First Observation of an Inverse Ruddlesden‐Popper Series: (A3n+1ONn−1)Bin+1 with A = Sr,Ba and n = 1, 3

Single crystals ((Ba_0.78(1)Sr_0.22)₄O)Bi₂ and ((Ba_0.62(1)Sr_0.38)₁₀N₂O)Bi₄ were successfully prepared from melt beads of Ba, Sr, and Bi in nitrogen atmosphere with oxygen impurities. The phases can be prepared in single phase from the appropriate mixtures of alkaline‐earth metal, bismuth, and bismuth oxide upon heating in pure nitrogen atmosphere. ((Ba_0.78(1)Sr_0.22)₄O)Bi₂ crystallizes in the K₂NiF₄ structure type (space group I4/mmm, No. 139, a = 522.34(5) pm, c = 1844.0(2) pm, Z = 2, R_gt(F) = 0.039) with layers of vertex‐sharing octahedra ((Ba,Sr)_4/2Ba₂O). ((Ba_0.62(1)Sr_0.38)₁₀N₂O)Bi₄ crystallizes as an isotype of Sr₄Ti₃O₁₀ (space group I4/mmm, No. 139, a = 531.3(1) pm, c = 3983.2(4) pm, Z = 2, R_gt(F) = 0.050) containing slabs of three layers of vertex‐sharing octahedra further connected via corners. These compounds are interpreted in terms of members of an inverse Ruddlesden‐Popper series with the general formula n (A₃ON_n?1)Bi · ABi or (A_3n+1ON_n?1)Bi_n+1, respectively, with n = 1, 3. Partial order of the alkaline‐earth metal ions is analyzed.