The crystal structure of triclinic β-BiNbO4

The crystal structure of β-BiNbO₄ has been determined from three-dimensional X-ray data. The crystals are triclinic with a = 7.61₁ Å, b = 5.53₆ Å, c= 7.91₉ Å, α = 89.88°, β = 77.43°, γ = 87.15°, Z = 4, space group $\text{P}\text{1}$. Full-matrix least-squares refinement using isotropic temperature factors has reached R = 0.122 for 642 visually estimated reflections.The structure contains unusual sheets of formula [NbO₄]_∞ in which the NbO octahedra are joined at four vertices such that the two free ones are cis. NbO distances range from 1.80 to 2.31 Å. The bismuth atoms hold these sheets together and are coordinated to eight oxygens in the form of a very distorted square antiprism.Structurally, β-BiNbO may be considered an antiferroelectric, ferroelastic member of the BaMF₄ prototype family.