Structure determination of Cs0.864Rb1.136SeO4

The present structure determination of Cs _x Rb_2-x SeO₄ shows that the crystal belongs to the β - K₂SO₄ family, like the related compounds Cs₂SeO₄ and Rb₂SeO₄. In β - K₂SO₄ compounds the cations occupy two different sites; one of these sites, which is surrounded by 11 anionic atoms, is occupied preferentially by Cs, while the other one with 9 neighbours by Rb. A slight excess of Rb has been determined by X-ray structure analysis in a single crystal prepared at 292 K; its formula is Cs_0.864(9)Rb_1.136(9)SeO₄.

Crystals were grown by evaporation from equimolar water solutions of Cs₂SeO₄ and Rb₂SeO₄ at 292 and 301 K. No phase transition was detected by DSC in the range 103-323 K for either of the samples. Lattice parameters of different crystals isolated at various stages of crystallization indicate formation of crystals with a different proportion of Cs/Rb cations. The lattice parameters as well as their ratios differed significantly from those given by Endo et al., (1983).