β‐Y2Si2O7, a new thortveitite‐type compound,determined at 100 and 280 K

A new form of Y₂Si₂O₇ (diyttrium heptaoxodisilicate) has been synthesized which is isotypic with thortveitite, Sc₂Si₂O₇, and crystallizes in the centrosymmetric space group C2/m, both at 100 and 280 K. The Y³⁺ cation occupies a distorted octahedral site, with Y—O bond lengths in the range 2.239 (2)–2.309 (2) Å. The SiO₄ tetrahedron is remarkably regular, with Si—O bond lengths in the range 1.619 (2)–1.630 (2) Å. The bridging O atom of the Si₂O₇ pyrosilicate group shows a large anisotropic displacement perpendicular to the Si—O bond. Changes in lattice and structural parameters upon cooling are small with, however, a distinct decrease of the anisotropic displacement of the briding O atom. Structure solution and refinement in the non‐centrosymmetric space group C2 are possible but do not yield a significantly different structure model. The Si—O—Si bond angle of the isolated Si₂O₇ groups is 179.2 (1)° at 280 K in C2 and 180° per symmetry in C2/m. The C2/m structure model is favoured.