Single-crystal X-ray diffraction study of Cs₂Er[Si₆O₁₄]F and Cs₂Er[Si₄O₁₀]F

Single-crystal growth experiments in the system CsF-Er₂O₃-SiO₂ resulted in the simultaneous crystallization of two chemically related compounds within the same run: Cs₂Er[Si₆O₁₄]F (phase I) and Cs₂Er[Si₄O₁₀]F (phase II). They represent the first examples for cesium erbium silicates containing fluorine. Basic crystallographic data are - phase I: space group Cmca, a=17.2556(6) Aa, b=24.6565(7) Aa, c=14.4735(5) Aa, V=6157.9(3) Aa³, Z=16; phase II: space group Pnma, a=22.3748(7) Aa, b=8.8390(2) Aa, c=11.9710(4) Aa, V=2367.5(1) Aa³, Z=8. The structures were determined by direct methods and refined to residuals of R(vertical stroke F vertical stroke)=0.0229 for 2920 (phase I) and 0.0231 for 2314 (phase II) independent observed reflections with I>2σ(I). The structure of phase I represents a previously unknown structure type with a three dimensional tetrahedral framework consisting of Q³ and Q⁴ groups in the ratio 2:1. Basic building units of the network are unbranched sechser single-chains running parallel to [001]. The network can be conveniently built up from the condensation of tetrahedral layers parallel to (010) or (100), respectively. The crystal structure of phase II can be classified as a tubular or columnar chain silicate indicating that the backbones of the structure are multiple chains of silicate tetrahedra. This structure is isotypic to a Cs₂Y[Si₄O₁₀]F, a compound that has been characterized previously. Alternatively, both compounds can be described as mixed octahedral-tetrahedral frameworks, which can be classified according to their polyhedral microensembles. A topological analysis of both nets is presented.