Course outline

Solid State Chemistry
An overview of the synthesis and

CHEM 6182
A. P. Wilkinson
School of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Georgia Institute of Technology
Atlanta, Ga 30332-0400
applications of inorganic materials

Structure and compound identification in
the solid state

Electrical and ionic conductivity

Zeolites as selective catalysts, sorbents and
ion exchangers

Objectives Why Solid State Chemistry?

To provide an introduction to the concepts
underlying solid state chemistry

To illustrate the wide range of materials and
physical properties that currently available

Many aspects of modern life are dependent
upon the availability of functional solids

Chemists are in a strong position to contribute
to their syntheses
– However, the chemist needs to be able to
understand what they are trying to make and why

Properties of interest Optical properties

Optical
Non-linear optical materials play an
– Non-linear optics, lasers, phosphors etc.. important role in data transmission and

Electrical storage
– Conductivity and response to stimuli – LiNbO3, KTiOPO4,KH2PO4

Magnetic

Laser materials
– Data storage, electromechanical devices
– semiconductors and laser host crystals

Structural

Catalytic
Phosphors

Etc. – for displays and imaging

1
NLO Materials and Second
Harmonic Generation Semiconductor blue lasers

NLO materials can be used
to double the frequency of
laser radiation
- Useful as short wavelength
lasers can be difficult to
make

Short wavelength radiation
better for information
storage and transmission

Color centers Electrical properties

Exposure to radiation can induce defects
Useful electrical properties include
– superconductivity
– Useful for imaging
– semiconductors
– Useful for dating – ceramic metals for electrodes
– response to stimuli e.g. heat and pressure
– dielectric properties
– ionic conductivity for electrochemical cells
– conversion of heat or light to electrical power

Interesting properties include
KBr KCl NaCl – low dimensional behavior

K2[Pt(CN)4]Br0.3.3H2O viewed
K2[Pt(CN)4]Br0.3.3H2O with transmitted polarized light

Is a one dimensional metal
– has a high conductivity in one direction only
– when viewed under polarized light it looks
metallic for one polarization and transparent for
another
– why ?

2
K2[Pt(CN)4]Br0.3.3H2O viewed with The packing of Pt(CN)4 units in
polarized reflected light K2[Pt(CN)4]Br0.3.3H2O

From Peters et al. Inorg. Chem. 15, 782 (1976).

Superconductors Levitating a magnet over YBCO

Many materials are superconducting
– however, until 1986 all superconductors had
critical temperatures < 30 K

Superconductors find application in magnet
construction

High Tc superconductors are just starting to
be used
– initially in MRI and cell phone base stations

The structure of YBa2Cu3O7 Superconducting detector for MRI

3
Semiconductors

Methods such as Chemical Vapor
Deposition are of great importance in the
semiconductor industry

Chemists play a vital role in the
development of compounds that can be
used in CVD
Ionic conductivity

Solids that are capable of conducting ions
are used in the fabrication of
electrochemical cells
– oxygen sensors in automobiles
– electrolytes in fuel cells
– electrolytes in high energy density batteries

Magnetic materials Ferrofluids

Data storage

Transformers and motors

Data read out
– state of the art disk drives employ Magneto
Resistive materials in the drive heads

Shaft seals
– ferrofluids can be confined in the area to be
sealed using magnetic fields

Ferroelectric materials Shape selective catalysts

Crystals can have electric dipole moments just like
molecules

If the direction of the dipole moment can be flipped by
an applied field the material is said to be ferroelectric

Zeolites offer a way of carrying out
chemistry in very confined spaces

The type of chemistry that can be done is
determined by the pore sizes that can be
made
– entirely reliant upon a chemists skills

Great industrial importance
– gasoline cracking

4
Ion exchangers Zeolite A

Zeolites and related solids can be used as
convenient ion exchangers

Zeolite A is used as a water softener in all
powder laundry detergents in the U.S.

Zeolites are used for radioactive waste
clean up

Zeolite L and Offretite Inorganic materials synthesis

Very different from molecular synthesis
– Usually can not purify solid product
– Synthetic techniques are different
» high temperature preps
» ion exchange reactions
» intercalation / insertion processes
» vapor transport
» sol-gel
» Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD)