The Chemist | Journal of the American Institute of Chemists
 
 
  TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
  EDITORIAL
 
  ARTICLE #1 -
  PHASE
  EQULIBRIA IN THE
  TI2Te-TI5Te3-TI9SmTe6
  SYSTEM
 
  ARTICLE #2 -
  PHYTOREMEDIATION
  OF SILVER SPECIES
  BY WATERWEED
 
  ARTICLE #3 -
  ANTIFUNGAL ACTIVITY
  OF SILVER LOADED
  ZEOLITE A FROM
  BAGASSE ASH AGAINST
  CANDIDA ALBICANS
 
  ARTICLE #4 -
  3-BROMOPYRUVATE
  AND GENISTEIN
  COMBINATION INHIBITS
  GLYCOLYSIS & INDUCES
  CELL DEATH IN DU-145
  & LNCaP PROSTATE
  CANCER CELLS
 
  ARTICLE #5 -
  OXA-BRIDGED
  DONOR-ACCEPTOR
  SYSTEMS CONTAINING
  TRIAZINE CORE FOR
  DYE SENSITIZED
  SOLAR CELL
  APPLICATIONS
 
  ARTICLE #6 -
  THE NEED FOR
  NANOMETRY
  EDUCATION
 
  PUBLIC
  UNDERSTANDING
  OF CHEMISTRY

  BUILDING
  INTERDISCIPLINARY
  BRIDGES FOR SCIENCE

 



 
The Chemist Volume 90 | Number 1 printDownload (pdf)
ISSN 1945-0702
 

Phase Equilibria in the Tl2Te-Tl5Te3-Tl9SmTe6 System
Samira Zakir Imamaliyeva*, Vagif Akber Gasymov, Mahammad Baba Babanly
Institute of Catalysis and Inorganic Chemistry named after acad. M. Nagiyev
National Academy of Science of Azerbaijan, H. Javid Ave., 131, Az-1143, Baku, Azerbaijan

(*E-mail: samira9597a@gmail.com)

 

Abstract: Phase equilibria in the Tl2Te-Tl5Te3-Tl9SmTe6 system were experimentally studied by means of differential thermal analysis, powder X-ray diffraction technique and microhardness measurements applied to equilibrated alloys. Several isopleth sections and isothermal section at 300 K, as well as projections of the liquidus and solidus surfaces, were constructed based on the experimental data. It was established that homogeneity area of solid solutions with Tl5Te3 structure (δ-phase) occupied more than 90% of the concentration triangle. A narrow area of solid solutions (α-phase) based on Tl2Te was detected.

Key Words: Thallium-samarium tellurides, phase equilibria, solid solutions, crystal structure.

Introduction

Chalcogenides of heavy p-elements have received a lot of attention thanks to their interesting functional properties, such as thermoelectric, photoelectric, optical, magnetic  properties [1-3]. Furthermore, in recent years some of such compounds have attracted both scientific and technological interest as topological insulators [4-6]. Doping by rare-earth elements can improve their properties and give them additional functionality, such as the magnetic properties [7,8].

Thallium subtelluride, Tl5Te3 is suitable "matrix" for creation of new complex materials. This compound crystallizes in tetragonal structure [9] (Sp.gr.I4/mcm) with four formula units per unit cell (Fig.1). The basic structural component of Tl5Te3 compound is octahedron with a thallium atom, Tl(2), in its center. These octahedra connected by vertices form a frame Tl4Te12, or (TlTe3)4. The other 16 thallium atoms, Tl(1) link octahedra along the c axis and form a unit cell Tl16(TlTe3)4. B3+ (B3+-Sb, Bi) substitution for half of the Tl(2) atoms, resulting  in the compounds Tl9BTe6 or Tl16[(T11+0,5B3+0,5)Te3]4(I), while  the replacement of all these thallium atoms by cations A2+ (A2+-Sn, Pb) leading to formation of Tl4ATe3 or Tl16[A2+Te3]4 (II).  




Fig 1. Basic structural component
of Tl5Te3 compound.

Compounds of type (I) and (II) were detected during the experimental phase equilibria studies of respective ternary systems [10-13]. These materials possess thermoelectric properties, and Tl9BiTe6 was found to have the highest ZT value [1,2,14].

A new thallium lanthanide tellurides with composition Tl9LnTe6 (Ln-Ce, Nd, Sm, Gd, Tm, Tb) were obtained first by Babanly M.B. [15-17]. It was shown that above mentioned compounds are substitution variants of Tl5Te3, and their melting character and crystal lattices parameters were determined. Moreover, ytterbium does not form the compound Tl9YbTe6 [17, 18]. Later, the crystal structure as well as magnetic and thermoelectric properties for a number Tl9LnT6-type compounds were determined by authors [19-21]. 

According to the phase diagrams [10-13, 15], all listed ternary compounds are phases with variable composition and have wide homogeneity areas.

In our previous papers [22-25], we have presented the results of phase equilibria investigations of the Tl5Te3-Tl9NdTe6-Tl9BiTe6, Tl5Te3-Tl4PbTe3-Tl9NdTe6, Tl9NdTe6-Tl9BiTe6-Tl4PbTe3, Tl2Te-Tl9NdTe6-Tl9BiTe6, and Tl2Te-Tl9TbTe6 systems including Tl5Te3 compound or its structural analogues. We found that the former three systems are characterized by formation of continuous solid solutions and the latter two systems- by wide areas of solid solutions.

Here we represent a detailed investigation of phase relationships of the Tl-Sm-Te system in the Tl2Te-Tl5Te3-Tl9SmTe6 composition area.

Tl2Te and Tl5Te3 compounds melt congruently at 698 and 723 K and form the eutectic (695 K, ~ 34 at.% Tl) [26]. These data were confirmed by Okamoto [27]. Tl2Te crystallizes in the monoclinic system (space group C2/c; a = 15.662; b = 8.987; с=31.196 Å, β=100.760, z=44) [28], while tetragonal lattice parameters of Tl5Te3  are equal to a = 8.930; c = 12.598 Å [9]. Tl9SmTe6 melts with decomposition by the peritectic reaction at 755 K and has lattice constant: a=8.888; c=13.013 Å, z=2 [16].

Experimental

Materials and Syntheses

Starting compounds Tl2Te and Tl5Te3 were synthesized by melting of high purity elements in evacuated (~ 10-2 Pa) quartz ampoules at 750 K with following slow cooling. Tl9SmTe6 was synthesized at 1000 К using the ceramic method. Taking into account the incongruent melting of Tl9SmTe6 [16], this compound was annealed at 700 K for 300 h after the synthesis.

The purity of the synthesized compounds was checked by differential thermal analysis (DTA) and powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques.

Alloys of the Tl2Te-Tl5Te3-Tl9SmTe6 system were prepared by melting the stoichiometric quantities of the pre-synthesized binary and ternary compounds in evacuated silica ampoules at 900 K in a tube furnace. After the synthesis, alloys were powdered in an agate mortar, pressed into pellets and reheated at 680 K within 1000 h. In order to prevent a reaction between the ampoules and samarium, the silica tubes were coated with a carbon film via the decomposition of ethanol.

Methods

DTA and XRD analyses as well as microhardness measurements were employed to analyze the samples.
DTA was performed using a NETZSCH 404 F1 Pegasus differential scanning calorimeter. The crystal structure was analyzed by a powder X-ray diffraction technique at room temperature using a Bruker D8 diffractometer utilizing CuKa radiation within 2θ = 10 to 700. Microhardness measurements were done with a microhardness tester PMT-3, the typical loading being 20g.

Results & Discussion

The combined analysis of experimental data enabled us to construct the self-consistent diagram of the phase equilibria in the Tl2Te-Tl5Te3-Tl9SmTe6 system (Table, Fig.2-7).

The (16/3)Tl2Te-Tl9SmTe6 system (Fig.2) is a part of the Tl2Te-Sm2Te3 system. It is a non-quasi-binary because of the incongruent character of the Tl9SmTe6 melting. However, it behaves as a quasi-binary system below the peritectic horizontal at 755 K. The phase diagram is characterized by formation of a wide area of solid solutions (δ) with the Tl5Te3 structure. Liquidus consists of three curves corresponding to the primary crystallization of α;- and δ- phases based on Tl2Te and Tl9SmTe6, as well as the unknown infusible X phase (presumably TlSmTe2). Horizontals at 755 and 703 K correspond to peritectic equilibria L+X<->δ and L+δ<->α. The peritectic points p1 and p2 correspond to 65 and 5 mol% Tl9SmTe6, respectively.




Fig 2. Phase diagram (a), concentration relations of microhardnesses
(b), and lattice parameters (c) for the system
(16/3)Tl2Te-Tl9SmTe6

The equilibrium phase diagram of the 2Tl5Te3-Tl9SmTe6 system (Fig.3) is also non-quasi-binary due to peritectic melting of Tl9SmTe6 compound. This system is characterized by the formation of a continuous series of solid solutions (d) based on Tl5Te3. The δ-solid solutions primarily crystallize in 0-65 mol% Tl9SmTe6 composition area; whereas in region more than 65 mol% Tl9SmTe6, the X phase crystallizes. In this composition area below 755 K, a three-phase area L+X+δ should be formed as the result of monovariant peritectic reaction L+X<->δ. However, this area is not experimentally fixed due to narrow temperature interval and shown by dashed line (Fig.3a).

Table 1. Some properties of phases in the Tl2Te-Tl5Te3-Tl9SmTe6 system.

System Phase Thermal effects, К Sp.gr Lattice parameters, Å Н μ, МPa

  Tl2Te 698 monoclinic, C2/c; a=15.662; b=8.987;
c=31.196Å, β=100.760,
z=44
1400
Tl5Te3 723 tetragonal,I4/mcm a=8.930;  c=12.598 1130
Tl9SmTe6 755; 1180 "-" a=8.888; c=13.013 1080

2Tl5Te3-
Tl9SmTe6
Tl9.8Sm0.2Te6 725-733 "-" a=8.922; c=12.681 1130
Tl9.6Sm0.4Te6 730-740 "-" a=8.913; c=12.764 1170
Tl9.5Sm0.5Te6 735-743 -    
Tl9.4Sm0.6Te6 735-745 "-" a=8.905; c=12.847 1150
Tl9.2Sm0.8Te6 742-750; 1110 "-" a=8.896; c=12.930 1120

(16/3)Tl2Te-
Tl9SmTe6
Tl9.8Sm0.2Te5,2 703-728 "-" - 1240; 1480
Tl9.6Sm0.4Te5,4 713-747 "-" a=8.912; c=12.782 1200
Tl9.5Sm0.5Te5,5 723-752 -    
Tl9.4Sm0.6Te5,6 733-755 "-" a=8.903; c=12.864 1190
Tl9.2Sm0.8Te5,8 742-755; 1112 "-" a=8.894; c=12.955 1150

The results of the microhardness measurements are in agreement with constructed phase diagram (Figs.2b and 3b). For the Tl5Te3-Tl9SmTe6 system, a curve has a flat maximum (Fig.3b), which is typical for systems with continuous solid solutions. For the Tl2Te-Tl9SmTe6 system, the microhardness values of starting compounds are increased within homogeneity areas of α- and δ-phases, and remain constant in the α+δ two-phase region (Fig.2b).

Powder X-ray analysis data confirm the phase diagrams of the above-mentioned systems (Fig.4). For the Tl5Te3-Tl9SmTe6 system, powder diffraction patterns of starting compounds and intermediate alloys are qualitatively similar with slight reflections displacement from one compound to another (Fig.4, diffraction patterns 4-6). For example, we present the powder diffraction pattern of alloy with 50 mol% Tl9SmTe6. Solid solutions obey the Vegard’s law, i.e. the lattice parameters depend linearly on composition. In the Tl2Te-Tl9SmTe6 system, the alloys with compositions ³30 mol% Tl9SmTe6 are monophasic with Tl5Te3-type diffraction patterns (Fig.4, diffraction pattern 3), while alloy with 25mol% Tl9SmTe6 composition is bi-phasic. Besides the δ-phase reflections this alloy contains weak peaks of δ-phase (Fig.4, diffraction pattern 2).




Fig 3. Phase diagram (a), concentration relations of microhardnesses
(b), and lattice parameters (c) for the system
2Tl5Te3-Tl9SmTe6.

 




Fig 4. XRD patterns for different compositions in the
Tl2Te-Tl9SmTe6 (patterns 1-4) and Tl5Te3-Tl9SmTe6
(patterns 4-6) systems.

Isopleth sections of the Tl2Te-Tl5Te3-Tl9SmTe6 system (Fig.5).

Figs. 5a-c show the isopleth sections Tl5Te3-[A], Tl9SmTe6-[B] and Tl2Te-[C] of the Tl2Te-Tl5Te3-Tl9SmTe6 system, where A, B and C are alloys from the respective boundary system. As can be seen, over the entire compositions range of the Tl5Te3-[A] system only δ-phase crystallizes from the melt.  




Fig 5. Polythermal sections 2Tl5Te3-[A],
Tl9SmTe6-[B] and (16/3)Tl2Te-[C] of the phase diagram of the
Tl2Te-Tl5Te3-Tl9SmTe6 system.

According to the phase diagram of the Tl9SmTe6-[В] section in the composition area <50 mol% Tl9SmTe6, the primary crystallization of the δ-phase occurs from the liquid phase. In the Tl9SmTe6- rich alloys the X-phase first crystallizes, then a monovariant peritectic equilibrium L+X<->δ takes place.

The liquidus of Tl2Te-[C] section consists of two curves of primary crystallization of α- and δ-phases. The intersection point of these curves corresponds to the monovariant peritectic reaction L+δ<->α (703 K). Below the solidus, this section passes through the α, α+δ and δ phase areas.

The isothermal sections of the Tl2Te-Tl5Te3-Tl9SmTe6 system at 300 K (Fig.6)

The isothermal sections of the Tl2Te-Tl5Te3-Tl9SmTe6 system at 300 K (Fig.6) consists of three phase areas. Over 90% of the concentration triangle is occupied by δ-solid solutions with Tl5Te3 structure. α-phase based on Tl2Te has a narrow homogeneity area in the corresponding angle of the triangle. Homogeneity areas of the α- and δ-phases are separated by α+δ two-phase region.




Fig 6. Isothermal section of the phase diagram of the
Tl2Te-Tl5Te3-Tl9SmTe6 system at 300 K.

The liquidus surface projection (Fig.7)

Liquidus of Tl2Te-Tl5Te3-Tl9SmTe6 system consists of three  fields  of  the  primary  crystallization  of  α-,δ-  and Х-phases.These fields are separated by p2e and p1p1' lines, which correspond to the monovariant peritectic equilibria L+δ<->α and L+Х<->δ. Near the eutectic point (e) the peritectic equilibrium L+δ<->α must be transformed into L<->α+δ eutectic equilibrium. However, coordinates of this transformation are not experimentally fixed due to narrow temperature range. Solidus surface consists of two areas corresponding to the completion of crystallization α- and δ-phases.  




Fig 7. Projection of the liquidus and solidus (dashed lines)
surfaces of the Tl2Te-Tl5Te3-Tl9SmTe6 system. Primary
crystallization fields of phases: 1-α; 2-δ; 3-X. Dash-dot lines
show the investigated sections.

Conclusion

A complete T-x-y diagram of the Tl2Te-Tl5Te3-Tl9SmTe6 system is constructed, including the T-x diagrams of boundary systems Tl5Te3-Tl9SmTe6 and Tl2Te-Tl9SmTe6, some isopleth sections, isothermal section at 300 K and liquidus and solidus surface projections. Studied system is characterized by the formation of wide field of δ-solid solutions with the Tl5Te3 structure, occupying more than 90% of the concentration triangle. Obtained experimental data can be used for choosing the composition of solution-melt and for determining of temperature conditions for growing crystals of δ- phase with a given composition.

Acknowledgment

The work was supported by the Science Foundation of the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan Republic (Grant for the project "Preparation and investigation of new functional materials based on complex metal chalcogenides for alternative energy sources and electronic engineering", 2014).

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