Vibrational spectroscopic characterization of the phosphate mineral kulanite Ba(Fe(2+),Mn(2+),Mg)2(Al,Fe(3+))2(PO4)3(OH)3.
The mineral kulanite BaFe2Al2(PO4)3(OH)3, a barium iron aluminum phosphate, has been studied by using a combination of electron microscopy and vibrational spectroscopy. Scanning electron microscopy with EDX shows the mineral is homogenous with no other phases present. The Raman spectrum is dominated by an intense band at 1022cm(-1) assigned to the PO4(3-)ν1 symmetric stretching mode. Low intensity Raman bands at 1076, 1110, 1146, 1182cm(-1) are attributed to the PO4(3-)ν3 antisymmetric stretching vibrations. The infrared spectrum shows a complex spectral profile with overlapping bands. Multiple phosphate bending vibrations supports the concept of a reduction in symmetry of the phosphate anion. Raman spectrum at 3211, 3513 and 3533cm(-1) are assigned to the stretching vibrations of the OH units. Vibrational spectroscopy enables aspects on the molecular structure of kulanite to be assessed.
An infrared and Raman spectroscopic study of natural zinc phosphates.
Zinc phosphates are important in the study of the phosphatisation of metals. Raman spectroscopy in combination with infrared spectroscopy has been used to characterise the zinc phosphate minerals. The minerals may be characterised by the patterns of the hydroxyl stretching vibrations in both the Raman and infrared spectra. Spencerite is characterised by a sharp Raman band at 3516 cm(-1) and tarbuttite by a single band at 3446 cm(-1). The patterns of the Raman spectra of the hydroxyl stretching region of hopeite and parahopeite are different in line with their differing crystal structures. The Raman spectrum of the PO4 stretching region shows better band separated peaks than the infrared spectra which consist of a complex set of overlapping bands. The position of the PO4 symmetric stretching mode can be used to identify the zinc phosphate mineral. It is apparent that Raman spectroscopy lends itself to the fundamental study of the evolution of zinc phosphate films.
An infrared spectroscopic study of the basic copper phosphate minerals: Cornetite, libethenite, and pseudomalachite
Abstract The molecular structures of the basic copper phosphate minerals pseudomalachite, libethenite, and cornetite were studied using a combination of infrared emission spectroscopy, infrared absorption, and Raman spectroscopy. Infrared emission spectra of these minerals were obtained over the temperature range 100 to 1000°C. The infrared spectra of the three minerals are different, in line with differences in crystal structure and composition. The absorption spectra are similar, particularly in the OH stretching region, but characteristic differences in the bending regions are observed. Differences are also observed in the phosphate stretching and bending regions. The IR emission of the basic copper phosphates studied shows that the minerals are completely dehydroxylated by 550°C.