monoclinic system, space group P21/c (a = 6.5574(1) Å, b = 19.0733(3) Å, c = 8.8364(2) Å, β = 93.931(1)°, V = 1102.58(3) Å3). The anhydrous sulfate CsEu(SO4)2 formed as a result of the thermal destruction crystallizes in the monoclinic system, space group C2/c (a = 14.327(1) Å, b = 5.3838(4) Å, c = 9.5104(6) Å, β = 101.979(3) °, V = 717.58(9) Å3). The vibration properties of the compounds are fully consistent with the structural models and are mainly determined by the deformation of non-rigid structural elements, such as H2O and SO42−. As shown by the diffused reflection spectra measurements and DFT calculations, the structural transformation from CsEu(H2O)3(SO4)2·H2O to CsEu(SO4)2 induced a significant band gap reduction. A noticeable difference of the luminescence spectra between cesium europium sulfate and cesium europium sulfate hydrate is detected and explained by the variation of the extent of local symmetry violation at the crystallographic sites occupied by Eu3+ ions, namely, by the increase in inversion asymmetry in CsEu(H2O)3(SO4)2·H2O and the increase in mirror asymmetry in CsEu(SO4)2. The chemical shift of the 5D0 energy level in cesium europium sulfate hydrate, with respect to cesium europium sulfate, is associated with the presence of H2O molecules in the vicinity of Eu3+ ion.
Silver–europium double sulfate AgEu(SO4)2 was obtained by solid-phase reaction between Ag2SO4 and Eu2(SO4)3. The crystal structure of AgEu(SO4)2 was determined by Monte Carlo method with simulated ...annealing, and after that, it was refined by the Rietveld method from X-ray powder diffraction data. The compound crystallizes in the triclinic symmetry, space group P1̅ (a = 0.632929(4), b = 0.690705(4), c = 0.705467(4) nm, α = 98.9614(4), β = 84.5501(4), γ = 88.8201(4)°, V = 0.303069(3) nm3). Two types of sulfate tetrahedra were found in the structure, which significantly affects the spectroscopic properties in the IR-range. In the temperature range of 143–703 K, the average linear thermal expansion coefficients of cell parameters a, b, and c are very similar, (1.11–1.67) × 10–5 K–1 in magnitude, and therefore, AgEu(SO4)2 expands almost isotropically. Upon heating in argon flow, AgEu(SO4)2 is stable up to 1053 K. The luminescence spectra in the region of ultranarrow 5D0–7F0 transition contain a single narrow and symmetric line at 579.5 nm that is evidence of good crystalline quality of AgEu(SO4)2 and uniform local environment of Eu3+ ions in the structure. Distribution of luminescence bands is determined by the environment of Eu3+ ions in the structure. Influence of Ag+ ions on the electron density distribution at Eu sites is detected.
New polymorphic modifications of double sulfates β-AEu(SO4)2 (A–Rb+, Cs+) were obtained by the hydrothermal method, the structure of which differs significantly from the monoclinic modifications ...obtained earlier by solid-state methods. According to single-crystal diffraction data, it was found that the compounds crystallize in the orthorhombic system, space group Pnna, with parameters β-RbEu(SO4)2: a = 9.4667(4) Å, b = 13.0786(5) Å, c = 5.3760(2) Å, V = 665.61(5) Å3; β-CsEu(SO4)2: a = 9.5278(5) Å, b = 13.8385(7) Å, c = 5.3783(3) Å, V = 709.13(7) Å3. The asymmetric part of the unit cell contains one-half Rb+/Cs+ ion, one-half Eu3+ ion, both in special sites, and one SO4 2– ion. Both compounds exhibit nonlinear negative thermal expansion. According to the X-ray structural analysis and theoretical calculations, the polarizing effect of the alkali metal ion has a decisive influence on the demonstration of this phenomenon. Experimental indirect band gaps of β-Rb and β-Cs are 4.05 and 4.11 eV, respectively, while the direct band gaps are 4.48 and 4.54 eV, respectively. The best agreement with theoretical calculations is obtained using the ABINIT package employing PAW pseudopotentials with hybrid PBE0 functional, while norm-conserving pseudopotentials used in the frame of CASTEP code and LCAO approach in the Crystal package gave worse agreement. The properties of alkali ions also significantly affect the luminescent properties of the compounds, which leads to a strong temperature dependence of the intensity of the 5D0 → 7F4 transition in β-CsEu(SO4)2 in contrast to much weaker dependence of this kind in β-RbEu(SO4)2.
The crystal structure of YAl3(BO3)4 is obtained by Rietveld refinement analysis in the present study. The dynamical properties are studied both theoretically and experimentally. The experimental ...Raman and Infrared spectra are interpreted using the results of ab initio calculations within density functional theory. The phonon band gap in the Infrared spectrum is observed in both trigonal and hypothetical monoclinic structures of YAl3(BO3)4. The electronic band structure is studied theoretically, and the value of the band gap is obtained. It was found that the YAl3(BO3)4 is an indirect band gap dielectric material.
EuLnCuSe3 (Ln = Nd, Sm, Gd, Er), due to their complex composition, should be considered new materials with the ability to purposefully change the properties. Samples of the EuLnCuSe3 were prepared ...using Cu, rare earth metal, Se (99.99%) by the ampoule method. The samples were obtained by the crystallization from a melt and annealed at temperatures 1073 and 1273 K. The EuErCuSe3 crystal structure was established using the single-crystal particle. EuErCuSe3 crystallizes in the orthorhombic system, space group Cmcm, KCuZrS3 structure type, with cell parameters a = 4.0555 (3), b = 13.3570 (9), and c = 10.4602 (7) Å, V = 566.62 (6) Å3. In structure EuErCuSe3, erbium ions are coordinated by selenium ions in the octahedral polyhedron, copper ions are in the tetrahedral coordination, europium ions are between copper and erbium polyhedra layers and are coordinated by selenium ions as two-cap trigonal prisms. The optical band gap is 1.79 eV. At 4.7 K, a transition from the ferrimagnetic state to the paramagnetic state was detected in EuErCuSe3. At 85 and 293 K, the compound is in a paramagnetic state. According to XRPD data, EuLnCuSe3 (Ln = Nd, Sm, Gd) compounds have a Pnma orthorhombic space group of the Eu2CuS3 structure type. For EuSmCuSe3, a = 10.75704 (15) Å, b = 4.11120 (5) Å, c = 13.37778 (22) Å. In the series of EuLnCuSe3 compounds, the optical band gap increases 1.58 eV (Nd), 1.58 eV (Sm), 1.72 eV (Gd), 1.79 eV (Er), the microhardness of the 205 (Nd), 210 (Sm), 225 (Gd) 235 ± 4 HV (Er) phases increases, and the thermal stability of the phases increases significantly. According to the measurement data of differential scanning calorimetry, the EuNdCuSe3 decomposes, according to the solid-phase reaction T = 1296 K, ΔH = 8.2 ± 0.8 kJ/mol. EuSmCuSe3 melts incongruently T = 1449 K, ΔH = 18.8 ± 1.9 kJ/mol. For the EuGdCuSe3, two (Tα↔β = 1494 K, ΔHα↔β = 14.8 kJ/mol, Tβ↔γ = 1530 K, ΔHβ↔γ = 4.8 kJ/mol) and for EuErCuSe3 three polymorphic transitions (Tα↔β = 1561 K, ΔHα↔β = 30.3 kJ/mol, Tβ↔γ = 1579 K, ΔHβ↔γ = 4.4 kJ/mol, and Tγ↔δ = 1600 K, ΔHγ↔δ = 10.1 kJ/mol). The compounds melt incongruently at the temperature of 1588 K, ΔHmelt = 17.9 ± 1.8 kJ/mol and 1664 K, ΔHmelt = 25.6 ± 2.5 kJ/mol, respectively. Incongruent melting of the phases proceeds with the formation of a solid solution of EuSe and a liquid phase.
Praseodymium sulfate was obtained by the precipitation method and the crystal structure was determined by Rietveld analysis. Pr2(SO4)3 is crystallized in the monoclinic structure, space group C2/c, ...with cell parameters a = 21.6052 (4), b = 6.7237 (1) and c = 6.9777 (1) Å, β = 107.9148 (7)°, Z = 4, V = 964.48 (3) Å3 (T = 150 °C). The thermal expansion of Pr2(SO4)3 is strongly anisotropic. As was obtained by XRD measurements, all cell parameters are increased on heating. However, due to a strong increase of the monoclinic angle β, there is a direction of negative thermal expansion. In the argon atmosphere, Pr2(SO4)3 is stable in the temperature range of T = 30–870 °C. The kinetics of the thermal decomposition process of praseodymium sulfate octahydrate Pr2(SO4)3·8H2O was studied as well. The vibrational properties of Pr2(SO4)3 were examined by Raman and Fourier-transform infrared absorption spectroscopy methods. The band gap structure of Pr2(SO4)3 was evaluated by ab initio calculations, and it was found that the valence band top is dominated by the p electrons of oxygen ions, while the conduction band bottom is formed by the d electrons of Pr3+ ions. The exact position of ZPL is determined via PL and PLE spectra at 77 K to be at 481 nm, and that enabled a correct assignment of luminescent bands. The maximum luminescent band in Pr2(SO4)3 belongs to the 3P0 → 3F2 transition at 640 nm.
In the present work, we report on the synthesis of EuSO4 powders by two different methods using EuS as starting material. The compound EuSO4 contains divalent europium and crystallizes in the ...orthorhombic crystal system, space group Pnma with parameters close to SrSO4. The compound exhibits near isotropic thermal expansion over the temperature range 300–700 K. EuSO4 was examined by Raman, Fourier‐transform infrared absorption and luminescence spectroscopy methods. EuSO4 is found to be an indirect bandgap material with a bandgap close to direct electronic transition. The emission lifetime of divalent europium d‐f emission in EuSO4 shows an unusual behavior for stoichiometric compounds, as it shortens upon cooling from 1.11(1) μs at room temperature to 0.44(1) μs at 77 K.
Efficient methods for the synthesis of europium (II) sulfate in various dimensional states based on exchange reactions have been developed. The crystal structure of the compound is determined and its relationship with the main thermochemical and optical properties is shown.
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•An environmentally friendly synthesis of β- NaRE0.95Eu0.05F4 (RE=Y, Lu) from an aqueous solution by hydrothermal synthesis was elaborated.•The concentration of Na2EDTA control the ...morphology of the compound NaY(Lu)0.95Eu0.05F4.•The excitation spectra of β-NaRE0.95Eu0.05F4 (RE=Y, Lu) consist of direct f–f Eu3+ transitions, the most intense being 5L6 ⟵ 7F0 at 393nm.•The presence of emission from higher excited states of Eu3+ in both samples results in an emission color being more orange than the usual..
On the base of β-NaYF4 and β-NaLuF4 compounds, optimal synthesis methods were selected to obtain highly crystalline Eu3+-doped compounds in the hexagonal (β) structure. The compounds β-NaY0.95Eu0.05F4 and β-NaLu0.95Eu0.05F4 were synthesized by hydrothermal synthesis. The concentration of Na2EDTA introduced into the reaction system as a modifier affects the shape and size of the product from elongated hexagonal prisms to quartz-like crystals. The thermal behavior of the compounds has been studied; the temperature of the polymorphic transition from hexagonal to cubic structure is 680°C for β-NaY0.95Eu0.05F4 and 624°C for β-NaY0.95Eu0.05F4, the melting point of α-NaRE0.95Eu0.05F4 is about 900°C. Under excitation with UV-light of λ = 393nm, β-NaY0.95Eu0.05F4 and β-NaLu0.95Eu0.05F4 show the emission lines of direct Eu3+f-f transitions, with the presence of the emission from higher Eu3+ excited states (up to 5H3) in both samples, which is responsible for the more orange color of emission instead of the usual red for Eu3+. Emission decay times are slightly longer for β-NaY0.95Eu0.05F4 than for β-NaLu0.95Eu0.05F4, which is the result of a bigger unit cell for the former, leading to longer interatomic distances between Eu3+ ions in the lattice. The luminescence mechanisms for the doped lanthanide ions were thoroughly analyzed.
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