Reaction mechanisms of Li(0.30)La(0.57)TiO3 powder with ambient air: H+/Li+ exchange with water and Li2CO3 formation.

The proton/lithium exchange property of the lithium lanthanum titanate Li(0.30)La(0.57)TiO(3) (named LLTO) is shown to occur at room temperature under ambient air. The (1)H and (7)Li MAS NMR, TGA analysis and IR spectroscopy techniques are used to probe reaction mechanisms. XRPD analysis gives evidence of the topotactic character of this exchange reaction. As for exchange in aqueous solution, it is shown that Li(0.30)La(0.57)TiO(3) is able to dissociate water on the grain surface and then to exchange H(+) for Li(+) into the perovskite structure. Lithium hydroxide is then formed on the grain surface and afterwards reacts with CO(2) contained in air to form Li(2)CO(3). It is shown that this mechanism is reversible. When the aged sample (aging in air for 5 months at room temperature) is annealed at 400 degrees C for two hours, the initial LLTO sample is totally recovered, a mass loss is observed and the carbonate signal in IR spectra disappears, demonstrating the reversibility of the carbonation reaction process.

On the assignment of (19)F MAS NMR spectra of fluoroaluminates using through-space spectral edition of (19)F-(27)Al and (19)F-(19)F connectivities.

Advantages and limitations of (19)F-(27)Al and (19)F-(19)F dipolar-based 2D NMR experiments for (19)F MAS spectra assignments of fluoroaluminates are presented. In beta-BaAlF(5), combination of 2D MAS (19)F-(27)Al CP-HETCOR and (19)F-(19)F DQ-SQ NMR correlation experiments allows complete unambiguous assignment of the ten poorly resolved resonances of same relative intensities of the (19)F MAS NMR spectrum. The gain in resolution of the (19)F MAS 2D spectrum compared to a 1D spectrum is evidenced, allowing distinction of the two shared-fluorine resonances of Ba(3)Al(2)F(12). Limitations of the (19)F MAS DQ-SQ NMR experiment are shown for Ba(3)Al(2)F(12) and for alpha-CaAlF(5). For beta-BaAlF(5) and Ba(3)Al(2)F(12), final line assignments question those previously established from (19)F isotropic chemical shift calculations, which demonstrate that such experiments are essential for correct line assignments and assessment of calculation results.

Structure determination of beta-Pb2ZnF6 by coupling multinuclear solid state NMR, powder XRD and ab initio calculations.

The results from one-dimensional multinuclear (19F, 207Pb and 67Zn) magic-angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance experiments combined with the use of the ISODISPLACE program allow for the space group determination of beta-Pb2ZnF6 (no. 138 P4(2)/ncm). The structure was refined from X-ray powder diffraction data (a = 5.633 (1) A and c = 16.247 (1) A, Z = 4). beta-Pb2ZnF6 has one six-fold coordinated Zn, one eleven-fold coordinated Pb and five F non-equivalent crystallographic sites and is built from alternated layers parallel to the (a, b) plane; tilted ZnF4(2-) layers of corner sharing ZnF6(4-) octahedra and FPb+ layers of edge sharing FPb4(7+) tetrahedra. The structure of beta-Pb2ZnF6 was then optimized using the ab initio code WIEN2k and the calculated 67Zn EFG is in agreement with the NMR results. 19F-19F proximities and 19F-207Pb connectivities were evidenced using through-space and through-bond NMR correlation experiments, respectively, and support the proposed structure. 19F-207Pb J-coupling was also used to select fluorine resonances depending on the number of neighbouring lead ions, leading to an unambiguous assignment of the different 19F resonances.

Neutron powder diffraction, multinuclear, and multidimensional NMR structural investigation of Pb5Ga3F19.

The room temperature structure of Pb5Ga3F19 is investigated by combining neutron diffraction and multinuclear 19F, 71Ga, and 207Pb one-dimensional and two-dimensional solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) experiments. Two models built in space group I4cm are reported for the description of the crystalline structure of Pb5Ga3F19. The structure is built from a network of both opposite corner-sharing Ga2F6(3-) octahedra forming infinite chains along the c-axis and isolated Ga1F6(3-) octahedra. The two models present two slightly different views of the strong static disorder of the fluorine ions belonging to the Ga2F6(3-) octahedra. 71Ga NMR results show that the local environment of all Ga2 ions is identical, which indicates a tilt of the Ga2F6(3-) octahedra within the chains. 207Pb NMR experiments confirm that the environment of only one of the two lead sites, Pb1, is strongly affected by the disorder, which gives rise to three broad distinct 207Pb NMR lines for this site. All 19F NMR lines are assigned using the 19F DQ-SQ MAS experiment. 19F-207Pb through-bond and through-space heteronuclear correlation experiments are carried out for the first time, supporting assignment of both the 19F and 207Pb NMR spectra. These correlation experiments also show that both models correctly describe the medium-range order of the structure of Pb5Ga3F19.

Ca(2+)/vacancies and O2-/F- ordering in new oxyfluoride pyrochlores Li(2x)Ca1.5-x square 0.5-xM2O6F (M = Nb,Ta) for 0 < or = x < or = 0.5.

New oxyfluorides Li(2x)Ca(1.5-x) square (0.5-x)M2O6F (M = Nb, Ta), belonging to the cubic pyrochlore structural type (Z = 8, a approximately 10.5 angstroms), were synthesized by solid state reaction for 0 < or = x < or = 0.5. XRD data allowed us to determine their structures from single crystals for the two alpha and beta-Ca(1.5) square (0.5)Nb2O6F forms and from powder samples for the others. This characterisation was completed by TEM and solid state 19F NMR experiments. For the Ca(1.5) square (0.5)M2O6F (x = 0) pyrochlore phases, the presence of a double ordering phenomenon is demonstrated, involving on one hand the Ca(2+) ions and the vacancies and on the other hand the oxide and the fluoride anions which are strictly located in the 8b sites of the Fd3m aristotype space group. The Ca(2+) ions/vacancies ordering leads to a reversible phase transition, a (P4(3)32) <--> beta (Fd3m). The 19F NMR study strongly suggests that, in the beta-phases, the fluoride ions are only on average at the centre of the Ca3 square tetrahedron. It shows that slightly different Ca-F distances occuring in alpha-Ca(1.5) square (0.5)Nb2O6F may be related to a more difficult thermal ionic and vacancies diffusion process than in the tantalate compound. This may explain the hysteresis phenomenon presented by the phase transition. A solid solution Li(2x)Ca(1.5-x) square (0.5-x) Ta2O6F (0 < or = x < or = 0.5) was prepared and the order-disorder phase transition observed for Ca(1.5) square (0.5)M2MO6F compounds disappears for all the other compositions where less or no more vacancies exist in the 16d sites. In the LiCaM2O6F compounds, the 19F NMR study allows us to determine the Ca(2+) and Li+ ions distributions around the fluoride ions and shows that the [FLi2Ca2] environment is clearly favoured.

Accurate heteronuclear J-coupling measurements in dilute spin systems using the multiple-quantum filtered J-resolved experiment.

A new solid-state MAS NMR experiment is proposed to accurately measure heteronuclear (19)F-(207)Pb J-coupling constants, even though these couplings are not visible on high speed (19)F 1D MAS spectra; in particular, we demonstrate that the J-resolved experiment combined with scalar multiple-quantum filtering considerably improves the resolution of J-multiplet patterns for dilute spin systems.

Hybrid perovskite resulting from the solid-state reaction between the organic cations and perovskite layers of alpha1-(Br-(CH(2))(2)-NH(3))(2)PbI(4).

The alpha1-(Br-(CH(2))(2)-NH(3))(2)PbI(4) hybrid perovskite undergoes a solid-state transformation, that is, the reaction between the organic cations and the perovskite layers to give the new hybrid perovskite (Br-(CH(2))(2)-NH(3))(2-x)(I-(CH(2))(2)-NH(3))(x)PbBr(x)I(4-x), based on mixed halide inorganic layers. This transformation has been followed by a conventional powder X-ray diffraction system equipped with a super speed detector, and both solid-state (13)C NMR and ESI/MS measurements have been adopted in the estimation of the rate of halide substitution. The first reaction step leads to the special composition of x approximately 1 (A phase), while the complete substitution is not achieved even at elevated temperature (x(max) approximately 1.85 (B phase)). This unprecedented solid-state reaction between organic and inorganic components of a hybrid perovskite can be considered as a completely new strategy to achieve interesting hybrid perovskites.

PbnI4n+2(2n+2)- ribbons (n = 3, 5) as dimensional reductions of 2D perovskite layers in cystamine cation based hybrids, also incorporating iodine molecules or reversible guest water molecules.

Pb(n)I(4n+2)((2n+2)-) (n = 3, 5) ribbons, which can be regarded as dimensional reductions of 2D perovskite layers, are stabilized by diprotonated cystamine cations in (NH(3)(CH(2))(2)SS(CH(2))(2)NH(3))(4)Pb(3)I(14),I(2) (1) and (NH(3)(CH(2))(2)SS(CH(2))(2)NH(3))(6)Pb(5)I(22).4H(2)O (2). Both 1 and 2 have interesting structural characteristics; it is unprecedented that the ribbons are linked via I(2) molecules incorporated in the lattice of 1, while tetrameric water clusters are trapped in the structure of 2. 2 undergoes a (reversible) water desorption process at 310 K leading to (NH(3)(CH(2))(2)SS(CH(2))(2)NH(3))(6)Pb(5)I(22).2H(2)O (3). The electrical behavior of 2 and 3 has been investigated in the ranges 293-310 K and 310-358 K respectively. Above 310 K, the electronic contribution remains constant while the ionic transference number tends towards unity showing almost pure ionic transport at 360 K (6 x 10(-7) S cm(-1) at 330 K) originating probably from the migration of protons through the hydrogen bonds connecting the water molecules to the cystamine counter cations.

Cluster models and ab initio calculations of (19)F NMR isotropic chemical shifts for inorganic fluorides.

(19)F NMR isotropic chemical shift (delta(iso)) calculations are performed in crystallized compounds using the GIAO method with the B3LYP hybrid functional at DFT level. Clusters centered on the studied fluorine atoms mimic the crystalline structures. The 6-311+G(d) basis set is chosen for the central fluorine atom, and the LanL2DZ basis set for the others. The metal atoms are described by the 3-21G(2d) basis set or, when not available, by the CRENBL basis set with the corresponding ECP, and augmented with 2d polarization functions when existing. First, for high-symmetry systems (MF, MF(2), and MF(3) compounds), a systematization of the cluster building up from coordination spheres is proposed, generalized to fluoroperovskites and fluoroaluminates KAlF(4) and RbAlF(4). When applied to rather low symmetry systems such as barium fluorometalates BaMgF(4), BaZnF(4), and Ba(2)ZnF(6), the definition of the coordination spheres is far from easy. Then, for structures built up from a MF(6) octahedron network, we may define different "starting clusters": [FM(2)F(8)] for the shared fluorine atoms, [FMF(4)] for the unshared ones, and [FBa(4)](7+) for the "free" ones. Analogous "starting clusters" are then tested on compounds from the NaF-AlF(3), BaF(2)-AlF(3), and CaF(2)-AlF(3) binary systems and for alpha-BaCaAlF(7) that are also built up from a MF(6) octahedron network. For each of these corresponding fluorine sites, delta(iso) values are calculated with the "starting clusters" and several larger clusters and compared to the experimental delta(iso) values. For the barium-containing clusters, the RMS deviation is equal to 51 ppm. It is suggested that this result may be related to the poor quality of the barium basis sets for which no polarization functions are available for the moment. In total, chemical shifts were calculated for 122 fluorine sites, in a various range of compounds. For the clusters without barium, the ab initio method leads to a RMS equal to 22 ppm, which is a quite nice result keeping in mind that the (19)F chemical shift range is larger than 200 ppm.

Structural insights into aluminum chlorofluoride (ACF).

The structure of the very strong solid Lewis acid aluminum chlorofluoride (ACF, AlCl(x)F(3-x), x = 0.05-0.3) was studied by IR, ESR, Cl K XANES, (19)F MAS NMR, and (27)Al SATRAS NMR spectroscopic methods and compared with amorphous aluminum fluoride conventionally prepared by dehydration of alpha-AlF(3) x 3H(2)O. The thermal behavior of both compounds was investigated by DTA and XRD. In comparison to ACF, amorphous AlF(3) prepared in a conventional way is not catalytically active for the isomerization reaction of 1,2-dibromohexafluoropropane, which requires a very strong Lewis acid. Both compounds are mainly built up of corner-sharing AlF(6) octahedra forming a random network. The degree of disorder in ACF is higher than in amorphous AlF(3). Terminal fluorine atoms were detected in ACF by (19)F NMR. The chlorine in ACF does not exist as a separate, crystalline AlCl(3) phase. Additionally, chlorine-containing radicals, remaining from the synthesis, are trapped in cavities of ACF. These radicals are stable at room temperature but do not take part in the catalytic reaction.