RESUMEN
The crystal structure of the new Li(5.5)Ce(12)F(50) compound has been fully characterized by single-crystal and synchrotron powder X-ray diffraction. An accurate pseudotetragonal structure was described in the monoclinic P2(1) space group with 68 independent crystallographic sites. The Li(5.5)Ce(12)F(50) composition belongs to the Li(2+x)Ce(x)(3+)Ce(12-x)(4+)F(50) solid solution. Its structure consists of an opened fluorine framework where a channel network allows the intercalation of relatively mobile lithium cations, inducing the formation of the mixed-valence cerium (the intercalation of Li(+) leads to the reduction of a part of Ce(4+) to Ce(3+)). One part of the lithium ions, necessary for the electroneutrality of the tetravalent equivalent cerium fluoride (Li(2)Ce(12)F(50) composition), is in a locked fluorine polyhedron. Only the supplementary x amount of lithium is able to be exchanged in Li(2+x)Ce(x)(3+)Ce(12-x)(4+)F(50). The structure of Li(2+x)Ce(x)(3+)Ce(12-x)(4+)F(50) is a rearrangement, due to lithium intercalation, of the base CeF(4) structure. Bond valence calculation on Ce sites, Ce coordination polyhedra volumes, and a calculated Ce cationic radius give the indication of a partial long-range ordering of trivalent and tetravalent cerium cations in specific slabs of the structure. (7)Li NMR spectroscopy and XPS analyses have confirmed all of the structure details.
RESUMEN
Pure tysonite-type Ce1-xSrxF3-x solid solutions for 0 ≤ x < 0.15 were prepared by a solid-state route at 900 °C. The cell parameters follow Vegard's laws for 0 ≤ x ≤ 0.10 and the solubility limit is identified (0.10 < xlimit < 0.15). For 0 ≤ x ≤ 0.05, the F2-(Ce,Sr) and F3-(Ce,Sr) bond distances into [Ce1-xSrxF](2-x)+ slabs strongly vary with x. This slab buckling is maximum around x = 0.025 and strongly affects the more mobile F1 fluoride ions located between the slabs. The 19F MAS NMR spectra show the occurrence of F1-F2,3 exchange at 64 °C. The fraction of mobile F2,3 atoms deduced from the relative intensity of the NMR resonance is maximum for Ce0.99Sr0.01F2.99 (22% at 64 °C) while this fraction linearly increases with x for La1-xAExF3-x (AE = Ba, Sr). The highest conductivity found for Ce0.975Sr0.025F2.975 (3 × 10-4 S cm-1 at RT, Ea = 0.31 eV) is correlated to the largest dispersion of F2-(Ce,Sr) and F3-(Ce,Sr) distances which induces the maximum sheet buckling. Such a relationship between composition, structural features and fluoride ion conductivity is extended to other tysonite-type fluorides. The key role of the difference between AE2+ and RE3+ ionic radii and of the thickness of the slab buckling is established and could allow designing new ionic conductors.
RESUMEN
Pure tysonite La1-xBaxF3-x solid solutions for x < 0.15 were prepared by solid state synthesis in a platinum tube under an azote atmosphere with subsequent quenching for 0.07 ≤x < 0.15. The solid solutions were studied by X-ray, electron and neutron diffractions and by (19)F NMR and impedance spectroscopy. The evolution of the cell parameters obeying Vegard's rule was determined for 0 < x≤ 0.15 and atomic position parameters were accurately refined for x = 0.03, 0.07 and 0.10. The chemical pressure induced by large Ba(2+) cations leads to an increase of the unit cell parameters. Fluorine environment and mobilities are discussed on the basis of the results of neutron diffraction and (19)F solid state NMR. The F1 subnetwork is lacunar; fluorine exchange occurs according to the order: F1-F1 and F1-F2,3. 2D EXSY NMR spectra of La0.97Ba0.03F2.97 reveal, for the first time, a chemical exchange between F2 and F3 sites that requires two successive jumps. The ionic conductivity was evaluated from sintered pellets and different shaping methods were compared. The only structural features which could explain the conductivity maximum are a crossover together with a smaller dispersion of F1-F1,2,3 distances at x = 0.05-0.07.