Structure ofA2Ge4O9-Type Sodium Tetragermanate (Na2Ge4O9) and Comparison with Other Alkali Germanate and Silicate Mixed Tetrahedral–Octahedral Framework Structures

Long-standing uncertainty on the structure type of Na₂Ge₄O₉has been resolved. Sodium tetragermanate has been grown by crystallization from a supercooled melt and its single-crystal X-ray structure has been determined (R=0.022). Sodium tetragermanate is trigonal witha=11.3234(12),c=9.6817(9) Å, space groupP c1,Z=6, andD_x=4.451 g cm⁻³. The structure is comprised of a mixed tetrahedral–octahedral framework with three-membered [Ge₃O₉] rings of GeO₄tetrahedra interconnected by isolated GeO₆octahedra via shared corners and isA₂Ge₄O₉-type. Bond distances and angles for GeO₄tetrahedra and GeO₆octahedra are very similar to the corresponding values in the type structure of K₂Ge₄O₉, the two structures differing mainly in the accommodation of the smaller (medium–large-sized) Na cation, which is now in a 5+2 coordination. The structure–composition relationships of wadeite-type,A₂Ge₄O₉-type, and Na₂Si₄O₉-type structures of germanates and silicates depend largely on theT–O distance and the size of the monovalent cation. We confirm that sodium tetragermanate is a metastable phase at all pressures up to 2 kbar, the stable assemblage for the Na₂Ge₄O₉composition being sodium enneagermanate (Na₄Ge₉O₂₀) plus a more sodic phase.     

Cluster self-organization of germanate systems: Suprapolyhedral precursor clusters and self-assembly of K2Nd4Ge4O13(OH)4, K2YbGe4O10(OH), K2Sc2Ge2O7(OH)2, and KScGe2O6(PYR)

Geometric and topological analysis of all known types of K,TR germanates (TR = La-Lu, Y, Sc, In) is carried out with the use of computer techniques (the TOPOS 4.0 program package). Framework structures are represented as three-dimensional (3D) K,TR,Ge networks (graphs) with oxygen atoms removed. The following crystal-forming 2D TR,Ge networks are determined: for K₂Nd₄Ge₄O₁₃(OH)₄, this is TR 4 3 3 4 3 3 + T 4 3 4 3; for K₂YbGe₄O₁₀(OH), this is TR 6 6 3 6 + T 1 6 8 6 + T 2 3 6 8; for K₂Sc₂Ge₂O₇(OH)₂, this is TR 6 4 6 4 + T 6 4 6; and for KScGe₂O₆, TR 6 6 3 6 3 4 + T 1 6 3 6 + T 2 6 4 3. The full 3D reconstruction of the self-assembly mechanism of crystal structures is performed as follows: precursor cluster—primary chain—microlayer-microframework (supraprecursor). In K₂Nd₄Ge₄O₁₃(OH)₄, K₂Sc₂Ge₂O₇(OH)₂, and KScGe₂O₆, an invariant type of cyclic six-polyhedral precursor cluster is identified; this precursor clusters is built of TR octahedra, which are stabilized by atoms K. For K₂Nd₄Ge₄O₁₃(OH)₄, the type of cyclic four-polyhedral precursor cluster of tetrahedron-linked TR octatopes is identified. The cluster coordination number in a layer is six (the maximum possible value) only for anhydrous germanate KScGe₂O₆ (an analogue of pyroxene, PYR); in the other OH-containing germanates, this number is four. The mechanism of formation of Ge radicals in the form of groups Ge₂O₇ and Ge₄O₁₃, a chain GeO₃, and a tubular assembly of linked cyclic groups Ge₈O₂₀ is considered.     

Synthesis and crystal structures of CaY2Ge3O10 and CaY2Ge4O12

New compounds CaY₂Ge₃O₁₀ and CaY₂Ge₄O₁₂ were prepared by heating mixtures of CaCO₃, Y₂O₃ and GeO₂ at 1200 °C. CaY₂Ge₃O₁₀ is stable at 1300 °C, while CaY₂Ge₄O₁₂ decomposes into a melt and CaY₂Ge₃O₁₀ at approximately 1250 °C. We obtained single crystals of CaY₂Ge₃O₁₀ by cooling a sample with an initial composition of Ca:Y:Ge=1:2:8 from 1300 °C with a rate of −6 °C/h. The crystal structure of CaY₂Ge₃O₁₀ was determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction. CaY₂Ge₃O₁₀ crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2₁/c with a=6.0906(8), b=6.8329(8), and β=109.140(3)°, Z=4, and R₁=0.029 for I>2σ(I). In the structure of CaY₂Ge₃O₁₀, Ca and Y atoms are situated disorderly in three 7-fold coordination sites between isolated germanate groups of triple GeO₄ tetrahedra, Ge₃O₁₀. The structural formula of CaY₂Ge₃O₁₀ is expressed as (Ca_0.45Y_0.55)(Ca_0.46Y_0.54)(Ca_0.09Y_0.91)Ge₃O₁₀. The crystal structure of CaY₂Ge₄O₁₂ was analyzed by the Rietveld method for the X-ray powder diffraction pattern. CaY₂Ge₄O₁₂ is isotypic with SrNa₂P₄O₁₂, crystallizing in the orthorhombic space group P4/nbm, a=9.99282(6), , Z=2, R_wp=0.092, R_p=0.067. CaY₂Ge₄O₁₂ contains four-membered GeO₄-tetrahedra rings, Ge₄O₁₂. Eight-fold coordinated square-anitiprism sites and 6-fold octahedral sites between the layers of the Ge₄O₁₂ rings are occupied by Y atom and Ca/Y atoms, respectively The structural formula is Y(Ca_0.5Y_0.5)₂Ge₄O₁₂.     

Cu2Sc2Ge4O13, a novel germanate isotypic with the quasi-1D compound Cu2Fe2Ge4O13 between 100 and 298 K

The germanate compound Cu₂Sc₂Ge₄O₁₃ has been synthesized by solid-state ceramic sintering techniques between 1173 and 1423 K. The structure was solved from single-crystal data by Patterson methods. The title compound is monoclinic, a=12.336(2) Å, b=8.7034(9) Å, c=4.8883(8) Å, β=95.74(2), space group P2₁/m, Z=4. The compound is isotypic with Cu₂Fe₂Ge₄O₁₃, described very recently. The structure consists of crankshaft-like chains of edge-sharing ScO₆ octahedra running parallel to the crystallographic b-axis. These chains are linked laterally by [Cu₂O₆]⁸⁻ dimers forming a sheet of metal-oxygen-polyhedra within the a-b plane. These sheets are separated along the c-axis by [Ge₄O₁₃]¹⁰⁻ units. Cooling to 100 K does not alter the crystallographic symmetry of Cu₂Sc₂Ge₄O₁₃. While the b, c lattice parameter and the unit cell volume show a positive linear thermal expansion (α=6.4(2)×10⁻⁶, 5.0(2)×10⁻⁶ and 8.3(2)×10⁻⁶ K⁻¹ respectively), the a lattice parameter exhibits a negative thermal expansion (α=−3.0(2)×10⁻⁶ K⁻¹) for the complete T-range investigated. This negative thermal expansion of a is mainly due to the increase of the Cu-Cu interatomic distance, which is along the a-axis. Average bond lengths remain almost constant between 100 and 298 K, whereas individual ones partly show both significant shortages and lengthening.     

Modeling of self-organization of silicate systems: Precursor nanoclusters and self-assembly of Na<Subscript>3</Subscript>MSi<Subscript>3</Subscript>O<Subscript>9</Subscript> (M = Y,Eu-Lu; oP256) crystal structures producing two interpenetrating diamond-type frameworks

In the M-T-O model system (M is a polyvalent metal with CN ≥ 4; T is Si), cyclic clusters have been deduced as graphs in the T/M range from one to three. The case is considered when monocyclic cluster M₂T₂ is modified by T-tetrahedra that form diortho groups T₂. The M sites of the cluster have either topologically different local MT structures (four types) or identical local MT structures (two types). The cluster types for T/M = 3 obtained by modeling were used in analysis of one of the most complicated types of silicate crystal structures Na₃MSi₃O₉ (M = Y; Eu-Lu; T/M = 3) with the Pearson index oP256 and 64 independent atoms. The TOPOS program package was used to carry out the complete 3D reconstruction of the self-assembly of the crystal structure: suprapolyhedral precursor nanocluster → primary chain → microlayer → microframework (supraprecursor) → ... three-dimensional framework. The calculation of the coordination sequences of site atoms in the 3D network of the MT framework MT₃O₉ revealed topological symmetry related to a three-dimensional separation of the framework into two interpenetrating frameworks. Each framework structure is generated by topologically equivalent cyclic precursor clusters Na₂M₂T₆ consisting of two YO₆ octahedra comprising three diortho groups Si₂O₇ and two Na atoms located above and below the ring center. The 3D graphs characterizing the connectivity of the centers of crystallographically equivalent clusters in the frameworks correspond to diamond-type networks.     

Na6B13O22.5, a new noncentrosymmetric sodium borate

Na₆B₁₃O_22.5 (B/Na=2.17) single crystals were obtained by heating, melting and appropriately cooling borax, Na₂[B₄O₅(OH)₄]·8H₂O. Its formula has been determined by the resolution of the structure from single-crystal X-ray diffraction data. The compound crystallizes in the noncentrosymmetric orthorhombic Iba2 space group, with the following unit cell parameters: a=33.359(11) Å, b=9.554(3) Å, c=10.644(4) Å; V=3392.4(19) Å³; Z=8. The crystal structure was solved from 3226 reflections until R₁=0.0385. It exhibits a three-dimensional framework built up from BO₃ triangles (Δ) and BO₄ tetrahedra (T). Two kinds of borate groups can be considered forming two different double B₃O₃ rings: two B₄O₉ (linkage by two boron atoms) and one B₅O₁₁ (linkage by one boron atom); the shorthand notation of the new fundamental building block (FBB) existing in this compound is: 13: ∞³ [(5: 3Δ+2T)+2(4: 2Δ+2T)]. The discovery of this new borate questions the real number of Na₂B₄O₇ varieties. The existence of Na₆B₁₃O_22.5 (B/Na=2.17) and of another recently discovered borate, Na₃B₇O₁₂ (B/Na=2.33; FBB 7: ∞³ [(3: 2Δ+T)+(3: Δ+2T)+(1: Δ)], with a composition close to the long-known borate α-Na₂B₄O₇ (B/Na=2; FBB 8: ∞³ [(5: 3Δ+2T)+(3: 2Δ+T)], may explain the very complex equilibria reported in the Na₂O-B₂O₃ phase diagram, especially in this range of composition.     

M4Ge9O20碱金属锗酸盐晶体、玻璃及熔体结构的拉曼光谱研究

本文研究了M₄Ge₉O₂₀型锗酸盐(M=Na,K)273～1 373 K常温、高温及熔体拉曼光谱。应用量子化学从头计算方法计算了系列二元钠锗酸盐离子簇模型振动频率。M₄Ge₉O₂₀型锗酸盐晶体结构四配位锗、六配位锗共存。研究表明,随温度升高六配位锗将逐渐转变为四配位锗,产生非桥氧,并观察到在熔点以后全部转变为四配位锗,且其桥氧角分布范围为94～145°,其高频区非桥氧对称伸缩振动频率与其精细结构密切相关,振动频率等性质主要依赖于其精细结构而非其初级结构单元-GeO₄,非桥氧对称伸缩振动频率随锗氧四面体应力指数SIT(Stress Index of Tetrahedron)的增大而增大,与实验所得到的频率与SIT的线性关系一致。玻璃结构以四配位锗为主,存在少量六配位锗,其含量取决于冷速的大小。     

Solid-State Synthesis, X-Ray Powder Diffraction, and IR Data of Na2GdOPO4

Na₂GdOPO₄, sodium gadolinium oxyphosphate, was prepared by the solid state reaction of Gd₂O₃ + Na₄P₂O₇ and its X-ray powder diffraction data was studied. The compound prepared at 1200°C showed the presence of two polymorphs which are orthorhombic and pseudoorthorohombic (monoclinic). The refined unit cell parameters were found to be a = 13.074(6), b = 10.637(5), c = 6.469(3) Å for the orthorhombic form. The X-ray powder data and the cell parameters were quite similar to that of RbTiOPO₄. The IR spectra of the compound is identical to that of M¹ TiOPO₄ (M¹ = K, Rb, Tl) except for three Ti-O vibrations.     

Polyèdre de coordination de l'etain(II) dans SnC2O4: Relations structurales entre SnC2O4, Na2C2O4 et Na2Sn(C2O4)2

The crystal structure of SnC₂O₄ has been determined by X-ray single-crystal techniques and refined to R = 0,018 for 1139 reflections. The cell is monoclinic, space group $\text{C2}\text{c}$ with Z = 4 formula units, the parameters being a = 10,375(3)Å. b = 5,504(2)Å, c = 8,234(3)Å, β = 125,11(2)°. The oxalato groups, located on symmetry centers, are chelated to two Sn atoms through one oxygen on each carbon atom, giving rise to an infinite string (SnC₂O₄)_n. The Sn(II) atom is one-side bonded to four oxygen atoms with two SnO bonds of 2,232(2) Å and two of 2,393(2) Å. The tin atom is in a distorted trigonal bipyramid SnO₄E, the lone pair E occupying one of the apices of the equatorial trigonal base of the polyhedron. Crystal structure comparison with disodium bisoxalatostannate(II), Na₂Sn(C₂O₄)₂, permits one to deduce SnC₂O₄ by crystallographic shear operation $\text{1}\text{8}\text{[34}\text{2}\text{](001)}$ of $\text{c}\text{2}$ periodicity. Na₂Sn(C₂O₄)₂ can be described as an intergrowth of SnC₂O₄ and Na₂C₂O₄ structures and consldered as the first member of a new series Na₂Sn_1+n(C₂O₄)_2+n with n integer ? 0.     

New compounds A 3+ Te6+M 33+ X 25+ O14 (A = Na, K; M = Ga, Al, Fe; X = P, As, V) with the Ca3Ga2Ge4O14 structure

Compounds A₃⁺Te⁶⁺M₃³⁺X₂⁵⁺O₁₄ (A = Na, K; M = Ga, Al, Fe; X = P, As, V) with the Ca₃Ga₂Ge₄O₁₄ structure (sp. gr. P321) were prepared by solid-phase synthesis at 600–850°C in air. The compounds melt incongruently or decompose in the solid state.     

Synthesis and crystal structure of the palladium oxides NaPd3O4, Na2PdO3 and K3Pd2O4

NaPd₃O₄, Na₂PdO₃ and K₃Pd₂O₄ have been prepared by solid-state reaction of Na₂O₂ or KO₂ and PdO in sealed silica tubes. Crystal structures of the synthesized phases were refined by the Rietveld method from X-ray powder diffraction data. NaPd₃O₄ (space group Pm3¯n, a=5.64979(6) Å, Z=2) is isostructural to NaPt₃O₄. It consists of NaO₈ cubes and PdO₄ squares, corner linked into a three-dimensional framework where the planes of neighboring PdO₄ squares are perpendicular to each other. Na₂PdO₃ (space group C2/c, a=5.3857(1) Å, b=9.3297(1) Å, c=10.8136(2) Å, β=99.437(2)°, Z=8) belongs to the Li₂RuO₃-structure type, being the layered variant of the NaCl structure, where the layers of octahedral interstices filled with Na⁺ and Pd⁴⁺ cations alternate with Na₃ layers along the c-axis. Na₂PdO₃ exhibits a stacking disorder, detected by electron diffraction and Rietveld refinement. K₃Pd₂O₄, prepared for the first time, crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group Cmcm (a=6.1751(6) Å, b=9.1772(12) Å, c=11.3402(12) Å, Z=4). Its structure is composed of planar PdO₄ units connected via common edges to form parallel staggered PdO₂ strips, where potassium atoms are located between them. Magnetic susceptibility measurements of K₃Pd₂O₄ reveal a Curie-Weiss behavior in the temperature range above 80 K.     

Synthesis, structure and properties of new chain cuprates, Na3Cu2O4 and Na8Cu5O10

Na₃Cu₂O₄ and Na₈Cu₅O₁₀ were prepared via the azide/nitrate route from stoichiometric mixtures of the precursors CuO, NaN₃ and NaNO₃. Single crystals have been grown by subsequent annealing of the as prepared powders at 500 °C for 2000 h in silver crucibles, which were sealed in glass ampoules under dried Ar. According to the X-ray analysis of the crystal structures (Na₃Cu₂O₄: P2₁/n, Z=4, a=5.7046(2), b=11.0591(4), c=8.0261(3) Å, β=108.389(1)°, 2516 independent reflections, R₁(all)=0.0813, wR₂ (all)=0.1223; Na₈Cu₅O₁₀: Cm, Z=2, a=8.228(1), b=13.929(2), , β=111.718(2)°, 2949 independent reflections, R₁(all)=0.0349, wR₂ (all)=0.0850), the main feature of both crystal structures are CuO₂ chains built up from planar, edge-sharing CuO₄ squares. From the analysis of the Cu-O bond lengths, the valence states of either +2 or +3 can be unambiguously assigned to each copper atom. In Na₃Cu₂O₄ these ions alternate in the chains, in Na₈Cu₅O₁₀ the periodically repeated part consists of five atoms according to Cu^II-Cu^II-Cu^III-Cu^II-Cu^III. The magnetic susceptibilities show the dominance of antiferromagnetic interactions. At high temperatures the compounds exhibit Curie-Weiss behaviour (Na₃Cu₂O₄: , , Na₈Cu₅O₁₀: , , magnetic moments per divalent copper ion). Antiferromagmetic ordering is observed to occur in these compounds below 13 K (Na₃Cu₂O₄) and 24 K (Na₈Cu₅O₁₀).     

Theoretical study of polyoxide clusters Sc20O30, P20O50, Ti20O30F20, and V20O30F20

The structural, electronic, and vibrational characteristics and energies of the isolated polyoxide clusters Sc₂₀O₃₀, P₂₀O₅₀, Ti₂₀O₃₀F₂₀, and V₂₀O₃₀F₂₀ and ammonia complexes Sc₂₀O₃₀ · nNH₃ were calculated by the density functional theory B3LYP method with several basis sets. The computation results show that a fullerene-like closo structure I _h with oxygen bridges located above the midpoints of the edges of an empty [M₂₀] dodecahedron is preferable for the Ti₂₀O₃₀F₂₀ and V₂₀O₃₀F₂₀ clusters with four-coordinate metal atoms protected by the outer M-F bonds. This structure with a cage diameter of ∼1 nm and the diameter of nearly planar decagonal faces (windows) of ∼0.5 nm is stable to dissociation into fragments and to strong geometric distortions and retains its closo shape when molecules like NH₃ and anions like H⁻ are attached to the cage. An analogous closo structure is favorable for the P₂₀O₅₀ cluster; however, in this structure, the [P₂₀] cage is severely distorted and all 12 windows are strongly corrugated. For Sc₂₀O₃₀, the I _h dodecahedron with bare three-coordinate Sc atoms corresponds to a local minimum of the potential energy surface, which is 170–200 kcal/mol less favorable than compact puck-shaped isomers in which four- and five-coordinate metal atoms and three- and four-coordinate oxygen atom prevail. “Solvation” of the dodecahedral and puck-shaped Sc₂₀O₃₀ isomers by ammonia molecules strongly decreases the energy gap between the isomers; however, the dodecahedron I _h in all cases remains a high-lying intermediate. According to calculations, most polyoxides under consideration have a high electron affinity (comparable with or higher than that of fullerenes) and is able to add three to five or more alkali-metal atoms to form radical salts in which clusters are in the state of polyanions. Because of large sizes of the [M₂₀] cages and their windows, the interior of the cage (as distinct from fullerenes) can accommodate a considerable number of atoms and several small molecules. The V₂₀O₃₀F₂₀ cluster has 20 unpaired electrons and can be treated as a molecular magnet. The properties of the [M₂₀] cages depend only slightly on the outer substituents. It is suggested that the pattern will be retained upon the substitution of OH groups for the F atoms and that the hydroxo-substituted clusters can bind to each other through hydrogen bridges and serve as building blocks for self-assembly into ordered nanometer and crystalline structures of various dimensions. Original Russian Text ? O.P. Charkin, N.M. Klimenko, D.O. Charkin, 2009, published in Zhurnal Neorganicheskoi Khimii, 2009, Vol. 54, No. 5, pp. 775–785.     

A novel germanate, Cu2Fe2Ge4O13, with a four tetrahedra oligomer

The structure of Cu₂Fe₂Ge₄O₁₃, previously thought to be CuFeGe₂O₆, has been determined from single-crystal X-ray diffraction data to be monoclinic, P2₁/m, a=12.1050(6), b=8.5073(4), c=4.8736(2) Å, β=96.145(1)°, Z=2, with R1=0.0231 and wR2=0.0605. The unique structure has an oligomer of four germanate tetrahedra, cross-linked laterally by square-planar copper ions, joined end-to-end by a zigzag chain of edge-sharing iron oxide octahedra. Running along the a-direction the metal oxide chain consists of alternating Cu-Cu and Fe-Fe dimers. A hypothetical series of homologous structures (Cu_n−2Fe₂Ge_nO_3n+1 with n=3,4,…,∞) with different length germanate oligomers is proposed, where as n increases, the infinite chain of the CuGeO₃ is approached. In this context, Cu₂Fe₂Ge₄O₁₃ is viewed as being built from blocks of CuGeO₃ and the Fe oxide chains. This material has significance to the study of low-dimensional mixed-spin systems.     

Cluster self-organization of Li-and TR-containing germanate systems: Suprapolyhedral precursors and self-assembly of LiScGeO4 and LiHo3(GeO4)2F2 crystal structures

The combinatorial and topologic analysis (the TOPOS 4.0 program package, the coordination sequences method) is carried out for the crystal structures of the orthogermanates Li^[6]Sc^[6]Ge^[4]O₄ (the olivine type, space group Pnuma) and Li^[6]Ho^[8]Ho ₂ ^[7] (GeO₄)₂F₂ (space group I2/c). The same type of 2D TR,Ge-net with the Schläfli index of 3⁴4² + 3²4² and the site ratio of TR: Ge = 1: 1 is discovered for both structures. Four-polyhedral ring precursor clusters (TR)₂T₂ are identified using the two-color decomposition of structural graphs. All the clusters have a symmetry center; they differ in the types of TR polyhedra (ScO₆ and HoO₆F), which are linked through GeO₄ orthotetrahedra into a ring. The Li atoms reside above and under the centers of the clusters. The Li₂(TR)₂T₂ clusters determine the formation of crystal-forming clusters of a higher level by means of matrix self-assembly. The coordination number of the precursor clusters in the 2D net is six, which is the highest possible value.     

Ge4+、Sn4+掺杂尖晶石LiMn2O4的合成与电化学表征

使用Ge⁴⁺、Sn⁴⁺作为掺杂离子, 通过高温固相法制备四价阳离子掺杂改性的尖晶石LiMn₂O₄材料. X射线衍射(XRD)和扫描电子显微镜(SEM)分析表明, Ge⁴⁺离子取代尖晶石中Mn⁴⁺离子形成了LiMn_2-xGe_xO₄ (x=0.02,0.04, 0.06)固溶体; 而Sn⁴⁺离子则以SnO₂的形式存在于尖晶石LiMn₂O₄的颗粒表面. Ge⁴⁺离子掺入到尖晶石LiMn₂O₄材料中, 抑制了锂离子在尖晶石中的有序化排列, 提高了尖晶石LiMn₂O₄的结构稳定性; 而在尖晶石颗粒表面的SnO₂可以减少电解液中酸的含量, 抑制酸对LiMn₂O₄活性材料的侵蚀. 恒电流充放电测试表明, 两种离子改性后材料的容量保持率均有较大幅度的提升, 有利于促进尖晶石型LiMn₂O₄锂离子电池正极材料的商业化生产.     

Solvothermal synthesis of three new dimeric thiogermanates (enH)4Ge2S6, [Mn(en)3]2Ge2S6 and [Ni(en)3]2Ge2S6 from germanium dioxide and sulfur powder

Three new thiogermanates (enH)₄Ge₂S₆ (1) and [M(en)₃]₂Ge₂S₆ (M=Mn (2), Ni (3); en=ethylenediamine) were synthesized using GeO₂ and S₈ as starting materials in molar ratio of 1:0.5 under solvothermal conditions. These compounds suggest that the dimeric [Ge₂S₆]⁴⁻ anion is likely to be the main germanium-containing species in en system and it also might be preferred as counter anions by the transition metal complex cations in crystallization. The cations of [Mn(en)₃]²⁺ and [Ni(en)₃]²⁺ are even better mineralizers than the protonated amine of [enH]⁺. The crystal systems of [Ge₂S₆]⁴⁻ compounds are related to entities of cations and intermolecular reactions between cations and [Ge₂S₆]⁴⁻ anions. The compounds remove ethylenediamine and H₂S molecules in multi steps when being heated under nitrogen stream.     

Synthesis and crystal structure of Ln2MGe4O12, Ln=rare-earth element or Y; M=Ca, Mn, Zn

The crystal structure of the promising optical materials Ln₂M²⁺Ge₄O₁₂, where Ln=rare-earth element or Y; M=Ca, Mn, Zn and their solid solutions has been studied in detail. The tendency of rare-earth elements to occupy six- or eight-coordinated sites upon iso- and heterovalent substitution has been studied for the Y_2−xEr_xCaGe₄O₁₂ (x=0-2), Y_2−2xCe_xCa_1+xGe₄O₁₂ (x=0-1), Y₂Ca_1−xMn_xGe₄O₁₂ (x=0-1) and Y_2−xPr_xMnGe₄O₁₂ (x=0-0.5) solid solutions. A complex heterovalent state of Eu and Mn in Eu₂MnGe₄O₁₂ has been found.     

Structure and magnetism of NaRu2O4 and Na2.7Ru4O9

The structures of NaRu₂O₄ and Na_2.7Ru₄O₉ are refined using neutron diffraction. NaRu₂O₄ is a stoichiometric compound consisting of double chains of edge sharing RuO₆ octahedra. Na_2.7Ru₄O₉ is a non-stoichiometric compound with partial occupancy of the Na sublattice. The structure is a mixture of single, double and triple chains of edge-shared RuO₆ octahedra. NaRu₂O₄ displays temperature independent paramagnetism with . Na_2.7Ru₄O₉ is paramagnetic, χ₀= with and a Curie constant of 0.0119 emu/mol Oe K. Specific heat measurements reveal a small upturn at low temperatures, similar to the upturn observed in La₄Ru₆O₁₉. The electronic contribution to the specific heat (γ) for Na_2.7Ru₄O₉ was determined to be15 mJ/mole_Ru K².     

Subsolidus phase relations in the Na2MoO4-CoMoO4-Cr2(MoO4)3 system

Triple molybdate NaCoCr(MoO₄)₃, a phase of variable composition Na₂MoO₄-CoMoO₄-Cr₂(MoO₄)₃ (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.5) having nasicon structure (space group R $ \bar 3 $ \bar 3 c), and triple molybdate NaCo₃Cr(MoO₄)₅ crystallizing in triclinic space group P $ \bar 1 $ \bar 1 were synthesized in the subsolidus region of the Na₂MoO₄-CoMoO₄-Cr₂(MoO₄)₃ ternary salt system. Crystal parameters were calculated for the newly synthesized molybdates and phases. The vibration spectra of Na_{1 − x} Co_{1 − x} Cr_{1 + x} (MoO₄)₃ and electrophysical properties were studied. Upon Na + Co → Cr(III) substitution, chromium cations are distributed to cobalt sites and additional vacancies are generated in the sodium sublattice.