Structural analysis and devitrification of glasses based on the CaO-MgO-SiO2 system with B2O3, Na2O, CaF2 and P2O5 additives

Glasses, whose basic composition was based on the CaO-MgO-SiO₂ system and doped with B₂O₃, P₂O₅, Na₂O, and CaF₂, were prepared by melting at 1400 °C for 1 h. Raman and infrared (IR) spectroscopy revealed that the main structural units in the glass network were predominantly Q¹ and Q² silicate species. The presence of phosphate and borate units in the structure of the glasses was also evident in these spectra. X-ray analysis showed that the investigated glasses devitrified at 750 °C and higher temperatures. The crystalline phases of diopside and wollastonite dominated, but weak peaks, assigned to akermanite and fluorapatite, were also registered in the diffractograms. The presence of B₂O₃, Na₂O, and CaF₂ had a negligible influence on the assemblage of the crystallized phases, but it caused a reduction of crystallization temperature, comparing to similar glasses of the CaO-MgO-SiO₂ system.     

Zwei Chloridsilicate des Yttriums: Y3Cl[SiO4]2 und Y6Cl10[Si4O12]

Two Chloride Silicates of Yttrium: Y₃Cl[SiO₄]₂ and Y₆Cl₁₀[Si₄O₁₂] The chloride‐poor yttrium(III) chloride silicate Y₃Cl[SiO₄]₂ crystallizes orthorhombically (a = 685.84(4), b = 1775.23(14), c = 618.65(4) pm; Z = 4) in space group Pnma. Single crystals are obtained by the reaction of Y₂O₃, YCl₃ and SiO₂ in the stoichiometric ratio 4 : 1 : 6 with ten times the molar amount of YCl₃ as flux in evacuated silica tubes (7 d, 1000 °C) as colorless, strongly light‐reflecting platelets, insensitive to air and water. The crystal structure contains isolated orthosilicate units [SiO₄]^4– and comprises cationic layers {(Y2)Cl}²⁺ which are alternatingly piled parallel (010) with anionic double layers {(Y1)₂[SiO₄]₂}^2–. Both crystallographic different Y³⁺ cations exhibit coordination numbers of eight. Y1 is surrounded by one Cl^– and 7 O^2– anions as a distorted trigonal dodecahedron, whereas the coordination polyhedra around Y2 show the shape of bicapped trigonal prisms consisting of 2 Cl^– and 6 O^2– anions. The chloride‐rich chloride silicate Y₆Cl₁₀[Si₄O₁₂] crystallizes monoclinically (a = 1061,46(8), b = 1030,91(6), c = 1156,15(9) pm, β = 103,279(8)°; Z = 2) in space group C2/m. By the reaction of Y₂O₃, YCl₃ and SiO₂ in 2 : 5 : 6‐molar ratio with the double amount of YCl₃ as flux in evacuated silica tubes (7 d, 850 °C), colorless, air‐ and water‐resistant, brittle single crystals emerge as pseudo‐octagonal columns. Here also a layered structure parallel (001) with distinguished cationic double‐layers {(Y2)₅Cl₉}⁶⁺ and anionic layers {(Y1)Cl[Si₄O₁₂]}^6– is present. The latter ones contain discrete cyclo‐tetrasilicate units [Si₄O₁₂]^8– of four cyclically corner‐linked [SiO₄] tetrahedra in all‐ecliptical arrangement. The coordination sphere around (Y1)³⁺ (CN = 8) has the shape of a slightly distorted hexagonal bipyramid comprising 2 Cl^– and 6 O^2– anions. The 5 Cl^– and 2 O^2– anions building the coordination polyhedra around (Y2)³⁺ (CN = 7) form a strongly distorted pentagonal bipyramid.     

Er4F2[Si2O7][SiO4]: Das erste Selten‐Erd‐Fluoridsilicat mit zwei verschiedenen Silicat‐Anionen

Er₄F₂[Si₂O₇][SiO₄]: The First Rare‐Earth Fluoride Silicate with Two Different Silicate Anions By the reaction of Er₂O₃ with ErF₃ and SiO₂ at 700 °C in sealed tantalum capsules using CsCl as flux (molar ratio 5 : 2 : 3 : 20), the compound Er₄F₂[Si₂O₇][SiO₄] (triclinic, P 1; a = 648.51(5), b = 660.34(5), c = 1324.43(9) pm, α = 87.449(8), β = 85.793(8), γ = 60.816(7)°; V_m = 148.69(1) cm³/mol, Z = 2) is obtained as pale pink platelets or lath‐shaped single crystals. It consists of disilicate anions [Si₂O₇]^6– in eclipsed conformation, ortho‐silicate anions [SiO₄]^4– and isolated [Er₄F₂]¹⁰⁺ units comprising two edge‐shared [Er₃F] triangles. Er³⁺ is surrounded by 7 + 1 (Er1) or 7 (Er2–Er4) anionic neighbors, respectively, of which two are F^– in the case of Er1 and Er4 but only one for Er2 and Er3. The other ligands recruit from oxygen atoms of the different oxosilicate groups. The crystal structure can be described as simple rowing up of the three building groups ([SiO₄]^4–, [Er₄F₂]¹⁰⁺, and [Si₂O₇]^6–) along [001]. The necessity of a large excess of fluoride for a successful synthesis of Er₄F₂[Si₂O₇][SiO₄] will be discussed.     

Neue Cyclosilicate der Alkalimetalle: Cs5AgSi3O9 und Cs6Na6Si6O18

New Alkali Cyclosilicates: Cs₅AgSi₃O₉ and Cs₆Na₆Si₆O₁₈ The new cyclosilicates were obtained from reactions of the binary oxides at 450–500 °C under inert gas atmosphere. Cs₅AgSi₃O₉ crystallizes in the space group P2₁/m with the lattice constants a = 968,2(2) pm, b = 652,7(1) pm, c = 1162,6(3) pm, β = 93,84(2)° and Cs₆Na₆Si₆O₁₈ in R‐3m with a = 1208,0(1) pm, c = 1458,9(2) pm (IPDS data sets). The characteristic features are isolated rings, [Si₃O₉]^6– and [Si₆O₁₈]^12–, respectively. In Cs₅AgSi₃O₉ these are connected via Ag⁺ to chains. Layers of [NaO₄]‐tetrahedra separate the hexameric rings in Cs₆Na₆Si₆O₁₈. Coordination numbers of caesium are observed between C.N. 3 and C.N. 9 in these alkali rich cyclosilicates. MAPLE calculations of both cyclosilicates as well as the absorption and IR spectrum of Cs₅AgSi₃O₉ are presented. Preparative and thermoanalytical techniques have been used to investigate the reactivity of Cs₅AgSi₃O₉ in the presence of cobalt and nickel metal.     

Ce3Cl5[SiO4] und Ce3Cl6[PO4]: Ein chloridreiches Chloridsilicat und ‐phosphat des Cers im Vergleich

Ce₃Cl₅[SiO₄] and Ce₃Cl₆[PO₄]: A Chloride‐Rich Chloride Silicate of Cerium as Compared to the Phosphate By reacting CeCl₃ with CeO₂, cerium and SiO₂, or P₂O₅, respectively, in molar ratios of 5 : 3 : 1 : 3 or 8 : 3 : 1 : 2, respectively, in sealed evacuated silica tubes (7 d, 850 °C) colorless, rod‐shaped single crystals of Ce₃Cl₅[SiO₄] (orthorhombic, Pnma; a = 1619.7(2), b = 415.26(4), 1423.6(1) pm; Z = 4) and Ce₃Cl₆[PO₄] (hexagonal, P6₃/m; a = 1246.36(9), c = 406.93(4) pm; Z = 2) are obtained as products insensitive to air and water. Excess cerium trichloride as flux promotes crystal growth and can be rinsed off again with water after the reaction. The crystal structures are determined by discrete [SiO₄]^4– or [PO₄]^3– tetrahedra as isolated units. Both, the chloride silicate Ce₃Cl₅[SiO₄] and the chloride phosphate Ce₃Cl₆[PO₄], exhibit structural similarities to CeCl₃ (UCl₃ type), when four or three Cl^– anions are each substituted formally by one [SiO₄]^4– or [PO₄]^3– unit, respectively, in the tripled formula (Ce₃Cl₉). The coordination number for Ce³⁺ is thus raised from nine in CeCl₃ to ten in Ce₃Cl₅[SiO₄] and Ce₃Cl₆[PO₄], along with a drastic reduction of the molar volume with the transition from Ce₃Cl₉ (V_m = 186.17 cm³/mol) to Ce₃Cl₅[SiO₄] (V_m = 144.15 cm³/mol) and Ce₃Cl₆[PO₄] (V_m = 164.84 cm³/mol). The polyhedra of coordination around Ce³⁺ can be described as quadruple‐capped trigonal prisms, which in addition to seven Cl^– anions each also show another three oxygen atoms of two ortho‐silicate or ortho‐phosphate tetrahedra, respectively.     

Nd3Si5AlON10 – Synthese,Kristallstruktur und Eigenschaften eines Sialons im La3Si6N11‐Strukturtyp

Nd₃Si₅AlON₁₀ – Synthesis, Crystal Structure, and Properties of a Sialon Isotypic with La₃Si₆N₁₁ Nd₃Si₅AlON₁₀ was synthesized by the reaction of silicon diimide, aluminium nitride, aluminium oxide, and neodymium in a pure nitrogen atmosphere at 1650 °C using a radiofrequency furnace. The compound was obtained as a coarsely crystalline solid. According to the single‐crystal structure determination the title compound is isotypic with Ln₃Si₆N₁₁ (Ln = La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm). Nd₃Si₅AlON₁₀ (P4bm, a = 1007.8(1), c = 486.3(1) pm, Z = 2, R₁ = 0.016, wR₂ = 0.031) is built up by a three‐dimensional network structure of corner sharing SiON₃ and (Si/Al)N₄ tetrahedra (molar ratio Si : Al = 3 : 1). According to lattice energetic calculations using the MAPLE concept a differentiation of O and N seems to be reasonable. One of the two different sites for the tetrahedral centres is probably occupied by Si (distances: Si–O: 168.4(1), Si–N: 173.6(3)–176.0(4) pm) the second site by Si and Al with the molar ratio 3 : 1 (distances: (Si/Al)–N: 172.0(3)–176.6(2) pm). The Nd³⁺ ions are located in the voids of the (Si₅AlON₁₀)^9– framework (distances: Nd–O: 261.07(8), Nd–N: 246.1(2)–286.6(2) pm).     

Synthese,Charakterisierung und Struktur von Mn3SiO4F2

Synthesis, Characterization, and Structure of Mn₃SiO₄F₂ Mn₃SiO₄F₂ was synthesized by chemical vapour transport in a temperature gradient (800 → 700 °C) using MnF₂ as precursor and iodine as transport agent. SiO₂ was provided from the wall of the used silica tubes. The chemical composition of the crystals was determined by EELS and EDX analysis. The structure of Mn₃SiO₄F₂ was determined and refined to R(|F|) = 0.039, wR(F²) = 0.087, respectively. The orthorhombic phase crystallizes in the space group Pnma (No. 62) with a = 10.758(2) Å, b = 9.145(1) Å, c = 4.850(1) Å and Z = 4. Two crystallographically different Mn‐atoms are surrounded by oxygene and fluorine octahedrally. Si is tetrahedrally surrounded only by oxygen. IR‐measurements proved that in Mn₃SiO₄F₂ no substitution of F^– by OH^– takes place as in the mineral norbergite (Mg₃SiO₄(OH,F)₂).     

Mesoporous Silica from Lyotropic Liquid Crystal Polymer Templates

Amphiphilic block copolymer templates in sol–gel processes yield bicontinuous silicates with distorted hexagonal symmetry (see, for example, the transmission electron migrograph depicted on the right). The long Bragg distance of 8–13 nm combined with the high mechanical and thermal stability suggests some promising prospects for chemistry and materials science.     

La2Si2O7 im I—Typ: Gemäß La6[Si4O13][SiO4]2 kein echtes Lanthandisilicat

I‐Type La₂Si₂O₇: According to La₆[Si₄O₁₃][SiO₄]₂ not a Real Lanthanum Disilicate In attempts to synthesize lanthanum telluride silicate La₂Te[SiO₄] (from La, TeO₂, SiO₂ and CsCl, molar ratio: 1 : 1: 1 : 20, 950 °C, 7 d) or fluoride‐rich lanthanum fluoride silicates (from LaF₃, La₂O₃, SiO₂ and CsCl, molar ratio: 5 : 2 : 3 : 17, 700 °C, 7 d) in evacuated silica tubes, colourless lath‐shaped single crystals of hitherto unknown I‐type La₂Si₂O₇ (monoclinic, P2₁/c; a = 726.14(5), b = 2353.2(2), c = 1013.11(8) pm, β = 90.159(7)°) were found in the CsCl‐flux melts. Nevertheless, this new modification of lanthanum disilicate does not contain any discrete disilicate groups [Si₂O₇]^6‐ but formally three of them are dismutated into one catena‐tetrasilicate ([Si₄O₁₃]^10‐ unit of four vertex‐linked [SiO₄]^4‐ tetrahedra) and two ortho‐silicate anions (isolated [SiO₄]^4‐ tetrahedra) according to La₆[Si₄O₁₃][SiO₄]₂. This compound can be described as built up of alternating layers of these [SiO₄]^4‐ and the horseshoe‐shaped [Si₄O₁₃]^10‐ anions along [010]. Between and within the layers the high‐coordinated La ³⁺ cations (CN = 9 ‐ 11) are localized. The close structural relationship to the borosilicates M₃[BSiO₆][SiO₄](M = Ce ‐ Eu) is discussed and structural comparisons with other catena‐tetrasilicates are presented.     

Sm3Cl[SiO4]2: Ein chlorarmes Chloridorthosilicat des Samariums

Sm₃Cl[SiO₄]₂: A Chlorine‐poor Chloride Orthosilicate of Samarium Pale yellow, plate‐like single crystals of Sm₃Cl[SiO₄]₂ (orthorhombic, Pnma; a = 701.74(8), b = 1800.8(2), c = 626.63(7) pm; Z = 4) are obtained upon the reaction of SmCl₃, Sm₂O₃ and SiO₂ (”︁Kieselgel”︁”︁) in 1 : 4 : 6 molar ratios, most advantageously in the presence of substantial amounts of NaCl as fluxing agent, after seven days at 850 °C in evacuated silica ampoules. The B‐type crystal structure (isotypic with e. g. Yb₃Cl[SiO₄]₂) contains discrete orthosilicate tetrahedra [SiO₄]^4– which form anionic double layers ({(Sm1)₂[SiO₄]₂}^2–) with (Sm1)³⁺. These are alternatingly sheethed along [010] with cationic monolayers ({(Sm2)Cl}²⁺) consisting of (Sm2)³⁺ and Cl^–. Both crystallographically independent Sm³⁺ cations exhibit coordination numbers of eight (Sm1: 1 Cl + 7 O; Sm2: 2 Cl + 6 O) with respect to the involved electronegative particles.