Neutron and X-ray diffraction study on polymorphism in lithium orthotantalate,Li3TaO4

The structures of the low-and high-temperature modifications of lithium orthotantalate, Li₃TaO₄, have been determined by neutron and X-ray diffraction methods. The low-temperature, or β, phase has symmetry $\text{C2}\text{c}$ and lattice parameters a₁ = 8.500(3), b₁ = 8.500(3), c₁ = 9.344(3)Å, and β = 117.05(2)°. The high-temperature, or α, phase has symmetry P2 and lattice parameters a_h = 6.018(1), b_h = 5.995(1), c_h = 12.865(2)Å, and β_h = 103.53(2)°. Both structures are ordered. The β-phase has a rock salt-type structure with a 3 : 1 ordering of the Li⁺ and Ta⁵⁺ ions. Its structure can be generated from the low-temperature modification by means of a complex pattern of shifts of the Ta⁵⁺ ions.