Solid state NMR characterization of individual compounds and solid solutions formed in Sc(2)O(3)--V(2)O(5)--Nb(2)O(5)--Ta(2)O(5) system

In this study, (51)V, (45)Sc and (93)Nb MAS NMR combined with satellite transition spectroscopy analysis were used to characterize the complex solid mixtures: VNb(9(1-x))Ta(9x)O(25), ScNb((1-x))Ta(x)O(4) and ScNb(2(1-x))Ta(2x)VO(9) (x = 0, 0.3, 0.5, 0.7, 1.0). This led us to describe the structures of Sc and V sites. The conclusions were based on accurate values for (51)V quadrupole coupling and chemical shift tensors obtained with (51)V MAS NMR/SATRAS for VNb(9)O(25), VTa(9)O(25) and ScVO(4). The (45)Sc NMR parameters have been obtained for Sc(2)O(3), ScVO(4), ScNbO(4) and ScTaO(4). On the basis of (45)Sc NMR and data available from literature, the ranges of the (45)Sc chemical shift have been established for ScO(6) and ScO(8). The gradual change of the (45)Sc and (51)V NMR parameters with x confirms the formation of solid solutions in the process of synthesis of VNb(9(1-x))Ta(9x)O(25) and ScNb((1-x))Ta(x)O(4), in contrast to ScNb(2(1-x))Ta(2x)VO(9). The cation sublattice of ScNb((1-x))Ta(x)O(4) is found to be in octahedral coordination. The V sites in VNb(9(1-x))Ta(9x)O(25) are present in the form of slightly distorted tetrahedra. The (93)Nb NMR parameters have been obtained for VNb(9)O(25).