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Updated: May 30, 2026

Methods of Ex Situ and In Situ Investigations of Structural Transformations: The Case of Crystallization of Metallic Glasses
Published on: June 7, 2018
Nano and micro reoriented domains and their relation with the crystal structure in the New Fe1.5Zn1.5B7O13Cl boracite
S Ulloa-Godínez1, A Barrera, I Rosales
1Centro Universitario de Ciencias Exactas e Ingeniería, Universidad de Guadalajara, Laboratorio de Materiales Avanzados del Departamento de Electrónica, Av. Revolución No.1500, Módulo O, Planta baja, S.R. C.P. 44840, Guadalajara, Jalisco, México.
Abstract:
New iron-zinc chlorine single crystals of Fe1.5Zn1.5B7O13Cl boracite were grown by chemical transport reactions in closed quartz ampoules, at a temperature of 1173 K. The crystal structure was characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) using the Rietveld refinement method and belongs to the trigonal/rombohedral system with space group R3c (No. 161). The cell parameters were a = 8.5726(1) angstroms, c = 21.0116(4) angstroms, V = 1337.26(3) angstroms3 and Z = 6. The refinement successfully proceeded and ended with sound merit figure values chi2 = 2.25, R(B) = 6.12%. Chemical analysis was performed with X-ray energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) and X-ray fluorescence (XRF). Ferroelectric nano and micro reoriented domains were found in this material using polarizing optical microscopy (PLM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The examination by TEM showed that in the trigonal/rombohedral system of Fe1.5Zn1.5B7O13Cl nanodomain structures exist. Thin (50-100 nm) mostly planar domains parallel to (100) were frequently observed in Fe1.5Zn1.5B7O13Cl boracite.
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