A3V5O14 (A = K+, Rb+, or Tl+), New Polar Oxides with a Tetragonal Tungsten Bronze Related Structural Topology: Synthesis, Structure, and Functional Properties

Vanadate Crystals with an Enhanced Birefringence and a Broadened Transparency Spectrum through Controlled [VO3]∞ Chain Arrangements and Alkali Metal Cation Introduction

The vanadate (VO) polyhedron offers a compelling avenue for exploring birefringent materials within the infrared frequency range. Among many potential building blocks, the implementation of [VO3]∞ chains demonstrated great potential as effective birefringent functional units. In this article, we successfully synthesized the Li0.8Na0.2CsV2O6·H2O compound, which exhibits a remarkable birefringence of 0.134 at 546.1 nm, as confirmed by the experiment. Notably, the introduction of alkali metals in this compound led to a significantly shorter cutoff edge at 340 nm. Through a comprehensive investigation, Li0.8Na0.2CsV2O6·H2O has the shortest UV cutoff edge among all vanadates, whose birefringences are larger than 0.1, to the best of our best knowledge. This finding underscores the application potential of this novel material as a birefringent crystal.

K3V2O3F4(IO3)3: a high-performance SHG crystal containing both five and six-coordinated V5+ cations

The combination of d⁰ transition metal oxofluorides with iodate anions helps to synthesize polar crystals. Herein, a novel polar crystal, K₃V₂O₃F₄(IO₃)₃, which is the first metal vanadium iodate with two types of V⁵⁺-centered polyhedra (VO₄F₂ octahedron and VO₃F₂ trigonal bipyramid), has been prepared hydrothermally. It crystallizes in the polar space group of Cmc2₁ and its structure displays an unprecedented 0D [V₂O₃F₄(IO₃)₃]^3- anion, which is composed of Λ-shaped cis-[VO₂F₂(IO₃)₂]^3- and [VO₂F₂(IO₃)]^2- anions interconnected via the corner-sharing of one oxo anion. The synergy gained from the VO₄F₂, VO₃F₂ and IO₃ groups resulted in K₃V₂O₃F₄(IO₃)₃ exhibiting both a strong second-harmonic generation (SHG) response (1.3 × KTiOPO₄) under 2050 nm laser irradiation and a large birefringence (0.158 @ 2050 nm). This study provides a facile route for designing SHG materials by assembling various vanadium oxide-fluoride motifs and iodate anions into one compound.

A Congruent-Melting Mid-Infrared Nonlinear Optical Vanadate Exhibiting Strong Second-Harmonic Generation

Study of mid-infrared (mid-IR) nonlinear optical (NLO) materials is hindered by the competing requirements of optimized second-harmonic generation (SHG) coefficient d_ij and laser-induced damage threshold (LIDT) as well as the harsh synthetic conditions. Herein, we report facile hydrothermal synthesis of a polar NLO vanadate Cs₄ V₈ O₂₂ (CVO) featuring a quasi-rigid honeycomb-layered structure with [VO₄ ] and [VO₅ ] polyhedra aligned parallel. CVO possesses a wide IR-transparent window, high LIDT, and congruent-melting behavior. It has very strong phase-matchable SHG intensities in metal vanadate family (12.0 × KDP @ 1064 nm and 2.2 × AGS @ 2100 nm). First-principles calculations suggest that the exceptional SHG responses of CVO largely originate from virtual electronic transitions within [V₄ O₁₁ ]_∞ layer; the excellent optical transmittance of CVO arises from the special characteristics of vibrational phonons resulting from the layered structure.

Sr2Nb6O13F8·4H2O and Sr3Nb2O2F12·2H2O: A Variant of Three-Dimensional Tungsten Bronze and a Polar Molecular Oxide Fluoride

Crystals of two strontium niobium oxyfluorides, Sr₂Nb₆O₁₃F₈·4H₂O and Sr₃Nb₂O₂F₁₂·2H₂O, have been grown in phase pure forms via hydrothermal reactions using SrCO₃, Nb₂O₅, and an aqueous HF solution. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction suggests that Sr₂Nb₆O₁₃F₈·4H₂O, crystallizing in the orthorhombic centrosymmetric space group, Pbam (No. 55), reveals a new variant of the three-dimensional tungsten bronze structure with three-, four-, and five-membered rings that are composed of corner-sharing NbO₂(O/F)₂F₂, NbO₄(O/F)F, NbO₃(O/F)₃, and SrO₃F₆ groups. Sr₃Nb₂O₂F₁₂·2H₂O with the noncentrosymmetric polar space group, Cmc2₁ (No. 36), however, reveals a molecular structure consisting of Nb(O/F)₂F₅ pentagonal bipyramids and two unique Sr²⁺ cations interacting with F, O/F, and water molecules. Band gaps calculated by the Kubelka-Munk function based on the ultraviolet-visible diffuse-reflectance spectra of Sr₂Nb₆O₁₃F₈·4H₂O and Sr₃Nb₂O₂F₁₂·2H₂O are estimated to be ca. 3.22 and 4.11 eV, respectively, in which the values are related to the contents of electronegative F atoms and the Nb-O(F)-Nb bond angles influenced by structural distortion. An interesting phase transition reaction from Sr₃Nb₂O₂F₁₂·2H₂O to thermodynamically more stable Sr₂Nb₆O₁₃F₈·4H₂O occurs under a hydrothermal condition.

Bond-length distributions for ions bonded to oxygen: results for the transition metals and quantification of the factors underlying bond-length variation in inorganic solids

Bond-length distributions are examined for 63 transition metal ions bonded to O2- in 147 configurations, for 7522 coordination polyhedra and 41 488 bond distances, providing baseline statistical knowledge of bond lengths for transition metals bonded to O2-. A priori bond valences are calculated for 140 crystal structures containing 266 coordination polyhedra for 85 transition metal ion configurations with anomalous bond-length distributions. Two new indices, Δtopol and Δcryst, are proposed to quantify bond-length variation arising from bond-topological and crystallographic effects in extended solids. Bond-topological mechanisms of bond-length variation are (1) non-local bond-topological asymmetry and (2) multiple-bond formation; crystallographic mechanisms are (3) electronic effects (with an inherent focus on coupled electronic vibrational degeneracy in this work) and (4) crystal-structure effects. The indices Δtopol and Δcryst allow one to determine the primary cause(s) of bond-length variation for individual coordination polyhedra and ion configurations, quantify the distorting power of cations via electronic effects (by subtracting the bond-topological contribution to bond-length variation), set expectation limits regarding the extent to which functional properties linked to bond-length variation may be optimized in a given crystal structure (and inform how optimization may be achieved) and more. These indices further provide an equal footing for comparing bond-length variation and the distorting power of ions across ligand types, including resolution for heteroligand polyhedra. The observation of multiple bonds is found to be primarily driven by the bond-topological requirements of crystal structures in solids. However, sometimes multiple bonds are observed to form as a result of electronic effects (e.g. the pseudo Jahn-Teller effect, PJTE); resolution of the origins of multiple-bond formation follows calculation of the Δtopol and Δcryst indices on a structure-by-structure basis. Non-local bond-topological asymmetry is the most common cause of bond-length variation in transition metal oxides and oxysalts, followed closely by the PJTE. Non-local bond-topological asymmetry is further suggested to be the most widespread cause of bond-length variation in the solid state, with no a priori limitations with regard to ion identity. Overall, bond-length variations resulting from the PJTE are slightly larger than those resulting from non-local bond-topological asymmetry, comparable with those resulting from the strong JTE, and less than those induced by π-bond formation. From a comparison of a priori and observed bond valences for ∼150 coordination polyhedra in which the strong JTE or the PJTE is the main reason underlying bond-length variation, the JTE is found not to have a cooperative relation with the bond-topological requirements of crystal structures. The magnitude of bond-length variation caused by the PJTE decreases in the following order for octahedrally coordinated d 0 transition metal oxyanions: Os8+ > Mo6+ > W6+ >> V5+ > Nb5+ > Ti4+ > Ta5+ > Hf4+ > Zr4+ > Re7+ >> Y3+ > Sc3+. Such ranking varies by coordination number; for [4] it is Re7+ > Ti4+ > V5+ > W6+ > Mo6+ > Cr6+ > Os8+ >> Mn7+; for [5] it is Os8+ > Re7+ > Mo6+ > Ti4+ > W6+ > V5+ > Nb5+. It is concluded that non-octahedral coordinations of d 0 ion configurations are likely to occur with bond-length variations that are similar in magnitude to their octahedral counterparts. However, smaller bond-length variations are expected from the PJTE for non-d 0 transition metal oxyanions.

Syntheses, structures, anomalous phase transition and optical properties of two new polymorphic α- and β-LiMoPO6

Two new polymorphic α- and β-LiMoPO₆ were synthesized, and they exhibit anomalous phase transition caused by the stretching of the [MoO₃O₃PO]_∞ chain.

Growth, Properties, and Theoretical Analysis of M2LiVO4 (M = Rb, Cs) Crystals: Two Potential Mid-Infrared Nonlinear Optical Materials

Mid-Infrared nonlinear optical (Mid-IR NLO) crystals with excellent performances play a particularly important role for applications in areas such as telecommunications, laser guidance, and explosives detection. However, the design and growth of high performance Mid-IR NLO crystals with large NLO efficiency and high laser-damage threshold (LDT) still face numerous fundamental challenge. In this study, two potential Mid-IR NLO materials, Rb₂LiVO₄ (RLVO) and Cs₂LiVO₄ (CLVO) with noncentrosymmetric structures (Orthorhombic, Cmc2₁) were synthesized by high-temperature solution method. Thermal analysis and powder X-ray diffraction demonstrate that RLVO and CLVO melt congruently. Centimeter sized crystals of CLVO have been grown by the top-seeded solution growth method. RLVO and CLVO exhibit strong second harmonic generation (SHG) effects (about 4 and 5 times that of KH₂PO₄, respectively) with a phase-matching behavior at 1.064 μm, and a wide transparency range (0.33–6.0 μm for CLVO). More importantly, RLVO and CLVO possess a high LDT value (~28 × AgGaS₂). In addition, the density functional theory (DFT) and dipole moments studies indicate that the VO₄ anionic groups have a dominant contribution to the SHG effects in RLVO and CLVO. These results suggest that the title compounds are promising NLO candidate crystals applied in the Mid-IR region.

Thorium Chemistry in Oxo-Tellurium System under Extreme Conditions

Through the use of a high-temperature/high-pressure synthesis method, four thorium oxo-tellurium compounds with different tellurium valence states were isolated. The novel inorganic phases illustrate the intrinsic complexity of the actinide tellurium chemistry under extreme conditions of pressure and temperature. Th₂Te₃O₁₁ is the first instance of a mixed-valent oxo-tellurium compound, and at the same time, Te exhibits three different coordination environments (Te^IVO₃, Te^IVO₄, and Te^VIO₆) within a single structure. These three types of Te polyhedra are further fused together, resulting in a [Te₃O₁₁]^8- fragment. Na₄Th₂(Te^VI₃O₁₅) and K₂Th(Te^VIO₄)₃ are the first alkaline thorium tellurates described in the literature. Both compounds are constructed from ThO₉ tricapped trigonal prisms and Te^VIO₆ octahedra. Na₄Th₂(Te^VI₃O₁₅) is a three-dimensional framework based on Th₂O₁₅ and Te₂O₁₀ dimers, while K₂Th(Te^VIO₄)₃ contains tungsten oxide bronze like Te layers linked by ThO₉ polyhedra. The structure of β-Th(Te^IVO₃)(SO₄) is built from infinite thorium chains cross-linked by Te^IVO₃^2- and SO₄^2- anions. Close structural analysis suggests that β-Th(Te^IVO₃)(SO₄) is highly related to the structure of α-Th(SeO₄)₂. Additionally, the Raman spectra are recorded and the characteristic peaks are assigned based on a comparison of reported tellurites or tellurates.

M3V2B10O23 (M = Ca, Sr): two new vanadoborates with [V2B10O23]∞ double layers

Ca₃V₂B₁₀O₂₃ and Sr₃V₂B₁₀O₂₃ are isostructural and their main frameworks are novel “infinite” 2D [V₂B₁₀O₂₃]_∞ double layers which composed of an [B₅O₉]_∞ infinite layer and VO₄ tetrahedra.