Mixed alkali neodymium orthoborates: K₉Li₃Nd₃(BO₃)₇ and A₂LiNd(BO₃)₂ (A = Rb, Cs)

Crystals of mixed alkali neodymium orthoborates, K₉Li₃Nd₃(BO₃)₇ and A₂LiNd(BO₃)₂ (A = Rb, Cs) were obtained by spontaneous crystallization. K₉Li₃Nd₃(BO₃)₇ crystallizes in space group P2/c with cell parameters of a = 11.4524(7) Aa, b = 10.1266(6) Aa, c = 12.3116 (10) Aa, β = 122.0090(10) . In the structure, NdO₈ polyhedra share corners and connect with planer BO₃ groups to form infinite [Nd₃B₃O₂₁]_n chains. These chains are linked by additional BO₃ groups to produce a double layer of [Nd₆B₆O₃₈]_n blocks in the ac plane with K and Li ions filled into the cavities. A₂LiNd(BO₃)₂ (A = Rb, Cs) crystallizes in space group Pbcm, with cell parameters of a = 7.113(2) Aa, b = 9.691(3) Aa and c = 10.135(3) Aa for Rb₂LiNd(BO₃)₂, and a = 7.2113(3) Aa, b = 9.9621(4) Aa, and c = 10.3347(4) Aa for Cs₂LiNd(BO₃)₂. In the structure, NdO₈ polyhedra are corner-sharing with each other and further interlinked by BO₃ groups to comprise the infinite [Nd₄B₄O₂₄] sheets in the bc plane, with Rb/Cs and Li ions occupying the interlayered space. The compounds show effective near-IR emission and their associated lifetimes are obtained by fluorescence spectra. (Copyright copyright 2016 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH and Co. KGaA, Weinheim)