A series of new phases in the alkali metal-Nb(V)/Ta(V)-Se(IV)/Te(IV)-O systems

Six new phases in the alkali metal-Nb(V)/Ta(V)-Se(IV)/Te(IV)-O systems have been prepared by solid-state reactions at high-temperatures. Their structures were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies. AM(3)O(6)(QO(3))(2) (A = K, Rb, M = Nb, Ta, Q = Te; A = K, M = Nb, Q = Se) are isomorphous and their structures feature a 3D network with 1D 4- and 6-MRs tunnels along the a-axis which is composed of 2D layers of corner-sharing MO(6) octahedra bridged by QO(3) groups. The alkali metal ions are located at the above 1D tunnels of 6-MRs. The structure of Cs(3)Nb(9)O(18)(TeO(3))(2)(TeO(4))(2) features a thick Nb-Te-O layer built of corner-sharing NbO(6) octahedra, TeO(3) and TeO(4) groups. The 2D layer of the NbO(6) octahedra with 1D tunnels of 6-MRs along the c-axis are formed by 1D chains of NbO(6) chains along the c-axis and linear Nb(4)O(21) tetramers by corner-sharing. The TeO(3) and TeO(4) groups are grafted on both sides of the niobium-oxide layer via Nb-O-Te or/and Te-O-Te bridges. The caesium(i) ions are located at the above 1D tunnels of 6-MRs. TGA, UV-vis and infrared spectral measurements as well as electronic structure calculations have also been performed.