KTm[B4O6(OH)4] ⋅ 3H2O: A New Member of Borate Family with Mica-like Tetrahedral Layers

Crystallography Reports - Crystals of new borate KTm[B4O6(OH)4] ? 3H2O (sp. gr. Р $$\bar {3}$$ 1m, a = 4.5472(7) Å, c = 12.151(3) Å) have been obtained under hydrothermal...     

KNa2Tm[Si8O19] · 4H2O,a new layered silicate related to rhodezite-shlykovite-delhayelite-umbrianite-guenterblassite-hilleshaymite: Topology-symmetry analysis of the OD-family and structure prediction

Crystals of a new silicate KNa₂Tm[Si₈O₁₉] · 4H₂O, space group P12/m1 (the chemical formula was determined in the course of structure solution), are obtained under hydrothermal conditions. KNa₂Tm[Si₈O₁₉] · 4H₂O is the first synthetic representative of the family, which contains the following well-known and recently discovered minerals: rhodezite, delhayelite (fivegite, hydrodelhayelite), mountainite, shlykovite (cryptofillite), and guenterblassite (umbrianite, hilleshaymite). A crystal chemical analysis within the extended OD theory revealed the similarity of the structures of the family, including the new simplest representative and the factors responsible for structural diversity, namely, different symmetry of sheets of octahedra connected with layers of tetrahedra, which are distinguished in all the structures, and different patterns of symmetry relation between the sheets. Hypothetic structures with a higher degree of disordering are deduced. Crystals with these structures can be found in nature or obtained synthetically.     

Crystal structure of a new polar borate Na<Subscript>2</Subscript>Ce<Subscript>2</Subscript>[BO<Subscript>2</Subscript>(OH)][BO<Subscript>3</Subscript>]<Subscript>2</Subscript> · H<Subscript>2</Subscript>O with isolated boron triangles

Crystals of a new polar borate Na₂Ce₂[BO₂(OH)][BO₃]₂ · H₂O were prepared by hydrothermal synthesis. The crystals are orthorhombic, a = 7.2295(7) Å, b = 11.2523(8) Å, c = 5.1285(6) Å, Z = 2, sp. gr. C2mm (Amm2), R = 0.0253. The formula of the compound was derived from the structure determination. The Ce and Na atoms are coordinated by nine and six O atoms, respectively. The Ce position is split, and a small amount of Ce is incorporated into the Na1 site with the isomorphous substitution for Na. The anionic moieties exist as isolated BO₃ and BO₂(OH) triangles. The planes of the BO₂(OH) triangles with mm2 symmetry are parallel to the ab plane. The planes of the BO₃ triangles with m symmetry are perpendicular to the ab plane and are rotated in a diagonal way. The splitting of the Ce positions and the polar arrangement of the BO₂(OH) triangles, water molecules, and Na atoms are observed along the polar a axis. The new structure is most similar to the new borate NaCa₄[BO₃]₃ (sp. gr. Ama2), in which triangles of one type are arranged in a polar fashion along the c axis. Weak nonlinear-optical properties of both polar borates are attributed to the quenching of the second-harmonic generation due to the mutually opposite orientation of two-thirds of B triangles in the unit cell.     

Na<Subscript>3</Subscript>Tb<Subscript>3</Subscript>[Si<Subscript>6</Subscript>O<Subscript>18</Subscript>] · H<Subscript>2</Subscript>O,a synthetic analogue of microporous mineral gerenite

Crystals of a new silicate, Na₃Tb₃[Si₆O₁₈] · H₂O, space group \(P\bar 1\), are obtained under hydrothermal conditions. The formula of the compound is determined in the course of structure solution. The silicate is a synthetic analogue of the gerenite mineral (Ca_1.21Na_0.57)(Y_2.24Dy_0.68)Si₆O₁₈ · 2H₂O, whose structure contains six-membered rings formed by SiO₄ tetrahedra. The [Si₆O₁₈] rings are connected by TbO₆ octahedra into a mixed microporous framework with voids filled by Na atoms and water molecules. The new silicate differs from gerenite by the occupation of the Ca position by Na atoms and population of the pores sandwiched between six-membered rings. By virtue of conditions of hydrothermal synthesis in the absence of Ca and excess of Na in the system, an additional Na position appears in the void. It is populated statistically, and in gerenite it was occupied by water molecules only. In the new structure, the position of water is split into two statistically populated positions. The inclusion of Na atoms in additional positions in framework pores and their high thermal vibrations are indicative of ion-exchange properties of the structure. Possible paths of ion exchange are discussed.