Charge-compensating Cations Research Articles

High-temperature structural drivers immobilizing alkaline substances in red mud-derived mineral wool

Smelting and fiberization of red mud (RM) is an attractive approach for rapid recovery of metal resources, production of mineral wool, and immobilization of hazardous alkalis. However, an enormous challenge remains in understanding alkali immobilization behavior in mineral wool over a broad A/S (Al2O3 to SiO2 mass ratio) range. Here we addressed the challenge through molecular dynamics, thermodynamic and experimental analyses. Increasing A/S ratio caused an increasing degree of structural order and the remarkable micro-phase separation occurred at A/S > 0.9. The role of Na+ and Ca2+ changed from the network-modifying cations to the charge-compensating cations. Melt viscosity decreased and then increased significantly with an intensified temperature sensitivity, identified by the increasing viscous flow activation energy from 211.5 to 377.03 kJ/mol in the temperature region from 1500 to 1570 °C. The transformation of thermodynamic properties (real mixed/excess molar Gibbs free energies, and entropy increment) corresponded to the structural changes. Thermal, mechanical and leaching tests confirmed the negative effect of this structural transformation on alkali immobilization. The A/S ratios controlled below 0.9 were proposed for environmental benefits and product stability. The investigation of immobilization mechanism provides valuable information for tuning the vitrification chemistry and developing safe and green mineral wool from RM.

Novel Lewis Acid-Base Interactions in Polymer-Derived Sodium-Doped Amorphous Si-B-N Ceramic: Towards Main-Group-Mediated Hydrogen Activation.

Interest is growing in transition metal-free compounds for small molecule activation and catalysis. We discuss the opportunities arising from synthesizing sodium-doped amorphous silicon-boron-nitride (Na-doped a-SiBN). Na+ cations and 3-fold coordinated BIII moieties were incorporated into an amorphous silicon nitride network via chemical modification of a polysilazane followed by pyrolysis in ammonia (NH3) at 1000 °C. Emphasis is placed on the mechanisms of hydrogen (H2) activation within Na-doped a-SiBN structure. This material design approach allows the homogeneous distribution of Na+ and BIII moieties surrounded by SiN4 units contributing to the transformation of the BIII moieties into 4-fold coordinated geometry upon encountering H2, potentially serving as frustrated Lewis acid (FLA) sites. Exposure to H2 induced formation of frustrated Lewis base (FLB) N-= sites with Na+ as a charge-compensating cation, resulting in the in situ formation of a frustrated Lewis pair (FLP) motif (≡BFLA⋅⋅⋅Hδ-⋅⋅⋅Hδ+⋅⋅⋅:N-(Na+)=). Reversible H2 adsorption-desorption behavior with high activation energy for H2 desorption (124 kJ mol-1) suggested the H2 chemisorption on Na-doped a-SiBN. These findings highlight a future landscape full of possibilities within our reach, where we anticipate main-group-mediated small molecule activation will have an important impact on the design of more efficient catalytic processes and the discovery of new catalytic transformations.

Ionothermal Approach to Homo- and Heteroleptic Alkylation of Tellurido Mercurate Clusters for Assembly in Lamellar Crystal Structures.

The selective methylation and butylation of chalcogenido metalate clusters by utilizing imidazolium-based ionic liquids turned out to be not only a comparably mild but at the same time also the only known method for postsynthetic alkylation of such species in order to increase their solubility. For additional impact on the crystal structures, selective alkylation with longer alkyl chains was addressed by utilizing the ionic liquid (C10C1Im)[BF4] (C10 = decyl group at position 1 and C1 = methyl group at position 3 of the cation's Im = imidazolium ring) for ionothermal syntheses of functionalized tellurido mercurate clusters. Herein, we report three novel compounds, two of which comprise cluster anions that exhibit a selective organic functionalization of their terminal telluride ligands upon in situ alkylation with the ionic liquid: [Hg6Te6(Te2)2(TeDec)2]6- (in 1; Dec = decyl) represents the first decylated chalcogenido metalate cluster. A unique heteroleptic functionalization, combining methylation and decylation, was achieved for the second cluster, [Hg6Te6(Te2)2(TeDec)(TeMe)]6- (in 2; Me = methyl). The third cluster is purely inorganic, but based on the same cluster core architecture: [Hg4Te2(Te2)2(Te3)2]4- (in 3) comprises a tritelluride unit instead of two HgTeR groups (R = Me, Dec). As a consequence of the long alkyl chains, both at the cluster and at the charge-compensating cations, all three crystal structures are characterized by lamellar assemblies of cations and anions. For further comparison of the properties of the organometallic versus purely inorganic compounds, vibrational and optical properties of crystalline samples of the compounds comprising clusters 1 and 3 were studied by means of infrared, Raman, and UV-visible spectroscopy. The results clearly show the effect of the presence of an organic decoration (in 1) relative to its absence (in 3), reflected by a red shift of the band gap energy (1 → 3) and a replacement of the Te-C bands (in 1) with bands for tritelluride units (in 3).

Structure-Thermodynamic Relationship of a Polysaccharide Gel (Alginate) as a Function of Water Content and Counterion Type (Na vs Ca).

Biofilms are the predominant mode of microbial life on Earth, and so a deep understanding of microbial communities─and their impacts on environmental processes─requires a firm understanding of biofilm properties. Because of the importance of biofilms to their microbial inhabitants, microbes have evolved different ways of engineering and reconfiguring the matrix of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) that constitute the main non-living component of biofilms. This ability makes it difficult to distinguish between the biotic and abiotic origins of biofilm properties. An important route toward establishing this distinction has been the study of simplified models of the EPS matrix. This study builds on such efforts by using atomistic simulations to predict the nanoscale (≤10 nm scale) structure of a model EPS matrix and the sensitivity of this structure to interpolymer interactions and water content. To accomplish this, we use replica exchange molecular dynamics (REMD) simulations to generate all-atom configurations of ten 3.4 kDa alginate polymers at a range of water contents and Ca-Na ratios. Simulated systems are solvated with explicitly modeled water molecules, which allows us to capture the discrete structure of the hydrating water and to examine the thermodynamic stability of water in the gels as they are progressively dehydrated. Our primary findings are that (i) the structure of the hydrogels is highly sensitive to the identity of the charge-compensating cations, (ii) the thermodynamics of water within the gels (specific enthalpy and free energy) are, surprisingly, only weakly sensitive to cation identity, and (iii) predictions of the differential enthalpy and free energy of hydration include a short-ranged enthalpic term that promotes hydration and a longer-ranged (presumably entropic) term that promotes dehydration, where short and long ranges refer to distances shorter or longer than ∼0.6 nm between alginate strands.

Revealing impacts of electrolyte speciation on ionic charge storage in aluminum-quinone batteries by NMR spectroscopy

Rechargeable aluminum-organic batteries are composed of earth-abundant, sustainable electrode materials while the molecular structures of the organic molecules can be controlled to tune their electrochemical properties. Aluminum metal batteries typically use electrolytes based on chloroaluminate ionic liquids or deep eutectic solvents that are comprised of polyatomic aluminum-containing species. Quinone-based organic electrodes store charge when chloroaluminous cations (AlCl2+) charge compensate their electrochemically reduced carbonyl groups, even when such cations are not natively present in the electrolyte. However, how ion speciation in the electrolyte affects the ion charge storage mechanism, and resultant battery performance, is not well understood. Here, we couple solid-state NMR spectroscopy with electrochemical and computational methods to show for the first time that electrolyte-dependent ion speciation significantly alters the molecular-level environments of the charge-compensating cations, which in turn influences battery properties. Using 1,5-dichloroanthraquinone (DCQ) for the first time as an organic electrode material, we utilize solid-state dipolar-mediated and multiple-quantum NMR experiments to elucidate distinct aluminum coordination environments upon discharge that depend significantly on electrolyte speciation. We relate DFT-calculated NMR parameters to experimentally determined quantities, revealing insights into their origins. The results establish that electrolyte ion speciation impacts the local environments of charge-compensating chloroaluminous cations and is a crucial design parameter for rechargeable aluminum-quinone batteries.

The need for operando modelling of 27Al NMR in zeolites: the effect of temperature, topology and water.

Solid state (ss-) 27Al NMR is one of the most valuable tools for the experimental characterization of zeolites, owing to its high sensitivity and the detailed structural information which can be extracted from the spectra. Unfortunately, the interpretation of ss-NMR is complex and the determination of aluminum distributions remains generally unfeasible. As a result, computational modelling of 27Al ss-NMR spectra has grown increasingly popular as a means to support experimental characterization. However, a number of simplifying assumptions are commonly made in NMR modelling, several of which are not fully justified. In this work, we systematically evaluate the effects of various common models on the prediction of 27Al NMR chemical shifts in zeolites CHA and MOR. We demonstrate the necessity of operando modelling; in particular, taking into account the effects of water loading, temperature and the character of the charge-compensating cation. We observe that conclusions drawn from simple, high symmetry model systems such as CHA do not transfer well to more complex zeolites and can lead to qualitatively wrong interpretations of peak positions, Al assignment and even the number of signals. We use machine learning regression to develop a simple yet robust relationship between chemical shift and local structural parameters in Al-zeolites. This work highlights the need for sophisticated models and high-quality sampling in the field of NMR modelling and provides correlations which allow for the accurate prediction of chemical shifts from dynamical simulations.

Periodic Trends within Actinyl(VI) Nitrates and Their Structures, Vibrational Spectra, and Electronic Properties.

A series of actinyl(VI) nitrate salts of the form MAnO2(NO3)3, where M = NH4+ K+, Rb+, Cs+, and Me4N+ and AnO22+ = U, Np, Pu, and AnO2(NO3)2(H2O)2·H2O, and the uranyl tetranitrates M2UO2(NO3)4 have been synthesized from aqueous solution and their structures determined using single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Together, these complexes represent an isostructural series of actinide complexes among the salts crystallized with the same charge-compensating cation and have been studied using vibrational spectroscopy including Raman and Fourier-transform infrared. Periodic trends in both the structural properties of these complexes and their vibrational spectra are presented and discussed, in particular the invariant nature of the O≡An≡O asymmetric stretching frequencies observed across the actinyl series. Electronic structure calculations were performed at a variety of levels of theory to aid in the interpretation of the vibrational data and to correlate trends in the data with the underlying electronic properties of these molecules.

Microstructural evolution of a sodium metakaolin-based geopolymer paste in neutral and CEM V basic environment

During their service life, geopolymers may be in contact with Portland cementitious materials. As their porosity is open and connected, resaturation by the cementitious pore solution is possible, and may lead to the material destabilization with durability issues. This paper investigates the evolution of a sodium geopolymer after immersion tests in a neutral and basic environment (deionized water, and CEM V pore solution) for 18 months. A chemical equilibrium takes place between the immersion solution and the geopolymer pore solution, leading to a decrease in alkalinity which may destabilize the geopolymer. A leaching of aluminum ions indicates a degradation of the geopolymer by a slow dissolution process. Apart from that, no major change in mineralogy or porosity was evidenced. However, in contact with a CEM V pore solution, part of charge-compensating cations (Na+) were substituted by potassium ions (K+), which should not impact negatively the geopolymer paste.

Ni-H-Beta Catalysts for Ethylene Oligomerization: Impact of Parent Cation on Ni Loading, Speciation, and Siting

Ni-H-Beta catalysts for ethylene oligomerization (EO) were prepared by ion exchange of NH4-Beta and H-Beta zeolites with aqueous Ni(NO3)2 and characterized by H2-temperature-programmed reduction (TPR), NH3-temperature-programmed desorption (TPD), and diffuse-reflectance infrared Fourier-transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS). Quadruple exchange of NH4-Beta at 70 °C resulted in 2.5 wt.% Ni loading corresponding to a Ni2+/framework aluminum (FAl) molar ratio of 0.52. [NiOH]+ and H+ are the primary charge-compensating cations in the uncalcined catalyst, as evidenced by TPR and DRIFTS. Subsequent calcination at 550 °C in air yielded a Ni-H-Beta catalyst containing primarily bare Ni2+ ions bonded to framework oxygens. Quadruple exchange of H-Beta at 70 °C gave 2.0 wt.% Ni loading (Ni2+/FAl = 0.41). After calcination at 550 °C, the resulting Ni-H-Beta catalyst comprises a mixture of bare Ni2+ ions: [NiOH]+ and NiO species. The relative abundance of [NiOH]+ increases with the number of exchanges. In situ pretreatment at 500 °C in flowing He converted the [NiOH]+ species to bare Ni2+ ions via dehydration. The bare Ni2+ ions interact strongly with the Beta framework as evidenced by a perturbed antisymmetric T-O-T vibration at 945 cm−1. DRIFT spectra of CO adsorbed at 20 °C indicate that the Ni2+ ions occupy two distinct exchange positions. The results of EO testing at 225 °C and 11 bar (ethylene) suggested that the specific Ni2+ species initially presented (e.g., bare Ni2+, [NiOH]+) did not significantly affect the catalytic performance.

Bromate incorporation in calcite and aragonite

The presence of bromine as a trace-element in calcium carbonate speleothems constitutes a useful proxy of past volcanic activity, thus helping to provide input parameters for climate model simulations and risk assessment. However, the chemical nature of bromine-containing impurities in the calcium carbonate phases forming speleothems is not understood, which limits interpretation of experimental measurements on speleothems. We present here a computer simulation study, based on quantum mechanical calculations, of the incorporation of bromine as BrO3− oxyanions in CaCO3 polymorphs calcite and aragonite. We discuss how the relative distributions of bromate oxyanions and charge-compensating alkali-metal cations are determined by the interplay between an impurity binding effect (which is stronger for aragonite than for calcite, and changes in the order Li < Na < K) and a configurational entropic effect that tends to disassociate the impurities. For concentrations above parts-per-million, bromate impurities can be expected to be paired, in nearest-neighbour configurations, with the compensating cations. Bromate substitution, compensated by sodium or potassium cations, is predicted to be metastable with respect to phase separation of the impurities as solid NaBrO3 or KBrO3 phases, respectively, but the solubility limits of BrO3− in calcite and aragonite are still higher than those calculated for tetrahedral oxyanions (SO4)2− and (MoO4)2− that are used as alternative volcanic records in speleothems.

SbCl4: An Exceptional Superhalogen as the Building Block of a Mixed Valence Supercrystal with Unconventional Ferroelectricity.

Superhalogens are nanoclusters with high electron affinities, exhibiting behavior similar to that of halogens. Their dimerization yields nonpolar symmetrical clusters, akin to diatomic halogen molecules, and they are unstable in the condensed phase in the absence of charge-compensating cations. Herein, we provide ab initio evidence that SbCl4 superhalogen is an exception: its dimerization yields a polar cluster that can be viewed as a quasi-bonded [SbCl5]δ- and [SbCl3]δ+ Lewis acid-base cluster. The symmetry breaking arises from the valence stratification of Sb into Sb5+ and Sb3+ as well as their lone pair electrons. When assembled, SbCl4 clusters form a supercrystal that is thermodynamically stable up to 600 K, with the unique bonding feature of Sb2Cl8 prevailing in the bulk phase. Combination of mixed valence and lone pair electrons leads to electric polarizations along all directions, generating a type of unconventional multimode ferroelectricity in which three different modes of ferroelectricity with distinct magnitudes and Curie temperature are revealed.

Polymorph and Polytype Identification from Individual Mica Particles Using Selected Area Electron Diffraction

AbstractDioctahedral micas are composed of two tetrahedral sheets and one octahedral sheet to form TOT or 2:1 layers. These minerals are widespread and occur with structures differing by (1) the layer stacking mode (polytypes), (2) the location of vacancies among non-equivalent octahedral sites (polymorphs), and (3) the charge-compensating interlayer cation and isomorphic substitutions. The purpose of the present study was to assess the potential of parallel-illumination electron diffraction (ED) to determine the polytype/polymorph of individual crystals of finely divided dioctahedral micas and to image their morphology. ED patterns were calculated along several zone axes close to the c*- and c-axes using the kinematical approximation for trans- and cis-vacant varieties of the four common mica polytypes (1M, 2M1, 2M2, and 3T). When properly oriented, all ED patterns have similar geometry, but differ by their intensity distribution over hk reflections of the zero-order Laue zone. Differences are enhanced for ED patterns calculated along the [001] zone axis. Identification criteria were proposed for polytype/polymorph identification, based on the qualitative distribution of bright and weak reflections. A database of ED patterns calculated along other zone axes was provided in case the optimum [001] orientation could not be found. Various polytype/polymorphs may exhibit similar ED patterns depending on the zone axis considered.

Hexa-aqua-nickel(II) bis-[tri-aqua-μ3-oxalato-di-μ-oxalato-bariumchromate(III)] tetra-hydrate.

The title compound, [Ni(H2O)6][BaCr(C2O4)3(H2O)3]2·4H2O, was obtained in the form of single crystals from the slow evaporation of an aqueous mixture of {Ba6(H2O)17[Cr(C2O4)3]4}·7H2O and NiSO4·6H2O in the molar ratio 1:4. Its structure is made up of corrugated anionic (101) layers of formula [BaCr(C2O4)3(H2O)3] n n - that leave voids accommodating the charge-compensating cations, [Ni(H2O)6]2+ (point group symmetry ), as well as the water mol-ecules of crystallization. The anionic layers are built from the connection of barium and chromium atoms through bridging oxalate ligands. The CrIII atom is hexa-coordinated by O atoms of three oxalate ligands while the BaII atom is tenfold coordinated by three O atoms of water mol-ecules and seven O atoms of four oxalate ligands. Each NiII atom sits on an inversion center and is coordinated by six water mol-ecules. One of the uncoordinated water mol-ecules is disordered over two sites, with a refined occupancy ratio of 0.51 (5):0.49 (5). In the crystal, extensive O-H⋯O hydrogen-bonding inter-actions link the anionic layers, the charge-balancing cations as well as the water mol-ecules of crystallization into a three-dimensional supra-molecular network.

Determination of Electronic Recombination Free Energy in Zeolites: Effects of the Charge Balancing Cation and Confinement.

The adsorption of DPH in M6.6 ZSM-5 (M=Na+ , K+ , Rb+ , Cs+ ), RbFER and RbMOR channel zeolites takes place without chemical or structural modification. After photoexcitation of these systems, a radical cation-electron pair is observed and has a sufficiently long lifetime to be studied by diffuse reflectance UV-visible spectroscopy. The study of the recombination of this radical cation-electron pair was carried out at different temperatures and allowed the determination of the activation energy as a function of the nature of the charge-balancing cation but also of the confinement effect. It appears that the activation energy decreases progressively from Na+ to Cs+ but also when the confinement decreases. To go further, the free enthalpies have been calculated from the Marcus theory demonstrating experimentally that these systems are located in the inverted Marcus region.

Influence of layer charge on hydration properties of synthetic octahedrally-charged Na-saturated trioctahedral swelling phyllosilicates

Smectite hydration impacts dynamical properties of interlayer cations and thus the transfer and fate of H2O, contaminants, and nutriments in surficial environments where this ubiquitous clay mineral is often one of the main mineral components. The influence of key crystal-chemical parameters, such as the amount of charge or the presence of fluorine, rather than hydroxyl groups, in smectite anionic framework, on hydration, organization of interlayer species, and related properties has been described for tetrahedrally substituted trioctahedral smectites (saponites). Despite the ubiquitous character of octahedrally substituted smectites, that make most of the world bentonite deposits, the influence of charge location on smectite hydration properties has not received similar attention. A set of octahedrally substituted trioctahedral smectites (hectorites) with a common structural formula NaxMg6-xLixSi8.0O20(OH)4 and a layer charge (x) varying from 0.8 to 1.6 was thus synthesized hydrothermally. The distribution of charge-compensating Na+ cations and of associated H2O molecules was determined experimentally from the modeling of X-ray diffraction data obtained along water vapor desorption isotherms. Consistent distributions of charge-compensating cations and of associated H2O molecules were also computed from GCMC simulations as a function of layer charge. Interlayer H2O contents [2.5–5.5 and 8.0–10.0 H2O molecules per O20(OH)4 for 1W and 2W hydrates, respectively] are similar in all Na-saturated smectite samples, independent of the location and amount of their layer charge. In contrast to synthetic saponite, for which stability of most hydrated layers was increased by increasing layer charge, the stability of synthetic hectorite hydrates is only marginally affected by layer charge. Consistently, the layer-to-layer distance of Na-saturated hectorite 2W (and 1W) layers is independent of layer charge (15.10–15.65 Å and 12.0–12.6 Å, respectively). The contrasting hydration behavior of synthetic Na-saturated saponite and hectorite is likely due to different electrostatic attraction between the 2:1 layer and interlayer cation, the charge undersaturation of O atoms at the surface of hectorite 2:1 layer being more diffuse compared to saponite. Combined with previous results on saponites, the present data and sample set provides key constraints to assess the validity of force fields simulating clay-water interactions for an unmatched variety of smectite with contrasting locations and amounts of layer charge deficits.

Comparison of microstructural features of three compacted and water-saturated swelling clays: MX-80 bentonite and Na- and Ca-purified bentonite

AbstractThe planned final disposal repositories of spent nuclear fuel in several countries, including Finland, pose significant scientific challenges due to their extremely long lifespan. One of the key materials proposed for use in Posiva Oy's repository in Finland is MX-80 bentonite in a compacted, water-saturated state. Border cases of calcium and sodium forms of purified bentonite were included in this study. The MX-80 in the repository is expected to undergo cation exchange due to the composition of the groundwater. The clays were studied at different dry densities between 0.7 and 1.6 g cm–3. The microstructure of the water-saturated, compacted clays was investigated using small-angle X-ray scattering, nuclear magnetic resonance and transmission electron microscopy. Additionally, atomic force microscopy was used to characterize the shape and size of the fine-fraction clay platelets. As expected, the average shape of the fine fractions was smaller than the bulk material, but a more elongated shape was present in the purified material. Mainly due to sample density, the pore structure was noticeably different for the Na form of purified bentonite at 0.7 g cm–3 density, but at higher degrees of compaction, no significant differences were noted between the samples. The laboratory results obtained in this study could be useful for safety and performance analysis of this high-level waste repository where sodium bentonite is used and is expected to change its charge-compensating cation composition during the repository's lifetime. Microstructural data may be used in modelling of diffusion and sorption by surface complexation modelling, for example, or as a basis for mechanical and water transport models.

Rational Synthesis of Chabazite (CHA) Zeolites with Controlled Si/Al Ratio and Their CO2 /CH4 /N2 Adsorptive Separation Performances.

Separation of CO2 from CH4 and N2 is of great significance from the perspectives of energy production and environment protection. In this work, we report the rational synthesis of chabazite (CHA) zeolites with controlled Si/Al ratio by using N,N,N-trimethyl-1-adamantammonium hydroxide (TMAdaOH) as an organic structure-directing agent, wherein the dependence of TMAdaOH consumption on the initial Si/Al ratio was investigated systematically. More TMAdaOH is required to direct the crystallization of CHA with higher Si/Al ratio. Once the product Si/Al ratio is larger than 24, the amount of TMAdaOH consumption remains nearly constant. CHA zeolites with different Si/Al ratios and charge-compensating cations were then applied for the separation of CO2 /CH4 /N2 mixtures. The equilibrium selectivities predicted by ideal adsorbed solution theory (IAST) and ideal selectivities calculated from the ratio of Henry's constants for both CO2 /CH4 and CO2 /N2 decrease with the zeolite Si/Al ratio increasing, whereas the percentage regenerability of CO2 presents the opposite trend. Therefore, there is a trade-off between adsorption selectivity and regenerability for the adsorbents. There is a weaker interaction between CO2 molecules and the H-type zeolites than that on the Na-type ones, thus a higher regenerability can be achieved. This study indicates that it is possible to design CHA zeolites with different physicochemical properties to meet various adsorptive separation requirements.

Effect of Cations on the Structure and Electrocatalytic Response of Polyoxometalate-Based Coordination Polymers

A series of six hybrid polymers based on the mixed-valent {e-PMoV8MoVI4O40Zn4} (eZn) Keggin unit have been synthesized under hydrothermal conditions using tritopic (1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylate (trim) or 1,3,5-benzenetribenzoate (BTB)) or ditopic (4,4′-biphenyldicarboxylate (biphen)) linkers and [M(bpy)3]2+ (M = Co, Ru) complexes as charge-compensating cations. (TBA)2[Co(C10H8N2)3][PMo12O37(OH)3Zn4](C27H15O6)4/3·1.5C27H18O6·24H2O (Co-e(BTB)4/3) has a three-dimensional (3D) framework with two interpenetrated networks and is isostructural to (TBA)4[PMo12O37(OH)3Zn4](C27H15O6)4/3·1.5C27H18O6·8H2O (e(BTB)4/3). In Co-e(BTB)4/3, two tetrabutylammonium (TBA+) cations over the four present in e(BTB)4/3 are replaced by one [Co(bpy)3]2+ complex. [Co(C10H8N2)3][PMo12O37(OH)3Zn4](C9H3O6)Co(C10H8N2)4(H2O)·16H2O (Co-e(trim) (bpy)2) is a 1D coordination polymer with two types of CoII-containing complexes, one covalently attached to the 1D chains and the other located in the voids as the counterion. [Ru(C10H8N2)3]4[PMo12O...

A new mineral species ferricoronadite, Pb[Mn6 4+(Fe3+, Mn3+)2]O16: mineralogical characterization, crystal chemistry and physical properties

A new mineral ferricoronadite with the simplified formula Pb(Mn6 4+Fe2 3+)O16 was discovered in the orogenetic zone related to the “Mixed Series” metamorphic complex near the Nežilovo village, Pelagonian massif, Republic of Macedonia. Associated minerals are franklinite, gahnite, hetaerolite, romeite, almeidaite, Mn-analogue of plumboferrite, zincohogbomite analogue with Fe3+ > Al, zincochromite, Zn-bearing talc, Zn-bearing muscovite, baryte, quartz and zircon. Ferricoronadite is a late hydrothermal mineral forming veinlets up to 8 mm thick in granular aggregate predominantly composed by zinc-dominant spinels. The new mineral is opaque, black, with brownish black streak. The luster is strong submetallic to metallic. The micro-indentation hardness is 819 kg/mm2. Distinct cleavage is observed on (100). Ferricoronadite is brittle, with uneven fracture. The density calculated from the empirical formula is 5.538 g/cm3. In reflected light, ferricoronadite is light gray. The reflectance values [R max/R min, % (λ, nm)] are: 28.7/27.8 (470), 27.6/26.6 (546), 27.2/26.1 (589), 26.5/25.5 (650). The IR spectrum shows the absence of H2O and OH groups. According to the Mossbauer spectrum, all iron is trivalent. The Mn K-edge XANES spectroscopy shows that Mn is predominantly tetravalent, with subordinate Mn3+. The chemical composition is (wt%; electron microprobe, Mn apportioned between MnO2 and Mn2O3 based on the charge-balance requirement): BaO 5.16, PbO 24.50, ZnO 0.33, Al2O3 0.50, Mn2O3 9.90, Fe2O3 11.45, TiO2 4.19, MnO2 44.81, total 100.84. The empirical formula based on 8 cations Mn + Fe + Ti + Al + Zn pfu is Pb1.03Ba0.32(Mn 4.85 4+ Fe 1.35 3+ Mn 1.18 3+ Ti0.49Al0.09Zn0.04)Σ8.00O16. The crystal structure was determined using single-crystal X-ray diffraction data. The new mineral is tetragonal, space group I4/m, a = 9.9043(7), c = 2.8986(9) A, V = 284.34(9) A3, Z = 1. In ferricoronadite, double chains of edge-sharing (Mn, Fe, Ti)-centered octahedra are connected via common vertices to form a pseudo-framework with tunnels containing large cations Pb and Ba. The strongest lines of the powder X-ray diffraction pattern [d, A (I, %) (hkl)] are: 3.497 (33) (220), 3.128 (100) (−130, 130), 2.424 (27) (−121, 121), 2.214 (23) (240, −240), 2.178 (17) (031), 1.850 (15) (141, −141), 1.651 (16) (060), 1.554 (18) (−251, 251). Ferricoronadite is named as an analogue of coronadite Pb(Mn6 4+Mn2 3+)O16 with the major charge-compensating octahedral cation Fe3+ instead of Mn3+.

Synthesis, spectroscopic, thermal and XRD studies of aminoguanidinium copper and cadmium oxalates

New aminoguanidinium metal oxalate complexes with the formulae (AmgH)2[Cu(C2O4)2] and (AmgH)2[Cd(C2O4)2(H2O)2] have been synthesized and characterized. The copper compound loses aminoguanidine exothermically at 240 °C in DTA, whereas aminoguanidine is lost endothermically at 200 °C in cadmium. Both cases decompose exothermically via their respective metal oxalate intermediates to give metal oxide as the end product. It was also observed that hydrazine is lost exothermically in the hydrazinium copper oxalate hydrate. The single-crystal X-ray diffraction study of the copper complex revealed that aminoguanidinium ions are not involved in coordination but act as charge-compensating cations. It is interesting to note that both oxalates act as bidentate chelating ligands. One oxalate bridges the neighbouring copper atom through its carbonyl oxygen with a bond length of 2.561 A to form square pyramidal geometry around the copper atom.