perovskite and ilmenite

CdSnO(3) ilmenite and perovskite crystals were investigated using both the local density and generalized gradient approximations, LDA and GGA, respectively, of the density functional theory (DFT). The electronic band structures, densities of states, dielectric functions, optical absorption and reflectivity spectra related to electronic transitions were obtained, as well as the infrared absorption spectra after computing the vibrational modes of the crystals at q = 0. Dielectric optical permittivities and polarizabilities at ω = 0 and ∞ were also calculated. The results show that GGA-optimized geometries are more accurate than LDA ones, and the Kohn-Sham band structures obtained for the CdSnO(3) polymorphs confirm that ilmenite has an indirect band gap, while perovskite has a direct band gap, both being semiconductors. Effective masses for both crystals are obtained for the first time, being highly isotropic for electrons and anisotropic for holes. The optical properties reveal a very small degree of anisotropy of both crystals with respect to different polarization planes of incident light. The phonon calculation at q = 0 for perovskite CdSnO(3) does not show any imaginary frequencies, in contrast to a previous report suggesting the existence of a more stable crystal of perovskite CdSnO(3) with ferroelectric properties.

Topics: Absorption; Cadmium Compounds; Calcium Compounds; Electric Impedance; Electrons; Iron; Models, Molecular; Molecular Conformation; Optical Phenomena; Oxides; Quantum Theory; Spectrophotometry, Infrared; Tin Compounds; Titanium

On the ceiling of the Oriental hornet comb cell, there are mineral granules of polycrystalline material known to belong to the group of perovskites. In a comb cell intended to house a worker hornet, the roof base usually carries one or several such perovskite granules containing titanium (Ti), whereas in the roof base of a cell housing a developing queen, there are usually several granules containing a high percentage of silicon (Si), aluminum (Al), calcium (Ca), and iron (Fe), but very little if any Ti. In worker comb cells, Ti usually appears as ilmenite (FeTiO3). Besides documenting the above-mentioned facts, this report discusses possible reasons for the appearance of ilmenite crystals in worker cells only and not in queen cells.

Topics: Aluminum; Animals; Calcium Compounds; Crystallization; Hymenoptera; Iron; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; Oxides; Silicon; Titanium

Solid state 47,49Ti NMR spectra have been obtained for a number of perovskite and ilmenite ATiO3 compounds. The 49Ti quadrupole coupling constant varies from 2.75 MHz (CaTiO3) to 15.5 MHz (MgTiO3) and the electric field gradient at the titanium site was found to correlate well with the shear strain, independent of structure. The chemical shift in the perovskite structures varies by approximately 160 ppm and correlates well with the mean Ti-O distance. The 25Mg and 113Cd NMR parameters are also reported for the relevant compounds.

Topics: Barium; Calcium Compounds; Iron; Lead; Magnesium; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; Oxides; Titanium

The minerals (Mg,Fe)SiO3-ilmenite and -perovskite were identified in the shock-induced veins in the Tenham chondritic meteorite. Both phases are inferred to have transformed from pyroxene at high pressures and temperatures by shock metamorphism. Columnar-shaped ilmenite grains, one of two types of morphologies, have a topotaxial relationship with neighboring pyroxene grains, indicating shear transformation. Granular-shaped perovskite grains showed a diffraction pattern consistent with orthorhombic perovskite, but these grains were not stable under the electron beam irradiation and became amorphous. The higher iron concentration in both phases compared with those experimentally reported may suggest their metastable transition from enstatite because of shock compression.

Topics: Calcium Compounds; Iron; Iron Compounds; Magnesium Compounds; Meteoroids; Microscopy, Electron; Oxides; Pressure; Silicates; Temperature; Titanium