High-pressure synthesis, crystal structure, and properties of the first ternary hafniumborate β-HfB2O5

The first ternary hafniumborate β-HfB₂O₅ was synthesized under high-pressure and high-temperature conditions in a Walker-type multianvil apparatus at 7.5 GPa and 1100 °C. The monoclinic hafnium-diborate crystallizes with four formula units in the space group P2₁/c with lattice parameters a=438.48(9), b=690.60(2), c=897.60(2) pm, and β=90.76(3)°. Due to the fact that high-pressure conditions favour the fourfold-coordination of boron, a structure is observed, which is built up exclusively from layers of BO₄ tetrahedra; between the layers, the hafnium ions are coordinated square-antiprismatically by eight oxygen atoms. A structural comparison of β-HfB₂O₅ with minerals of the gadolinite-homilite-hingganite-datolite family proved this compound to be the simplest structural variant in this structure type, known so far. Along with a structural discussion, temperature-programmed X-ray powder diffraction data are shown, demonstrating the metastable character of this compound.     

HP‐CsB5O8: Synthesis and Characterization of an Outstanding Borate Exhibiting the Simultaneous Linkage of All Structural Units of Borates

The new cesium pentaborate HP‐CsB₅O₈ is synthesized under high‐pressure/high‐temperature conditions of 6 GPa and 900 °C in a Walker‐type multianvil apparatus. The compound crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group Pnma (Z=4) with the parameters a=789.7(1), b=961.2(1), c=836.3(1) pm, V=0.6348(1) nm³, R₁=0.0359 and wR₂=0.0440 (all data). The new structure type of HP‐CsB₅O₈ exhibits the simultaneous linkage of trigonal BO₃ groups, corner‐sharing BO₄ tetrahedra, and edge‐sharing BO₄ tetrahedra including the presence of threefold‐coordinated oxygen atoms. With respect to the rich structural chemistry of borates, HP‐CsB₅O₈ is the second structure type possessing this outstanding combination of the main structural units of borates in one compound. The structure consists of corrugated chains of corner‐ and edge‐sharing BO₄ tetrahedra interconnected through BO₃ groups forming octagonal channels. Inside these channels, cesium is 13+3‐fold coordinated by oxygen atoms. ¹¹B MQMAS NMR spectra are analyzed to estimate the isotropic chemical shift values and quadrupolar parameters. IR and Raman spectra are obtained and compared to the calculated vibrational frequencies at the Γ‐point. The high‐temperature behavior is examined by means of temperature‐programmed powder diffraction.     

Bismuth octaborate,Bi2B8O15

In the title compound, Bi₂B₈O₁₅, the Bi atom is coordinated to five or six O atoms. The B atoms exhibit two kinds of hybridization, sp² and sp³, seen in the BO₃ triangles and BO₄ tetrahedra, respectively. Three BO₃ triangles are connected to form a B₃O₆ planar ring. All atoms in the structure are connected together to form an infinite three‐dimensional network.     

Li2AlB5O10

A new compound, dilithium aluminium pentaborate, Li₂Al­B₅O₁₀, has been synthesized by solid‐state reaction and its structure determined by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. This compound is composed of [B₅O₁₀]^5? groups linked by AlO₄ tetrahedra. The [B₅O₁₀]^5? group consists of two hexagonal B–­O rings perpendicular to each other connected by tetracoordinated boron. All the B–O rings in this structure can be divided into two groups, with one group approximately parallel and the other perpendicular to the c axis.     

La3B6O13(OH): The First Acentric High-Pressure Borate Displaying Edge-Sharing BO4 Tetrahedra

La₃B₆O₁₃(OH) was obtained by a high-pressure/high-temperature experiment at 6 GPa and 1673 K. The compound crystallizes in the space group P2₁ (no. 4) with the lattice parameters a=4.785(2), b=12.880(4), c=7.433(3) Å, and β=90.36(10)°, and is built up of corner- as well as edge-sharing BO₄ tetrahedra. It represents the first acentric high-pressure borate containing these B₂O₆ entities. The compound develops borate layers of „sechser“-rings with the La³⁺ cations positioned between the layers. Single-crystal and powder X-ray diffraction, vibrational and MAS NMR spectroscopy, second-harmonic generation (SHG) and thermoanalytical measurements, as well as computational methods were used to affirm the proposed structure and the B₂O₆ entities.     

La4B14O27: Ein Lanthan‐ultra‐Oxoborat mit Raumnetzstruktur

La₄B₁₄O₂₇: A Lanthanum ultra‐Oxoborate with a Framework Structure Single crystals of La₄B₁₄O₂₇ could be synthesized by the reaction of La₂O₃, LaCl₃ and B₂O₃ with an access of CsCl as fluxing agent in gastightly sealed platinum ampoules within twenty days at 710 °C and appear as colourless, transparent and waterresistant platelets. The new lanthanum oxoborate La₄B₁₄O₂₇ (monoclinic, C2/c; a = 1120.84(9), b = 641.98(6), c = 2537.2(2) pm, β = 100.125(8)°; Z = 4) is built of a three‐dimensional boron‐oxygen framework containing seven crystallographically different boron atoms. Four of these B³⁺ cations are surrounded by four O^2? anions tetrahedrally, whereas the other three have only three oxygen neighbours with nearly plane triangular coordination figures. Three of the [BO₄]^5? tetrahedra form [B₃O₉]^9? rings by cyclic vertex‐condensation, which are further linked via [BO₃]^3? units to infinite layers. Two of these layers connect via one [B₂O₇]^8? unit of two corner‐shared [BO₄]^5? tetrahedra to double layers, which themselves build up a three‐dimensional framework together with chains consisting of two [BO₄]^5? tetrahedra and one [BO₃]^3? triangle. One of the two crystallographically independent La³⁺ cations (La1) is surrounded by ten O^2? anions and resides within the oxoborate double layers. (La2)³⁺ shows a (8+2)‐fold coordination of O^2? anions and occupies channels along the [110] direction.     

High-pressure synthesis and crystal structure of the lithium borate HP-LiB3O5

The new lithium borate HP-LiB₃O₅ was synthesized under high-pressure/high-temperature conditions of 6 GPa and 1050 °C in a multianvil press with a Walker-type module. The compound crystallizes in the space group Pnma (no. 62) with the lattice parameters a=829.7(2), b=759.6(2), and c=1726.8(4) pm (Z=16). The high-pressure compound HP-LiB₃O₅ is built up from a three-dimensional network of BO₄ tetrahedra and BO₃ groups, which incorporates Li⁺ ions in channels along the b-axis. Band assignments of measured IR- and Raman spectra were done via quantum-mechanical calculations. Additionally, the thermal behavior of HP-LiB₃O₅ was investigated.     

A new polymorph of Cu3B2O6

A new polymorph of nonacopper(II) bis(orthoborate) bis(hexaoxodiborate), Cu₉(BO₃)₂(B₂O₆)₂, or Cu₃B₂O₆ with Z′ = 3, has a pseudo‐layered monoclinic structure containing BO₃ triangles and B₂O₆ units consisting of corner‐sharing BO₃ triangles and BO₄ tetrahedra. The compound was obtained during an investigation of the Li–Cu–B–O system. In contrast to the triclinic form of Cu₃B₂O₆, the layers are linked to one another by BO₄ tetrahedra.     

Oxonium Ions Substituting Cesium Ions in the Structure of the New High‐Pressure Borate HP‐Cs1−x(H3O)xB3O5 (x=0.5–0.7)

The new high‐pressure borate HP‐Cs_1?x(H₃O)_xB₃O₅ (x=0.5–0.7) was synthesized under high‐pressure/high‐temperature conditions of 6 GPa/900 °C in a Walker‐type multianvil apparatus. The compound crystallizes in the monoclinic space group C2/c (Z=8) with the parameters a=1000.6(2), b=887.8(2), c=926.3(2) pm, β=103.1(1)°, V=0.8016(3) nm³, R1=0.0452, and wR2=0.0721 (all data). The boron–oxygen network is analogous to those of the compounds HP‐MB₃O₅, (M=K, Rb) and exhibits all three structural motifs of borates—BO₃ groups, corner‐sharing BO₄ tetrahedra, and edge‐sharing BO₄ tetrahedra—at the same time. Channels inside the boron–oxygen framework contain the cesium and oxonium ions, which are disordered on a specific site. Estimating the amount of hydrogen by solid‐state NMR spectroscopy and X‐ray diffraction led to the composition HP‐Cs_1?x(H₃O)_xB₃O₅ (x=0.5–0.7), which implies a nonzero phase width.     

Das erste Vanadium(III)‐Borophosphat: Darstellung und Kristallstruktur von CsV3(H2O)2[B2P4O16(OH)4]

The First Vanadium(III) Borophosphate: Synthesis and Crystal Structure of CsV₃(H₂O)₂[B₂P₄O₁₆(OH)₄] CsV₃(H₂O)₂[B₂P₄O₁₆(OH)₄] was prepared under mild hydrothermal conditions (T = 165 °C) from mixtures of CsOH_(aq), VCl₃, H₃BO₃, and H₃PO₄ (molar ratio 1 : 1 : 1 : 2). The crystal structure was determined by X‐ray single crystal methods (monoclinic; space group C2/m, No. 12): a = 958.82(15) pm, b = 1840.8(4) pm, c = 503.49(3) pm; β = 110.675(4)°; Z = 2. The anionic partial structure contains oligomeric units [BP₂O₈(OH)₂]^5–, which are built up by a central BO₂(OH)₂ tetrahedron and two PO₄ tetrahedra sharing common corners. V^III is octahedrally coordinated by oxygen of adjacent phosphate tetrahedra and OH groups of borate tetrahedra as well as oxygen of phosphate tetrahedra and H₂O molecules, respectively (coordination octahedra VO₄(OH)₂ and VO₄(H₂O)₂). The oxidation state +3 for vanadium was confirmed by measurements of the magnetic susceptibility. The trimeric borophosphate groups are connected via vanadium centres to form layers with octahedra‐tetrahedra ring systems, which are likewise linked via V^III‐coordination octahedra. Overall, a three‐dimensional framework constructed from VO₄(OH)₂ and VO₄(H₂O)₂ octahedra as well as BO₂(OH)₂ and PO₄ tetrahedra results. The structure contains channels running along [001], which are occupied by Cs⁺ in a distorted octahedral coordination (CsO₄(H₂O)₂).     

High‐pressure syntheses of α‐RE2B4O9 (RE = Sm,Ho), with a structure type displaying edge‐sharing BO4 tetrahedra

The compounds α‐RE₂B₄O₉, with RE = Sm (disamarium tetraborate) and Ho (diholmium tetraborate), were synthesized under conditions of high pressure and high temperature in a Walker‐type multianvil apparatus, at 7.5 GPa and 1323 K for α‐Sm₂B₄O₉ and at 10 GPa and 1323 K for α‐Ho₂B₄O₉. The crystal structures were determined from single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction data collected at room temperature. The structures are isotypic with the already known α‐RE₂B₄O₉ (RE = Eu–Dy) phases, displaying the new structural motif of edge‐sharing BO₄ tetrahedra next to the known motif of corner‐sharing BO₄ tetrahedra. As the end members of this isotypic series, the two title compounds mark the borders of the stability field of the appearance of edge‐sharing BO₄ tetrahedra.     

[O2Pb3]2(BO3)Br: An Oxidoborate Oxide Bromide with the ∞1[O2Pb3] Double Chains Based on Edge‐sharing OPb4 Tetrahedra

Through extensive research on the PbO / PbBr₂ / B₂O₃ system, a new single crystal of yellow lead‐containing oxyborate bromine, [O₂Pb₃]₂(BO₃)Br, was grown from the melt. It crystallizes in the centrosymmetric space group Cmcm (no. 63) of the orthorhombic system with the following unit cell dimensions: a = 9.5748(8) Å, b = 20.841(2) Å, c = 5.7696(5) Å, and Z = 4. The whole structure is characterized by an infinite one‐dimensional (1D) _∞¹[O₂Pb₃] double chain, which is based on the OPb₄ oxocentered tetrahedra and considered as the derivative of the continuous sheet of OPb₄ tetrahedra from the tetragonal modification of α‐PbO. The 1D _∞¹[O₂Pb₃] double chains are further bridged by the BO₃ units through common oxygen atoms to form two‐dimensional (2D) _∞¹[[(O₂Pb₃)(BO₃)] layers, with Br atoms situated between the layers. IR spectroscopy, UV/Vis/NIR diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, and thermal analysis were also performed on the reported material.     

CdZn2KB2O6F,a new fluoride borate crystal

During an attempt to grow crystals of the nonlinear optical material Cd₃Zn₃B₄O₁₂ using a KBF₄ flux, crystals of a new cadmium dizinc potassium borate fluoride compound, CdZn₂KB₂O₆F, were unexpectedly isolated. The structure consists of layers constructed of distorted corner‐sharing ZnO₃F tetrahedra and BO₃ triangles. Both Zn and B reside on threefold rotation axes, while the F⁻ anion is located at a site of 3.2 symmetry. The Cd^II (site symmetry ) and K⁺ (site symmetry 3.2) ions occupy six‐ and nine‐coordinate interlayer sites, respectively. The BO₃ triangles and ZnO₃ pyramids from the ZnO₃F tetrahedra share bridging O atoms with each other to form an extended [ZnBO₃] layer parallel to (001). Although these layers are similar to the [MBO₃] layers seen in other compounds, they are uniquely bridged here by the Cd centres and F⁻ anions to form a three‐dimensional framework. In so doing, a series of channels is formed along the [010] direction and the K⁺ cations are found in these channels.     

Pr(BO2)3 und PrCl(BO2)2: Zwei meta‐Borate des Praseodyms im Vergleich

Pr(BO₂)₃ and PrCl(BO₂)₂: Two Praseodymium meta‐Borates in Comparison Single‐crystalline PrCl(BO₂)₂ can be obtained by the reaction of praseodymium, Pr₆O₁₁ and PrCl₃ with a small excess of B₂O₃ in evacuated silica tubes after seven days at 850 °C. If NaCl is additionally used as flux, single crystals of Pr(BO₂)₃ dominate the main product. Both praseodymium(III) meta‐borates are air and water stable. The crystals of PrCl(BO₂)₂ emerge as long, thin, pale green needles which tend to severe twinning due to their fibrous habit. The crystal structure (triclinic, P1¯; a = 420.56(4), b = 655.42(7), c = 808.34(8) pm, α = 82.361(8), β = 89.173(9), γ = 71.980(7)°, Z = 2) exhibits zigzag chains {[(B1)o^t_1/1O^e_2/2(B2)O^t_1/1O^e_2/2]²⁻} (≡ {[BO₂]⁻}) of corner‐linked [BO₃]³⁻ triangles with syndiotactic orientation of the terminal oxygen atoms which are running parallel to the [100] direction. The Pr³⁺ cations are surrounded by three Cl⁻ and seven O²⁻ anions with the shape of a tetracapped trigonal prism. The green, transparent crystals of Pr(BO₂)₃ (monoclinic, C2/c; a= 984.98(9), b = 809.57(8), c = 641.02(6) pm, β = 126.783(9)°, Z = 4) appear either lath‐shaped or rather spherical. In the crystal structure the B³⁺ cations reside both in trigonal planar as well as in tetrahedral coordination of oxygen atoms. Both types of borate polyhedra ([BO₃]³⁻ and [BO₄]⁵⁻) are linked via corners to form chains of the composition {[(B2)‐O^t_1/1O^e_2/2(B1)O^e_4/2(B2)O^t_1/1O^e_2/2]³⁻} (≡ {[BO₂]⁻}) which run parallel [101]. The coordination sphere of the Pr³⁺ cations consists of ten oxide anions which build up a bicapped square antiprism.     

Ba3Li2V2O7Cl4, a new vanadate with a channel structure

The tribarium dilithium divanadate tetrachloride Ba₃Li₂V₂O₇Cl₄ is a new vanadate with a channel structure and the first known vanadate containing both Ba and Li atoms. The structure contains four non‐equivalent Ba²⁺ sites (two with m and two with 2/m site symmetry), two Li⁺ sites, two nonmagnetic V⁵⁺ sites, five O²⁻ sites (three with m site symmetry) and four Cl⁻ sites (m site symmetry). One type of Li atom lies in LiO₄ tetrahedra (m site symmetry) and shares corners with VO₄ tetrahedra to form eight‐tetrahedron Li₃V₅O₂₄ rings and six‐tetrahedron Li₂V₄O₁₈ rings; these rings are linked within porous layers parallel to the ab plane and contain Ba²⁺ and Cl⁻ ions. The other Li atoms are located on inversion centres and form isolated chains of face‐sharing LiCl₆ octahedra.     

New Borate‐citrate: Synthesis,Structure, and Properties of Sr[B(C6H5O7)2](H2O)4·3H2O

Single crystals of Sr[B(C₆H₅O₇)₂](H₂O)₄ · 3H₂O, a new borate‐citrate material, were grown with sizes up to 8 × 6 × 2 mm by slow evaporation of water at room temperature. The structure of Sr[B(C₆H₅O₇)₂](H₂O)₄ · 3H₂O was determined by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. It crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2₁/c, with a = 11.363(3) Å, b = 18.829(4) Å, c = 11.976(3) Å, β = 110.736(3)°, and Z = 4. The SrO₈ dodecahedra, BO₄ tetrahedra and citrate groups are linked together to form chains. The compound was characterized by IR and UV/Vis/NIR transmittance spectroscopy as well as thermal analysis.     

High‐Pressure Synthesis and Characterization of New Actinide Borates,AnB4O8 (An=Th,U)

New actinide borates ThB₄O₈ and UB₄O₈ were synthesized under high‐pressure, high‐temperature conditions (5.5 GPa/1100 °C for thorium borate, 10.5 GPa/1100 °C for the isotypic uranium borate) in a Walker‐type multianvil apparatus from their corresponding actinide oxide and boron oxide. The crystal structure was determined on basis of single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction data that were collected at room temperature. Both compounds crystallized in the monoclinic space group C2/c (Z=4). Lattice parameters for ThB₄O₈: a=1611.3(3), b=419.86(8), c=730.6(2) pm; β=114.70(3)°; V=449.0(2) ų; R₁=0.0255, wR₂=0.0653 (all data). Lattice parameters for UB₄O₈: a=1589.7(3), b=422.14(8), c=723.4(2) pm; β=114.13(3)°; V=443.1(2) ų; R₁=0.0227, wR₂=0.0372 (all data). The new AnB₄O₈ (An=Th, U) structure type is constructed from corner‐sharing BO₄ tetrahedra, which form layers in the bc plane. One of the four independent oxygen atoms is threefold‐coordinated. The actinide cations are located between the boron–oxygen layers. In addition to Raman spectroscopic investigations, DFT calculations were performed to support the assignment of the vibrational bands.     

Synthesis and crystal structure of the high-pressure iron borate α-FeB2O4

The high-pressure iron borate α-FeB₂O₄ was synthesized under high-pressure and high-temperature conditions in a Walker-type multianvil apparatus at 7.5 GPa and 1100 °C. The monoclinic iron borate crystallizes with eight formula units in the space group P2₁/c with the lattice parameters a=715.2(2), b=744.5(2), c=862.3(2) pm, and β=94.71(3)°. The compound is built up exclusively from corner-sharing BO₄-tetrahedra, isotypic to the monoclinic phases β-SrGa₂O₄, CaAl₂O₄-II, and CaGa₂O₄. Additionally, the structure is closely related to the orthorhombic compound BaFe₂O₄. The structure consists of layers of six-membered rings, which are interconnected to a three-dimensional network. The iron cations are coordinated by six and seven oxygen atoms. Next to synthesis and crystal structure of the new high-pressure borate, structural coherences to other structure types are discussed.     

RbFe[BP2O8(OH)]: Ein neues Borophosphat mit offen-verzweigten Vierer-Einfach-Tetraederketten

RbFe[BP₂O₈(OH)]: A New Borophosphate Containing Open-Branched Tetrahedral Vierer-Einfach Chains RbFe[BP₂O₈(OH)] is formed under mild hydrothermal conditions (T = 165–170 °C) from a mixture of RbOH_(aq), FeCl₂ · 4 H₂O, H₃BO₃ and H₃PO₄. The crystal structure of the monoclinic compound was solved by x-ray single crystal methods (space group P2₁/c, No. 14): a = 935.8(5) pm, b = 833.9(6) pm, c = 965.6(5) pm; β = 101.69(4)°; Z = 4. The anionic partial structure contains open-branched vierer-einfach chains [BP₂O₈(OH)]^4–, which are formed by alternating borate and phosphate tetrahedra sharing common corners. Fe³⁺ is in an octahedral coordination (FeO₅(OH)), while Rb⁺ is irregularly coordinated by ten oxygen-functions of neighbouring tetrahedra.