Issue 4, 2021

Structural modulation in potassium birnessite single crystals

Abstract

We report on the growth of single-crystal potassium birnessite (K0.31MnO2·0.41H2O) and present both the average and local structural characterization of this frustrated magnetic system. Single crystals were obtained employing a flux growth method with a KNO3/B2O3 flux at 700 °C. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction revealed an average orthorhombic symmetry, with space group Cmcm. A combination of high angle annular dark field scanning transmission electron microscopy (HAADF-STEM) with atomic resolution energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) demonstrated the layered structure of potassium birnessite with manganese-containing planes well separated by layers of potassium atoms. MnO6 octahedra and the K/H2O planes were clearly imaged via integrated differential phase contrast (iDPC) STEM. Furthermore, iDPC-STEM also revealed the existence of local domains with alternating contrast of the manganese oxide planes, most likely originating from charge ordering of Mn3+ and Mn4+ along the c-axis. These charge-ordered domains are clearly correlated with a reduction in the c-lattice parameter compared to the rest of the matrix. The insight gained from this work allows for a better understanding of the correlation between structure and magnetic properties.

Graphical abstract: Structural modulation in potassium birnessite single crystals

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
17 Nov 2020
Accepted
20 Dec 2020
First published
21 Dec 2020
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY license

J. Mater. Chem. C, 2021,9, 1370-1377

Structural modulation in potassium birnessite single crystals

L. D. Kulish, P. Nukala, R. Scholtens, A. G. M. Uiterwijk, R. Hamming-Green and G. R. Blake, J. Mater. Chem. C, 2021, 9, 1370 DOI: 10.1039/D0TC05396A

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