Abstract
Crystals of barium tetrakis(maleate) dihydrate [Ba-4(C4H2O4)(4)]*2H(2)O are grown in gelated hydrosilica matrix. Single crystal X-ray diffraction studies show that the crystal system is monoclinic with space group P2(1)/c. The unit cell dimensions are a = 9.3721(2) angstrom, b = 20.5880(7) angstrom, c = 14.0744(4) angstrom, alpha = gamma = 90 degrees, beta = 90.289(2)degrees. Powder XRD studies confirmed the single phase nature of the grown crystals. The FTIR data is in conformity with the XRD results. The TG-DTA curves of the material indicate a three-step thermal decomposition. The response of the dielectric properties in the temperature range 30 degrees C to 500 degrees C is correlated with the TG-DTA results. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.