ZnTe6O13, a new ZnO-TeO2 phase
Jalal M Nawash1, Brendan Twamley, Kelvin G Lynn
1Center for Materials Research, Materials Science Program, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA.
Summary
Researchers discovered a new zinc tellurium oxide phase, ZnTe(6)O(13), with trigonal symmetry. This novel material was synthesized through repeated heating and cooling cycles, expanding knowledge of oxide materials.
Area of Science:
- Solid State Chemistry
- Materials Science
- Inorganic Chemistry
Background:
- The ZnO-TeO(2) system is explored for novel material discovery.
- Understanding oxide structures is crucial for advanced material applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize and characterize a new phase within the ZnO-TeO(2) system.
- To determine the crystal structure and symmetry of the newly discovered compound.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis via repeated heating and cooling cycles up to 1053 K.
- Crystallographic analysis to determine the unit cell and atomic positions.
Main Results:
- A new phase, zinc(II) hexatellurium(IV) tridecaoxide (ZnTe(6)O(13)), was successfully synthesized.
- The compound exhibits trigonal (R3) symmetry.
- The crystal structure features a distorted octahedral coordination of Zn atoms by tellurium(IV) oxide units.
Conclusions:
- The discovery of ZnTe(6)O(13) expands the known phases in the ZnO-TeO(2) system.
- The unique coordination environment provides insights into tellurium-oxygen bonding.
- Further research may explore the properties and potential applications of this new oxide material.
Related Concept Videos
02:33Phase Transitions: Sublimation and Deposition
Some solids can transition directly into the gaseous state, bypassing the liquid state, via a process known as sublimation. At room temperature and standard pressure, a piece of dry ice (solid CO2) sublimes, appearing to gradually disappear without ever forming any liquid. Snow and ice sublimate at temperatures below the melting point of water, a slow process that may be accelerated by winds and the reduced atmospheric pressures at high altitudes. When solid iodine is warmed, the solid sublimes...
02:57Coordination Number and Geometry
For transition metal complexes, the coordination number determines the geometry around the central metal ion. Table 1 compares coordination numbers to molecular geometry. The most common structures of the complexes in coordination compounds are octahedral, tetrahedral, and square planar.
01:19Phase Diagram
The phase of a given substance depends on the pressure and temperature. Thus, plots of pressure versus temperature showing the phase in each region provide considerable insights into the thermal properties of substances. Such plots are known as phase diagrams. For instance, in the phase diagram for water (Figure 1), the solid curve boundaries between the phases indicate phase transitions (i.e., temperatures and pressures at which the phases coexist).
01:24Phase Diagram
A phase diagram is a graphical representation of the physical states of a substance under different conditions of temperature and pressure. It shows the boundaries between solid, liquid, and gas phases and the conditions at which these phases coexist in equilibrium. An area in a phase diagram represents a single phase, whereas lines or phase boundaries represent the equilibrium between two phases.In the phase diagram of water, the boundary line between the solid and liquid states illustrates...
02:39Phase Diagrams
A phase diagram combines plots of pressure versus temperature for the liquid-gas, solid-liquid, and solid-gas phase-transition equilibria of a substance. These diagrams indicate the physical states that exist under specific conditions of pressure and temperature and also provide the pressure dependence of the phase-transition temperatures (melting points, sublimation points, boiling points). Regions or areas labeled solid, liquid, and gas represent single phases, while lines or curves represent...
02:31Phase Transitions
Whether solid, liquid, or gas, a substance's state depends on the order and arrangement of its particles (atoms, molecules, or ions). Particles in the solid pack closely together, generally in a pattern. The particles vibrate about their fixed positions but do not move or squeeze past their neighbors. In liquids, although the particles are closely spaced, they are randomly arranged. The position of the particles are not fixed—that is, they are free to move past their neighbors to occupy...