Niobium atomic properties

The hiding of the pyroelectric coefficients seems to be correlated to the maximum c parameter, which in turn corresponds to the transition temperature. The shift along the Oz direction, Az, of the niobium atoms, which are located within the octahedrons, is responsible for the compound s polar properties. When c is at its maximum, this shift is enhanced and leads apparently to maximum spontaneous polarization P The value of Ps increases in the temperature range of 300 to 490K and then decreases at temperatures above 490°K. 

In contrast to chloride compounds, niobium oxides have a VEC of 14 electrons, due to an overall anti-bonding character of the a2u state, caused by a stronger Nb-O anti-bonding contribution. In some cases, the VEC cannot be determined unambiguously due to the uncertainty in the electron distribution between the clusters and additional niobium atoms present in the majority of the structures. The 14-electron compounds exhibit semiconducting properties and weak temperature-independent paramagnetism. Unlike niobium chlorides, the oxides do not exhibit a correlation between the electronic configuration and intra-cluster bond distances. 

The effect of intercalating like metal atoms is of course to change the atomic ratios, and for example it has been reported that niobium diselenide can intercalate additional niobium atoms to a composition of Nb, jSej There will also be corresponding changes in the crystal lattice parameters, and these are discussed in relation to lubrication properties in Chapter 14. 

Physical Properties. Molybdenum has many unique properties, leading to its importance as a refractory metal (see Refractories). Molybdenum, atomic no. 42, is in Group 6 (VIB) of the Periodic Table between chromium and tungsten vertically and niobium and technetium horizontally. It has a silvery gray appearance. The most stable valence states are +6, +4, and 0 lower, less stable valence states are +5, +3, and +2. 

Thermal properties and decomposition mechanisms depend on the crystal structure type. Compounds with a crystal structure that includes shared octahedrons decompose forming tantalum- or niobium-containing gaseous components, while island-type compounds release light atoms and molecules into the gaseous phase. 

The 5th group metals a summary of their atomic and physical properties Vanadium, niobium and tantalum have only the bcc, W-type, structure no high-temperature or high-pressure polymorphs are known. 

Since the first synthesis of siliceous mesoporous molecular sieves described in the literature in 1992 [1], several mesoporous materials possessing various T atoms together with Si in the lattice have been prepared. The synthesis and properties of niobium- and siliceous-containing mesoporous sieves of MCM-41 type were first time described by our group [2,3] and almost parallely, Nb-doped mesoporous sieves were synthesized by Zhang and Ying [4]. 

The pentavalent halides and oxyhalides, as in the case of other niobium compounds, are the most stable. It is remarkable that the pentavalency is maintained with increase in the atomic weight of the halogen. All the halogen compounds are characterised by their ready tendency to undergo hydrolysis on the addition of water or even in damp air with precipitation of niobie acid and formation of the hydrogen halide. Their preparation can, therefore, be effected only in the dry way (a) synthetically, or (b) by the action of chlorine, carbon tetrachloride, or sulphur monochloride on the oxide or sulphide. They do not possess saline properties, and cannot be prepared by the action of the halogen acids on the oxide. 

The fast neutrons will cause atomic displacement and transmutation reactions in the wall material. For example after 20 years of operation, a niobium wall would contain 10 at % Zr, 0.06 at % Y, 0.28 at % He, and 0.5 at %H53h The impact on the mechanical properties of construction materials due to displacement damage and radioactive transformation is under intensive study but does not properly fall under the subject matter of this chapter. 

Besides PTBs, A-site defective perovskite oxides are known to be formed when B = Ti. Nb.Ta and soon "13. Such compounds exhibit metallic properties and perovskite structures when the B atom occurs in a low oxidation stale. Compositions such as A0 5Nb03 (A = Ba. Pb etc.) where niobium is in the highest oxidation state adopt non-perovskite network structures. An interesting example20-21 of a A-site defective perovskite is Cu 5Ta03 which crystallizes in a pseudocubic perovskite structure. The unit cell is orthorhombic with a = 7.523, />= 7.525 and c = 7.520 A and eight formula units per cell. Tantalum atoms form... 

Niobium (formerly called columbium) and tantalum are Transition Metals having a considerable affinity for oxygen donor groups they are thus called oxophilic see Oxophilic Character). They occur as mixed-metal oxides such as columbites (Fe/Mn)(Nb/Ta)206 and pyrochlore NaCaNb206p. Their discovery in minerals extends back to the beginning of the nineteenth century, when they were believed to be identical and called tantalum. Rose showed that at least two different elements were involved in the minerals, and named the second one niobium. Their separation was resolved around 1866, especially by Marignac. These metals often display similar chemical behavior as a result of nearly identical atomic radii (1.47 A) due to the lanthanide contraction see Periodic Table Trends in the Properties of the Elements)... 

Another effect of lanthanide contraction is that the third row of the d-block elements have only marginally larger atomic radii than the second transition series. For example, zirconium and hafnium, niobium and tantalum, or tungsten and molybdenum have similar ionic radii and chemical properties (Zr + 80 pm, Hf + 81 pm Nb + 70 pm, Ta + 73 pm Mo + 62 pm, W + 65 pm). These elements are also found in the same natural minerals and are difficult to separate. 

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