Four new hydroxymonophosphates with closely related intersecting tunnels structures: The series AM(PO3(OH))2 with A=Rb, Cs; M=Fe, Al, Ga, In

The family of hydroxymonophosphates of generic formula AM^III(PO₃(OH))₂ has been revisited using hydrothermal techniques. Four new phases have been synthesized: CsIn(PO₃(OH))₂, RbFe(PO₃(OH))₂, RbGa(PO₃(OH))₂ and RbAl(PO₃(OH))₂. Single crystal diffraction studies show that they exhibit two different structural types from previously observed other phases with A=H₃O, NH₄, Rb and M=Al, V, Fe. The “Cs-In” and “Rb-Fe” phosphates crystallize in the triclinic space group , with the cell parameters a=7.4146(3) Å, b=9.0915(3) Å, c=9.7849(3) Å, α=65.525(3)°, β=70.201(3)°, γ=69.556(3)° and V=547.77(4) Å³ (Z=3) for CsIn(PO₃(OH))₂ and a=7.2025(4) Å, b=8.8329(8) Å, c=9.4540(8) Å, α=65.149(8)°, β=70.045(6)°, γ=69.591(6)° and V=497.44(8) Å³ (Z=3) for α-RbFe(PO₃(OH))₂. The “Rb-Al” and “Rb-Ga” phosphates crystallize in the Rc space group, with a=8.0581(18) Å and c=51.081(12) Å (V=2872.5(11) Å³ and Z=18) for RbAl(PO₃(OH))₂ and a=8.1188(15) Å and c=51.943(4) Å (V=2965(8) Å and Z=18) for RbGa(PO₃(OH))₂. These two structural types are closely related. Both are built up from M^IIIO6 octahedra sharing their apices with PO₃(OH) tetrahedra to form [M₃(PO₃OH)₆] units, but the latter exhibits a different configuration of their tetrahedra. The three-dimensional host-lattices result from the connection of the [M₃(PO₃OH)₆] units and they present numerous intersecting tunnels containing the monovalent cations.     

Synthesis, structure, and properties of the first trimetallic phosphate [Ni(H2O)4]Cd(VO)(PO4)2 with neutral 3-D pillared-layer framework

Hydrothermal reactions of VOSO₄·3H₂O, CdAc₂·2H₂O, NiCl₂·6H₂O, H₃PO₄, and H₂O yield the first example of trimetallic phosphate materials, [Ni(H₂O)₄]Cd(VO)(PO₄)₂1. The single-crystal X-ray diffraction shows that its structure consists of Cd/V/O binary metal oxide lamellas decorated by PO₄ tetrahedra, which are further pillared by NiO₂(H₂O)₄ octahedra to generate a neutral 3-D framework containing two intercrossing 8-MR channels where the coordinated water molecules protrude into. Thermal and magnetic behaviors of this material were also measured. Crystal data: CdNiVP₂O₁₃H₈, orthorhombic Ibca (No.73), a=7.1307(2) Å, b=18.6248(3) Å, c=14.8046(2) Å, V=1966.17(7) Å³, Z=8.     

Metal phosphonates containing pyridyl N-oxide groups: Syntheses of Cd{(2-C5H4NO)CH(OH)PO3}(H2O)2 and Zn{(4-C5H4NO)CH(OH)PO3} with chain and layer structures

This paper reports the syntheses and characterization of two phosphonate compounds Cd{(2-C₅H₄NO)CH(OH)PO₃}(H₂O)₂ (1) and Zn{(4-C₅H₄NO)CH(OH)PO₃} (2) based on hydroxy(2-pyridyl N-oxide)methylphosphonic and hydroxy(4-pyridyl N-oxide)methylphosphonic acids. Compound 1 has a chain structure in which dimers of edge-shared {CdO₆} octahedra are linked by {CPO₃} tetrahedra through corner-sharing. The pyridyl rings reside on the two sides of the inorganic chain. Compound 2 has a layer structure where the inorganic chains made up of corner-sharing {ZnO₄} and {CPO₃} tetrahedra are covalently connected by pyridyl N-oxide groups. Crystal data for 1: triclinic, space group , a=6.834(1) Å, b=7.539(1) Å, c=10.595(2) Å, α=84.628(3)°, β=74.975(4)°, γ=69.953(4)°. For 2: triclinic, space group , a=5.219(1) Å, b=8.808(2) Å, c=9.270(2) Å, α=105.618(5)°, β=95.179(4)°, γ=94.699(4)°.     

Structural study of the NaCdVO4-Cd3V2O8 and CdO-V2O5 sections of the ternary system Na2O-CdO-V2O5

The NaCdVO₄-Cd₃V₂O₈ and CdO-V₂O₅ sections of the ternary system Na₂O-CdO-V₂O₅ have been studied and the crystal structures of Cd₃V₂O₈ and Cd₁₈V₈O₃₈ compounds were determined from single-crystal X-ray diffraction data. Cd₃V₂O₈ crystallizes with the maricite-type structure in space group Pnma, a=9.8133(10) Å, b=6.9882(10) Å, c=5.3251(10) Å and Z=4, whereas Cd₁₈V₈O₃₈ crystallizes in space group P1 with a new-type structure, a=8.5761(14), b=8.607(3), c=12.896(2) Å, α=95.64(1), β=102.45(1), γ=108.42(1)° and Z=1. The Cd₃V₂O₈ structure is made up of Cd1O₄ infinite chains of edge-sharing Cd1O₆ octahedra which are parallel to the b direction. The Cd1O₄ chains are linked together by VO₄ tetrahedra and strongly distorted Cd2O₄ tetrahedra. The structure of Cd₁₈V₈O₃₈ is based on an ordered three-dimensional framework of cadmium and vanadium polyhedra that share corners. The distorted CdO₆ octahedra, CdO₅ trigonal bipyramids and CdO₅ square pyramids share corners, edges or faces.     

Synthesis and crystal structure of Bi6.4Pb0.6P2O15.2: A new polymorph in the series Bi6+xM1−xP2O15+y

Bi_6.4Pb_0.6P₂O_15.2 is a polymorph of structures with the general stoichiometry Bi_6+xM_1−xP₂O_15+y. However, unlike previously published structures that consist of layers formed by edge sharing OBi₄ tetrahedra bridged by PO₄ and TO₆ (T=transition metal) tetrahedra and octahedra the title compound's structure is more complex. It is monoclinic, C2, a=19.4698(4) Å, b=11.3692(3) Å, c=16.3809(5) Å, β=101.167(1)°, Z=10. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction data were refined by least squares on F² converging to R₁=0.0387, wR₂=0.0836 for 7023 intensities. The crystal twins by mirror reflection across (001) as the twin plane and twin component 1 equals 0.74(1). Oxygen ions are in tetrahedral coordination to four metal ions and the O(BiPb)₄ units share corners to form layers that are part of the three-dimensional framework. Eight oxygen ions form a cube around the two crystallographically independent Pb ions. Pb-O bond lengths vary from 2.265(14) to 2.869(14) Å. Pairs of such cubes share an edge to form a Pb₃O₂₀ unit. The two oxygen ions from the unshared edges are part of irregular Bi polyhedra. Other oxygen ions of Bi polyhedra are part only of O(BiPb)₄ units, and some oxygen ions of the polyhedra are also part of PO₄ tetrahedra. One, two, three and or four PO₄ moieties are connected to the Bi polyhedra. Bi-O bond lengths ?3.1 Å vary from 2.090(12) to 3.07(3) Å. The articulations of Pb cubes, Bi polyhedra and PO₄ tetrahedra link into the three-dimensional structure.     

Synthesis, structure, and physicochemical investigations of the new α Cu0.50TiO(PO4) oxyphosphate

The room-temperature crystal structure of a new Cu(II) oxyphosphate—α Cu_0.50^IITiO(PO₄)—was determined from X-ray single crystals diffraction data, in the monoclinic system, space group P2₁/c. The refinement from 5561 independent reflections lead to the following parameters: a=7.5612(4)Å, b=7.0919(4)Å, c=7.4874(4)Å, β=122.25(1)°, Z=4, with the final R=0.0198, wR=0.0510. The structure of α Cu_0.50^IITiO(PO₄) can be described as a TiOPO₄ framework constituted by chains of tilted corner-sharing [TiO₆] octahedra running parallel to the c-axis and cross linked by phosphate [PO₄] tetrahedra, where one-half of octahedral cavities created are occupied by Cu atoms. Ti atoms are displaced from the center of octahedra units in alternating long (2.308 Å) and short (1.722 Å) Ti-O(1) bonds along chains. Such O(1) atoms not linked to P atoms justify the oxyphosphate formulation α Cu_0.50TiO(PO₄). The divalent cations Cu²⁺ occupy a Jahn-Teller distorted octahedron sharing two faces with two [TiO₆] octahedra. EPR and optical measurements are in good agreement with structural data. The X-ray diffraction results are supported by Raman and infrared spectroscopy studies that confirmed the existence of the infinite chains -Ti-O-Ti-O-Ti-. α Cu_0.50TiO(PO₄) shows a Curie-Weiss paramagnetic behavior in the temperature range 4-80 K.     

[H3N(CH2)4NH3]2[Al4(C2O4)(H2PO4)2(PO4)4]·4[H2O]: A new layered aluminum phosphate-oxalate

A new layered inorganic-organic hybrid aluminum phosphate-oxalate [H₃N(CH₂)₄NH₃]₂[Al₄(C₂O₄)(H₂PO₄)₂(PO₄)₄]·4[H₂O](AlPO-CJ25) has been synthesized hydrothermally, by using 1,4-diaminobutane (DAB) as structure-directing agent. The structure has been solved by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis and further characterized by IR, ³¹P MAS NMR, TG-DTA as well as compositional analyses. Crystal data: the triclinic space group P-1, a=8.0484(7) Å, b=8.8608(8) Å, c=13.2224(11) Å, α=80.830(6)°, β=74.965(5)°, γ=78.782(6)°, Z=2, R_1[I>2σ(I)]=0.0511 and wR_{2(all data)}=0.1423. The alternation of AlO₄ tetrahedra and PO₄ tetrahedra gives rise to the four-membered corner-sharing chains, which are interconnected through AlO₆ octahedra to form the layered structure with 4,6-net sheet. Interestingly, oxalate ions are bis-bidentately bonded by participating in the coordination of AlO₆, and bridging the adjacent AlO₆ octahedra. The layers are held with each other through strong H-bondings between the terminal oxygens. The organic ammonium cations and water molecules are located in the large cavities between the interlayer regions.     

Crystal structure and properties of the new vanadyl(IV)phosphates Na2MVO(PO4)2, M=Ca and Sr

Two new complex vanadyl(IV)phosphates Na₂MVO(PO₄)₂ (M=Ca, Sr) were synthesized in evacuated quartz ampoules and investigated by means of X-ray diffraction, electron microscopy, DTA, ESR and magnetic susceptibility measurements. The crystal structure of Na₂SrVO(PO₄)₂ was solved ab initio from X-ray powder diffraction data. Both compounds are isostructural: a=10.5233(3) Å, b=6.5578(2) Å, c=10.0536(3) Å and a=10.6476(3) Å, b=6.6224(2) Å, c=10.2537(3) Å for Ca and Sr, respectively; S.G. Pnma, Z=4. The compounds have a three-dimensional structure consisting of V⁴⁺O₆ octahedra connected by PO₄ tetrahedra via five of the six vertexes forming a framework with cross-like channels. The strontium and sodium atoms are located in the channels in an ordered manner. Electron diffraction as well as high-resolution electron microscopy confirmed the structure solution. The new vanadylphosphates are Curie-Weiss paramagnets in a wide temperature range down to 2 K with θ=12 and 5 K for Ca and Sr phases, respectively.     

A sodium gallophosphate with an original tunnel structure: NaGa2(OH)(PO4)2

A new sodium gallophosphate, NaGa₂(OH)(PO₄)₂, has been obtained by hydrothermal synthesis under autogeneous pressure at 473 K. It crystallizes in the P2₁/n space group with the cell parameters a=8.9675(8) Å, b=8.9732(5) Å, c=9.2855(7) Å, β=114.812(6)°, V=678.2 Å³ (Z=4). In its original three-dimensional framework, monophosphate groups share their apices with [Ga₄O₁₆(OH)₂] tetrameric units, which are built from two GaO₅(OH) octahedra and two GaO₄(OH) trigonal bipyramids. The sodium cations are located in tunnels running along a, whereas the tunnels running along b are empty.     

Synthesis and crystal structure of a new open-framework iron phosphate (NH4)4Fe3(OH)2F2[H3(PO4)4]: Novel linear trimer of corner-sharing Fe(III) octahedra

A new iron phosphate (NH₄)₄Fe₃(OH)₂F₂[H₃(PO₄)₄] has been synthesized hydrothermally at HF concentrations from 0.5 to 1.2 mL. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis reveals its three-dimensional open-framework structure (monoclinic, space group P2₁/n (No. 14), a=6.2614(13) Å, b=9.844(2) Å, c=14.271(3) Å, β=92.11(1)°, V=879.0(3) Å³). This structure is built from isolated linear trimers of corner-sharing Fe(III) octahedra, which are linked by (PO₄) groups to form ten-membered-ring channels along [1 0 0]. This isolated, linear trimer of corner-sharing Fe(III) octahedra, [(FeO₄)₃(OH)₂F₂], is new and adds to the diverse linkages of Fe polyhedra as secondary building units in iron phosphates. The trivalent iron at octahedral sites for the title compound has been confirmed by synchrotron Fe K-edge XANES spectra and magnetic measurements. Magnetic measurements also show that this compound exhibit a strong antiferromagnetic exchange below T_N=17 K, consistent with superexchange interactions expected for the linear trimer of ferric octahedra with the Fe-F-Fe angle of 132.5°.     

[Co(en)3][In3(H2PO4)6(HPO4)3]·H2O: A new layered indium phosphate templated by cobalt complex

A new layered indium phosphate [Co(en)₃][In₃(H₂PO₄)₆(HPO₄)₃]·H₂O (1) has been synthesized solvothermally by using a racemic mix of chiral metal complex Co(en)₃Cl₃ as a template. Its structure is determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis and further characterized by X-ray powder diffraction, ICP, NMR and TG analyses. The inorganic layer is built up by alternation of In-centred octahedra (InO₆) and P-centered tetrahedra (PO₃(OH), PO₂(OH)₂, PO₂(=O)(OH) and PO(=O)(OH)₂) forming a 4.12-net. The metal complex cations locate in the interlayer region and interact with the host network through H-bonds. It is the first indium phosphate compound templated by a transition-metal complex and is isostructural with GaPO-CJ14. Crystal data: 1, monoclinic, space group P2₁/m (No. 11), a=9.1700(18) Å, b=22.6923(5) Å, c=9.9116(2) Å, β=107.87(3)°, Z=4, R_1[I>2σ(I)]=0.0287 and wR_{2(all data)}=0.0939.     

Crystal structure of a new phosphate compound, Mg2KNa(PO4)2·14H2O

A new phosphate compound, Mg₂KNa(PO₄)₂·14H₂O, formed in the laboratory by cyanobacteria, has been identified and its crystal structure studied with single-crystal X-ray diffraction and infrared spectroscopy. The crystal is orthorhombic with the space group Pnma and unit-cell parameters a=25.1754(18) Å, b=6.9316(5) Å, c=11.2189(10) Å, V=1957.8(3) Å³. Its structure can be viewed as stacking of three types of layers along the a-axis in a sequence ABCBABCB…, where layer A is composed of Mg1(H₂O)₆ octahedra and Na(H₂O)₆ trigonal prisms, layer B of two crystallographically distinct PO₄³⁻ tetrahedra (designated as P1 and P2), and layer C of Mg2(H₂O)₆ octahedra and highly irregular K-polyhedra formed by five H₂O molecules and one O²⁻ from the P2 tetrahedron. The linkage between layers is principally achieved through hydrogen bonding, except for the K-O5 bond between layers B and C. The structure of Mg₂KNa(PO₄)₂·14H₂O has many features similar to those for the struvite analogs of MgK(PO₄)·6H₂O (Acta Crystallogr. B 35 (1979) 11) or MgNa(PO₄)·7H₂O (Acta Crystallogr. B 38 (1982) 40) and represents the first struvite-type phosphate compound that contains both K and Na as univalent cations.     

Synthesis and structural characterization of novel tin and titanium potassium silicates K4M2Si6O18

The synthesis of a new potassium titanosilicate, K₄Ti₂Si₆O₁₈ (Ti-AV-11), possessing the crystal structure of potassium stannosilicate AV-11, has been reported. The unit cell of this material is trigonal, space group R3 (no. 146), Z=3, a=10.012, c=14.8413 Å, γ=120°, V=1289 Å³. The structure of AV-11 is built up of MO₆ (M=Sn, Ti) octahedra and SiO₄ tetrahedra by sharing corners. The SiO₄ tetrahedra form helix chains, periodically repeating every six tetrahedra. These chains extend along the [001] direction and are linked by isolated MO₆ octahedra, thus producing a mixed octahedral-tetrahedral oxide framework. AV-11 materials have been further characterized by bulk chemical analysis, powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), ²⁹Si and ¹¹⁹Sn magic-angle spinning (MAS) NMR spectroscopy.     

Crystal structures of lazulite-type oxidephosphates TiTi3O3(PO4)3 and M4Ti27O24(PO4)24 (M=Ti, Cr, Fe)

Single crystals of the oxidephosphates Ti^IIITi^IV₃O₃(PO₄)₃ (black), Cr^III₄Ti^IV₂₇O₂₄(PO₄)₂₄ (red-brown, transparent), and Fe^III₄Ti^IV₂₇O₂₄(PO₄)₂₄ (brown) with edge-lengths up to 0.3 mm were grown by chemical vapour transport. The crystal structures of these orthorhombic members (space group F2dd ) of the lazulite/lipscombite structure family were refined from single-crystal data [Ti^IIITi^IV₃O₃(PO₄)₃: Z=24, a=7.3261(9) Å, b=22.166(5) Å, c=39.239(8) Å, R₁=0.029, wR₂=0.084, 6055 independent reflections, 301 variables; Cr^III₄Ti^IV₂₇O₂₄(PO₄)₂₄: Z=1, a=7.419(3) Å, b=21.640(5) Å, c=13.057(4) Å, R₁=0.037, wR₂=0.097, 1524 independent reflections, 111 variables; Fe^III₄Ti^IV₂₇O₂₄(PO₄)₂₄: Z=1, a=7.4001(9) Å, b=21.7503(2) Å, c=12.775(3) Å, R₁=0.049, wR₂=0.140, 1240 independent reflections, 112 variables). For Ti^IIITi^IVO₃(PO₄)₃ a well-ordered structure built from dimers [Ti^III,IV₂O₉] and [Ti^IV,IV₂O₉] and phosphate tetrahedra is found. The metal sites in the crystal structures of Cr₄Ti₂₇O₂₄(PO₄)₂₄ and Fe₄Ti₂₇O₂₄(PO₄)₂₄, consisting of dimers [M^IIITi^IVO₉] and [Ti^IV,IV₂O₉], monomeric [Ti^IVO₆] octahedra, and phosphate tetrahedra, are heavily disordered. Site disorder, leading to partial occupancy of all octahedral voids of the parent lipscombite/lazulite structure, as well as splitting of the metal positions is observed. According to Guinier photographs Ti^III₄Ti^IV₂₇O₂₄(PO₄)₂₄ (a=7.418(2) Å, b=21.933(6) Å, c=12.948(7) Å) is isotypic to the oxidephosphates M^III₄Ti^IV₂₇O₂₄(PO₄)₂₄ (M^III: Cr, Fe). The UV/vis spectrum of Cr₄Ti₂₇O₂₄(PO₄)₂₄ reveals a rather small ligand-field splitting Δ_o=14,370 cm⁻¹ and a very low nephelauxetic ratio β=0.72 for the chromophores [Cr^IIIO₆] within the dimers [Cr^IIITi^IVO₉].     

A new sodium hydroxygallophosphate containing tetrameric gallium units: Na3[Ga4O(OH)(H2O)(PO4)4]·H2O

A new sodium hydroxygallophosphate, Na₃Ga₄O(OH)(H₂O)(PO₄)₄·H₂O, has been prepared by hydrothermal synthesis. Its structure has been determined from a single-crystal X-ray diffraction study. It crystallizes in the P2₁/c space group with the cell parameters a=9.445(2) Å, b=9.028(1) Å, c=19.209(3) Å, β=102.08(2), V=1603.4(4) Å³. Its three-dimensional framework can be described from PO₄ monophosphate groups sharing their apices with original Ga₄O₁₆(OH)(H₂O) tetrameric building units, which result from the assembly of one GaO₄ tetrahedron, one GaO₅ trigonal bipyramid and two octahedra: GaO₅(OH) and GaO₄(OH)(H₂O). The sodium cations and one water molecule are located in tunnels running along b.     

K3Ln[OB(OH)2]2[HOPO3]2 (Ln=Yb, Lu): Layered rare-earth dihydrogen borate monohydrogen phosphates

Two isotypic layered rare-earth borate phosphates, K₃Ln[OB(OH)₂]₂[HOPO₃]₂ (Ln=Yb, Lu), were synthesized hydrothermally and the crystal structures were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction (R3?, Z=3, Yb: a=5.6809(2) Å, c=36.594(5) Å, V=1022.8(2) ų, Lu: a=5.6668(2) Å, c=36.692(2) Å, V=1020.4(1) ų). The crystal structure can be described in terms of stacking of Glaserite-type slabs consisting of LnO₆ octahedra interlinked by phosphate tetrahedra and additional layers of [OB(OH)₂]^- separated by K⁺ ions. Field and temperature dependent measurements of the magnetic susceptibility of the Yb-compound revealed Curie-Weiss paramagnetic behavior above 120 K (μ_eff=4.7 μ_B). Magnetic ordering was not observed down to 1.8 K.     

Synthesis, X-ray crystal structure and vibrational spectroscopy of the acidic pyrophosphate KMg0.5H2P2O7·H2O

The hydrated potassium hemimagnesium dihydrogen pyrophosphate KMg_0.5H₂P₂O₇·H₂O was synthesized. It crystallizes in the triclinic system, space group (n. 2), Z=2, with the following unit-cell parameters: a=6.8565(2) Å, b=7.3621(3) Å, c=7.6202(3) Å, α=81.044(2)°, β=72.248(2)°, γ=83.314(3)°, V=360.90(2) Å³. The structure was obtained by single-crystal X-ray diffractometry, and a full-matrix least-squares refinement based on F² gave a final R index of =0.0368 (wR=0.0975), utilizing 1446 observed reflections with I>2σ(I). The crystal packing consists in a three-dimensional network made by layers parallel to ab plane of PO₄ double tetrahedra and MgO₆ octahedra, linked by hydrogen bonds, while K atoms form complex coordination within cavities between tetrahedra and octahedra. The dihydro-pyrophosphate anion (H₂P₂O₇)²⁻ shows bent eclipsed conformation and the Mg²⁺ ion lies on inversion center. No coincidences observed between most of infrared and Raman spectral bands confirmed the centrosymmetric structure of the title compound; the vibrational spectra point to a bent POP bridge angle.     

Chirality and ferromagnetism in NiBPO4(OH)2 containing helix edge-sharing NiO6 chains

Two isotypic borophosphates MBPO₄(OH)₂ (M=Mg, Ni) have been hydrothermally synthesized and structurally characterized by powder X-ray diffraction in the space group P3₁21. Nickel (or magnesium) atoms are octahedrally coordinated. The octahedra share edges to form helix chains around the three-fold screw-axis. Boron and phosphorus atoms are both tetrahedrally coordinated. The BO₄ and PO₄ tetrahedra are alternately connected, forming vierer-single chains. These two kinds of chains are intersected in the three-dimensional framework structure. NiBPO₄(OH)₂ can be considered as a quasi-one-dimensional magnet because the shortest Ni²⁺-Ni²⁺ distance within the helix chain is about 3.187(1) Å, while the shortest inter-chain connection of the nickel ions is through a BO₄ group (5.650(1) Å). Both dc and alternating current (ac) susceptibilities and isothermal magnetization have been measured on powder sample. The intra- and inter-chain interactions are proved to be both ferromagnetic, and a long-range ordering is established below 2.2 K in NiBPO₄(OH)₂.     

Trapping phosphate anions inside the [Ag4I] framework: Structure, bonding, and properties of Ag4I(PO4)

Orange-red Ag₄I(PO₄) crystallizes in the monoclinic system, space group P2₁/m (No. 11), with the unit cell dimensions a=9.0874(6) Å, b=6.8809(5) Å, c=11.1260(7) Å, β=109.450(1)°, and Z=4. The crystal structure is fully ordered; it comprises the silver-iodine three-dimensional positively charged framework hosting the tetrahedral PO₄³⁻ guest anions. The framework features high coordination numbers for iodine and manifold Ag-Ag bonds ranging from 3.01 to 3.46 Å. The Ag-Ag interaction is bonding, it involves silver 4d and 5s orbitals lying, together with the orbitals of iodine, just below the Fermi level. Though the orbitals of silver and iodine define the conducting properties of the title compound, the interaction between the framework and the guest anions is also important and is responsive to the number of the silver atoms surrounding the PO₄³⁻ tetrahedra. Ag₄I(PO₄) melts incongruently at 591 K and produces a mixture of the silver phosphate and an amorphous phase upon cooling. Pure Ag₄I(PO₄) is a poor conductor with a room temperature conductivity of 3×10⁻⁶ S m⁻¹. The discrepancies between the properties observed here and those reported previously in the literature are discussed.     

Synthesis and Structure of the New Ammonium Indium Phosphate (NH4)In(OH)PO4

A new ammonium indium phosphate (NH₄)In(OH)PO₄ was prepared by hydrothermal reaction in the In₂O₃-NH₄H₂PO₄-NH₃/OH system (T=200°C, autogenous pressure, 7 days). The formula (NH₄)In(OH)PO₄ was determined on the basis of chemical and thermal analysis (TG/DSC), X-ray powder diffraction and IR-spectroscopy. (NH₄)In(OH)PO₄ crystallizes in the tetragonal system with space group P4₃2₁2 (No. 96); a=9.4232(1) Å, c=11.1766(1) Å, V=992.45(2) ų; Z=8. The crystal structure was refined by the Rietveld method (R_w=6.35%, R_p=5.10%). The second-harmonic generation study confirmed that structure of (NH₄)In(OH)PO₄ does not have a center of symmetry. The cis-InO₄(OH)₂ octahedra form helical chains, parallel to the c-axis. The In-O-In bonds are nearly equidistant. The chains are interconnected by phosphate tetrahedra and create tunnels containing the NH₄⁺ ions along the c-axis. (NH₄)In(OH)PO₄ is isostructural with RbIn(OH)PO₄.