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Eu2(SO4)3 was synthesized by chemical precipitation method and the crystal structure was determined by Rietveld analysis. The compound crystallizes in monoclinic space group С2/с. In the air environment, Eu2(SO4)3 is stable up to 670°C. The sample of Eu2(SO4)3 was examined by Raman, Fourier-transform infrared absorption and luminescence spectroscopy methods. The low site symmetry of SO4 tetrahedra results in the appearance of the IR inactive ν1 mode around 1000 cm-1 and ν2 modes below 500 cm-1. The band intensities redistribution in the luminescent spectra of Eu 3+ ions is analyzed in terms of the peculiarities of its local environment.

In this work, we report on the synthesis, in-depth crystal structure studies as well as optical and magnetic properties of newly synthesized heterometallic quaternary selenides of the Eu+2Ln+3Cu+1Se3 composition. Crystal structures of the obtained compounds were refined by the derivative difference minimization (DDM) method from the powder X-ray diffraction data. The structures are found to belong to orthorhombic space groups Pnma (structure type Ba2MnS3 for EuLaCuSe3 and structure type Eu2CuS3 for EuLnCuSe3, where Ln = Sm, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho and Y) and Cmcm (structure type KZrCuS3 for EuLnCuSe3, where Ln = Tm, Yb and Lu). Space groups Pnma and Cmcm were delimited based on the tolerance factor t’, and vibrational spectroscopy additionally confirmed the formation of three structural types. With a decrease in the ionic radius of Ln3+ in the reported structures, the distortion of the (LnCuSe3) layers decreases, and a gradual formation of the more symmetric structure occurs in the sequence Ba2MnS3 → Eu2CuS3 → KZrCuS3. According to magnetic studies, compounds EuLnCuSe3 (Ln = Tb, Dy, Ho and Tm) each exhibit ferrimagnetic properties with transition temperatures ranging from 4.7 to 6.3 K. A negative magnetization effect is observed for compound EuHoCuSe3 at temperatures below 4.8 K. The magnetic properties of the discussed selenides and isostructural sulfides were compared. The direct optical band gaps for EuLnCuSe3, subtracted from the corresponding diffuse reflectance spectra, were found to be 1.87–2.09 eV. Deviation between experimental and calculated band gaps is ascribed to lower d states of Eu2+ in the crystal field of EuLnCuSe3, while anomalous narrowing of the band gap of EuYbCuSe3 is explained by the low-lying charge-transfer state. Ab initio calculations of the crystal structures, elastic properties and phonon spectra of the reported compounds were performed.

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The crystal structure of YAl3(BO3)4 is obtained by Rietveld refinement analysis in the present study. The dynamical properties are studied both theoretically and experimentally. The experimental Raman and Infrared spectra are interpreted using the results of ab initio calculations within density functional theory. The phonon band gap in the Infrared spectrum is observed in both trigonal and hypothetical monoclinic structures of YAl3(BO3)4. The electronic band structure is studied theoretically, and the value of the band gap is obtained. It was found that the YAl3(BO3)4 is an indirect band gap dielectric material.