Na7Y2(P2O7)2 (P3O10) – A New Layer and Tunnel Structure

A new layered phosphate, Na₇Y₂(P₂O₇) ₂(P₃O₁₀), containing both P₂O₇]^4? and P₃O₁₀]^5? groups, has been prepared. It crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2/c with a = 16.205(4), b = 5.3746(9), c = 12.309(4) Å, β = 97.96(2)°, V = 1061.7(5) ų and Z = 2. The structure was solved and refined to R₁ = 0.0298 and wR₂ = 0.0698 for 1844 independent reflections with I > 2σ(I). It consists of layers of corner and edge-sharing YO₇ polyhedra, P₂O₇ and P₃O₁₀ groups. Each layer is built up from two parallel YP₂O₇] slabs, held together by the P₃O₁₀ groups. This arrangement gives rise to intersecting tunnels within the layer. The Na⁺ cations are located in the tunnels and between the layers. Both P₂O₇ and P₃O₁₀ groups contain unshared oxygen atoms directed toward the interlayer space and toward the tunnels. The P₂O₇ groups show a staggered configuration. In addition to this original layered framework, the title compound provides the third example of a compound containing a mixed anion of P₂O₇]^4? and P₃O₁₀]^5?. The structure was compared with the two previously reported ones, containing such a mixed anion: NH₄Cd₆(P₂O₇) ₂(P₃O₁₀) 6] and Cs₂Mo₅O₂(P₂O₇)₃ · (P₃O₁₀) 7].