Application de la spectrometrie vibrationnelle à un probleme de non-stoechiométrie par insertion dans les tunnels pentagonaux des réseaux (M6X4O26) (M = Nb,Ta; X = Si,Ge)

The ir spectra of A₃M₆Si₄O₂₆ (A = Ba, Sr; M = Nb, Ta) and K₆M₆Si₄O₂₆ oxides, whose structure contains linear Si₂O₇ groups, are discussed with particular emphasis on the peculiar behavior of the antisymmetric stretching frequency of the linear SiOSi bridge. In accord with previous data, this frequency is the highest of the spectrum (near 1200 cm^?1), but it is significantly lowered (by about 75 cm^?1) when passing from the A₃M₆Si₂₄O₂₆ to the K₆M₆Si₄O₂₆ compounds. This is readily explained by the peculiar structure of the K₆ compounds, in which three (out of the six) K⁺ cations are located near the bridge oxygen (A₂ sites), these sites remaining empty in the A₃M₆Si₄O₂₆ compounds. The resulting KO bonding weakens the SiO bond, thus leading to a lowering of the corresponding bridge frequency. The same type of explanation holds for the presence of a new band at an intermediate frequency (about 1150 cm^?1) in phases of intermediate composition K_6?2xBa_xM₆Si₄O₂₆, this new band being correlated with a partial occupancy of the A₂ sites. This has been applied to, and is a sensitive means of, detecting nonstoichiometry in the A₂ sites of other compounds with (M₆X₄O₂₆) layers (X = Si, Ge) such as Ba_6+xNb₁₄Si₄O₄₇, K₈M₁₄Si₄O₄₇, and K₁₀M₂₂X₄O₆₈ (M = Nb, Ta).