Polymorphism and polymorph-dependent luminescence properties of the first lithium oxonitridolithosilicate Li3SiNO2:Eu2.

Building on studies of monoclinic Li3SiNO2, a polymorph, ß-Li3SiNO2, with a previously unknown structure type was synthesized. The ß-phase crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group Pbca (no. 61) with lattice parameters of a = 18.736(2), b = 11.1267(5), c = 5.0897(3) Å, and a cell volume of V = 1057.2(1) Å3. Using high-temperature solid-state reactions in sealed tantalum tubes, it was possible to obtain high purity samples (<5 wt% of side phase LiSi2N3 according to Rietveld analysis) containing exclusively one or the other polymorph, depending solely on the cooling rate. In contrast to the monoclinic phase, orthorhombic ß-Li3SiNO2 additionally contains a third layer and shows a layer-sequence of the type ABCB. Doped with the activator ion Eu2+, the new polymorph exhibits an intense yellow emission (λmax = 586 nm, fwhm = 89 nm, 0.33 eV, 2650 cm-1) under irradiation with UV to blue light. Hence, the structural difference between the two polymorphs goes along with a significant blue-shift of 16 nm. The results from single-crystal diffraction and single-grain luminescence measurements were confirmed by Rietveld analysis of bulk samples and powder luminescence data.

Ba4Al7Li28.08O26.92N1.08, the Barium Oxonitridolithoaluminate with a Highly Condensed LiO4 Tetrahedra Framework.

The new compound Ba4Al7Li28.08O26.92N1.08 consists of AlO4/AlO3N tetrahedra, 10-fold coordinated Ba2+ cations, and a highly condensed edge- and corner-sharing LiO4 tetrahedra framework, which leads to a degree of condensation greater than 1. The first barium oxonitridolithoaluminate was synthesized by a high-temperature solid-state reaction in a weld-shut tantalum ampoule and the crystal structure has been determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Ba4Al7Li28.08O26.92N1.08 crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P21/m (no. 11) with the lattice parameters a = 1052.41(3), b = 615.93(2), c = 1088.45(4) pm, ß = 98.86(1)°, and a volume of V = 0.69712(4) nm3. In addition, Ba4Al7Li28.08O26.92N1.08 doped with the activator ion Eu2+, exhibits a broad band emission with a maximum at λmax = 524 nm (2.34 eV) with a fwhm of 112 nm (4373 cm-1/0.54 eV), which can be described by a superposition of two adjusted emission bands at λmax = 515 nm (2.41 eV) with a fwhm of 70 nm (2704 cm-1/0.34 eV), and at λmax = 574 nm (2.18 eV) with a fwhm of 127 nm (4127 cm-1/0.51 eV).

Li2 Ba4 Al2 Ta2 N8 O, the First Barium Nitridoalumotantalate with BCT-Zeolite Type Structure.

Single-crystals of Li2 Ba4 Al2 Ta2 N8 O:Eu2+ were synthesized from Ba3 N2 , Al2 O3 , Li3 N, Eu2 O3 , and lithium metal by a high-temperature solid-state reaction in a weld shut tantalum ampule. The crystal structure of Li2 Ba4 Al2 Ta2 N8 O was determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction and it crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group Pnnm (no. 58) with the lattice parameters a=1006.71(3), b=1026.58(3), c=607.10(2) pm, and a volume of V=0.62742(3) nm3 . The compound is built up from AlN4 and TaN4 tetrahedra, which form a three-dimensional network corresponding to the BCT-zeolite type structure. Li2 Ba4 Al2 Ta2 N8 O is homeotypic to Li2 Sr4 Si4 N8 O and Li2 Sr4 Al2 Ta2 N8 O but, additionally, it could be successfully doped with the activator ion Eu2+ and hence features an experimental observed overall emission at λmax =565 nm (fwhm=89 nm) consisting of a superposition of two adjusted emission bands at λmax =557 nm (fwhm=69 nm) and at λmax =604 nm (fwhm=102 nm).

The crystal structure and luminescence properties of the first lithium oxonitridolithosilicate Li3SiNO2:Eu2.

The compound Li3SiNO2:Eu2+ was synthesized in high temperature solid-state reactions in weld shut tantalum ampules and the crystal structure of Li3SiNO2 has been determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. It crystallizes in the monoclinic space group C2/c (no. 15) with the lattice parameters a = 1049.01(3), b = 1103.42(3), c = 511.86(2) pm, ß = 116.14(1)°, and a volume of V = 0.53187(2) nm3. This compound is built up from two different layers, which are arranged alternately along the crystallographic a-axis. The results from single-crystal diffraction were confirmed by the Rietveld analysis of bulk samples. Moreover, Li3SiNO2 could be successfully doped with the activator ion Eu2+ and the luminescence spectroscopy of single-crystals revealed broad band emission at λmax = 601 nm (fwhm = 90 nm).

Novel Molecular Spectroscopic Multimethod Approach for Monitoring Water Absorption/Desorption Kinetics of CAD/CAM Poly(Methyl Methacrylate) Prosthodontics.

Water absorbed to poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA)-based CAD/CAM (computer-assisted design/computer-assisted manufacturing) prosthodontics can alter their properties including hardness and stability. In the present contribution, water absorption and desorption kinetics under defined experimental conditions were monitored employing several supplementary and advanced Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopic techniques in combination with multivariate analysis (MVA). In this synergistic vibrational spectroscopic multimethod approach, first a novel near-infrared (NIR) diffuse fiber optic probe reflection spectroscopic method was established for time-resolved analysis of water uptake within seven days under controlled conditions. Near-infrared water absorbance spectra in a wavenumber range between 5288-5100 cm-1 (combination band) and 5424-5352 cm-1 (second overtone) were used establishing corresponding calibration and validation models to quantify the amount of water in the milligram range. Therefore, 14 well-defined samples exposed to prior optimized experimental conditions were taken into consideration. The average daily water uptake conducting reference analysis was calculated as 22 mg/day for one week. Additionally, in this study for the first time NIR two-dimensional correlation spectroscopy (2D-COS) was conducted to monitor and interpret the spectral dynamics of water absorption on the prosthodontics in a wavenumber range of 5100-5300 cm-1. For sensitive time-resolved recording of water desorption, a recently developed high-temperature, high-pressure FT-IR reaction cell with water-free ultra-dry in situ and operando operation was applied. The reaction cell, as well as the sample holder, was fully made of quartz glass, with no hot metal or ceramic parts in the vicinity of the high temperature zone. Applying a temperature gradient in the range of 25-150 ℃, mid-infrared (MIR) 2D-COS was successfully conducted to get insights into the dynamic behavior of O-H (1400-1800 cm-1) absorption bands with increasing temperature over time and the release of CO2 (2450 cm-1) from the polymers. In addition, an ATR FT-IR imaging setup was optimized in order to investigate the surface homogeneity of the PMMA-based resins with a spatial resolution to 2 µm. From this vibrational spectroscopic multimethod approach and the collection of several analytical data, conclusions were drawn as to which degree the surface structure and/or its porosity have an impact onto the amount of water absorption.