Crystal structure of double vanadates Ca9 R(VO4)7. II. R = Tb, Dy, Ho, and Y

Crystal structures of the compounds Ca₉ R(VO₄)₇ (R = Tb (I), Dy (II), Ho (III), and Y (IV) have been studied by the method of the full-profile analysis. All the compounds are crystallized in the trigonal system (sp. gr. R 3 c, Z = 6) with the unit-cell parameters (I) a = 10.8592(1), c = 38.035(1), V = 3884.2(2) ų; (II) a = 10.8564(1), c = 38.009(1) Å, V = 3879.6(2) ų, (III) a = 10.8565(1) and c = 37.995(1) Å, V = 3878.3(2) ų, and (IV) a = 10.8588(1), c = 37.995(1) Å, V = 3879.9(2) ų. In structures I–IV, rare earth and calcium cations occupy three positions—M(1), M(2), and M(5). Rare earth cations occupy the R ³⁺ positions almost in the same way: 2.7–2.6(2) cations in the M(1) position; 2.7–2.3(2) cations in the M(2) position, and 0.6–1.0(1) cation in the M(5) position. At the same time, the occupancy of the M(5) position regularly increases with a decrease of the R ³⁺ radius.