Barium hollandite-type compounds BaxFe2xTi8−2xO16 with x=1.143 and 1.333

Abstract

Experimental X-ray powder diffraction patterns and refined unit cell parameters for two barium hollandite-type compounds, BaxFe2xTi8−2xO16, with x=1.143 and 1.333, are reported here. Compared to the tetragonal parent structure, both compounds exhibit monoclinic distortions that increase with Ba content [Ba1.333Fe2.666Ti5.334O16: a=10.2328(8), b=2.9777(4), c=9.899(1) Å, β=91.04(1)°, V=301.58(5) Å3, Z=1, ρcalc=4.64 g/cc; Ba1.143Fe2.286Ti5.714O16: a=10.1066(6), b=2.9690(3), c=10.064(2) Å, β=90.077(6)°, V=301.98(4) Å3, Z=1, ρcalc=4.48 g/cc]. The X-ray powder patterns for both phases contain a number of broad, weak superlattice peaks attributed to ordering of the Ba2+ ions within the tunnels of the hollandite framework structure. According to the criteria developed by Cheary and Squadrito [Acta Crystallogr. B 45, 205 (1989)], the observed positions of the (0k1)/(1k0) superlattice peaks are consistent with the nominal x-values of both compounds, and the k values calculated from the corresponding d-spacings suggest that the Ba ordering within the tunnels is commensurate for x=1.333 and incommensurate for x=1.143. High-temperature X-ray diffraction data indicate that the x=1.333 compound undergoes a monoclinic→tetragonal phase transition between 310 and 360 °C.