A Mixed-Valent Molybdenotungsten Monophosphate with a Tunnel Structure: Nax(Mo, W)2O3(PO4)2

A mixed-valent molybdenotungstophosphate, Na_x(Mo, W)₂O₃(PO₄)₂ (x 0.75) has been isolated for the first time. It crystallizes in the space group P 2₁/m with a = 7.200(1) Å, b = 6.369(1) Å, c = 9.123(1) Å, and β = 106.29(1)°. Its structure consists of M₂PO₁₃ units built up of two M O₆ octahedra (M = Mo, W) and one PO₄ tetrahedron sharing their apices as already observed in several molybdenum phosphates. These units share their apices with PO₄ tetrahedra forming M₂P₂O₁₅]_∞ chains running along . The host lattice (Mo, W)₂P₂O₁₁]_∞ can be described by the assemblage of such chains or by the assemblage of MPO₈]_∞ chains running along , in which one PO₄ tetrahedron alternates with one MO₆ octahedron. The tridimensional framework Mo, WP₂O₁₁]_∞ delimits tunnels running along , occupied by sodium with two kinds of coordination, 6 and 5. The distribution of the different species, in the octahedral sites according to the formulation Na_0.75(Mo^VI_0.42W^VI_0.58)_M1 (Mo^V_0.75W^VI_0.25)₂O₃(PO₄)₂, is discussed.