Cationic networks in the structures of rare earth germanates and borogermanates: Typology of cationic networks in the structures of rare earth compounds

The cationic networks in the structure of binary and mixed-anion compounds forming in the Ln₂O₃-B₂O₃-GeO₂ systems have been studied. The collection of the known cationic networks consisting of two dominating pure forms, anisotropic and isotropic, as well as of the combined anisotropic-isotropic and multivector variety of anisotropic cationic networks, was enlarged by two new types of isotropic cationic networks, namely, combined isotropic-isotropic (in the Nd₄GeO₈ structure) and imperfect isotropic (in the structure of borogermanates Ln₁₄ (BO₆)₆ (GeO₄)2O(₈).