Precession Electron Diffraction studies of the phase transition in the (NbSe₄)₃I

(NbSe4)3I is at room-temperature (RT) a semimetal, which changes at lower temperatures into a semiconductor [1]. The compound shows nonlinear transport properties with a second order phase transition at 274 K [2]. The symmetry of the RT (NbSe4)3I belongs to the P4/mnc space group and the structure is formed of NbSe4 antiprisms, stacked along the c axis. The Nb atoms are grouped into Nb2 segments and the Se-Se distances are correlated with the Nb chains. The I atoms occupy two types of channels; those running along the [00z] direction contain two I atoms connected to four Se atoms, while the channels along the [½½z] direction host two I atoms connected to eight Se atoms in a square anti-prismatic arrangement. At the (h,k,¹6n) planes a relatively strong diffuse scattering is present in the form of concentric rings. This scattering is explained by a similar model to the one recently suggested for (NbSe4)10/3I. The model is based on a mismatch between infinite NbSe4 chains, randomly shifted along the c direction. (NbSe4)3I was studied by means of X-ray and electron diffraction with beam precession (PED) [3]. PED patterns usually contain more Bragg peaks than the conventional selected area diffraction patterns, because the intensity of the diffracted beams is integrated over the selected volume of the reciprocal space. An additional advantage of using the beam precession technique is a reduction of the dynamical interactions. Electron diffraction patterns were recorded sequentially, while tilting the crystal around an arbitrary crystallographic axis. Such space tomography allows a three-dimensional inspection of the reciprocal space and a more precise investigation of the diffuse scattering from nano-areas.

Crystal structures of 2D coordination networks in [M(bbtr)₃](ClO₄)₂ (M=Mn, Cd)

[Fe(bbtr)3](ClO4)2 (bbtr=1,4-di(1,2,3-triazol-1-yl)butane) represents a spin crossover (SCO) system where the first coordination sphere consists of 1,2,3-triazole rings coordinated by exodentate nitrogen atoms [1]. Iron(II) ion is linked to six other iron(II) ions by bbtr ligands. This creates two dimensional (2D) polymeric layers. SCO is abrupt, accompanied by hysteresis loop. In the cooling mode P-3 -> P-1 structural phase transition precedes SCO. The non-magnetic structural transformation is accompanied by reorganization of weak intermolecular interactions and shift of 2D layers with respect to each other. Surprisingly, an analog [Fe(bbtr)3](BF4)2, does not exhibit in cooling mode neither thermally SCO nor structural phase transition [2]. To clarify the role of structural phase transition on SCO we have performed structural modifications by exchanging the kind of anions and/or metal ions. An exchange of perchlorate on triflate anion involves deeper structural changes. A topology of the polymeric layer remains the same, but the SCO is shifted to higher temperature and structural phase transition is not observed. The studies of isostructural zinc(II) analogs confirmed the crucial role of anion in the occurrence of non-magnetic structural phase transition. The [Zn(bbtr)3](ClO4)2 exhibites P-3 -> P-1 structural phase transition which is not present in tetrafluoroborate analog [2]. We expand studies on other hexacoordinating metal(II) ions. Reactions between manganese(II) or cadmium(II) perchlorates and bbtr in acetonitrile lead to [M(bbtr)3](ClO4)2 (M=Mn, Cd) complexes. Single crystal X-ray diffraction studies revealed that both compounds create a 2D polymeric networks. The temperature dependence of lattice parameters for these complexes showed that, in contrast to [Fe(bbtr)3](ClO4)2 and [Zn(bbtr)3](ClO4)2 systems, the structural phase transition is not present. This work was funded by the Polish National Science Centre Grant No. DEC-2011/01/B/ST5/06311.

Crystallographic Aspects of the CDW Instabilities in NbSe3

Charge-density waves (CDW) in some quasi one-dimensional compounds can be depinned from the lattice by an external electric field. In the case of NbSe3, two CDW transitions have been reported with onset temperatures of 144 K and 59 K. From an analysis of the published low-temperature (LT) scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) images, which inherently allow the resolution of domain structures on the atomic scale, an alternative model of the CDW modulated structures in NbSe3 is proposed. In contrast to the existing model, where two incommensurate (IC) modes, q1 = (0,0.241,0) and q2 = (0.5,0.260,0.5) are selectively confined to two of three available structurally distinguished types of bi-capped trigonal prismatic columns, the alternative model [1,2] proceeds from the assumption that both columns of the same pair are alternatively modulated by the two modes, whose IC components add within experimental error into a commensurate value. The observed domains are formed as a result of the different bonding within and between the structural layers, separated by Van der Waals gaps, and of the ability of the two modes to be easily interchanged between two symmetry-related columns of the same type. This assumption is in accord with the published LT STM results, which confirm i.a. the presence of both IC modes above 59 K, where according to the previous model only the q1 contribution should be expected. A pair of two alternatively modulated columns of the same type represents the basic structural unit of the CDW ground state. The two modes can formally be replaced by a single inharmonic modulation, obtained by "beating" between the two IC modes.