Synthesis and structure study of new manganese and indium based phosphate: (Ca,Ba)1.222Mn0.923In1.570(PO4)3

Abstract

Phosphates are an important class of materials which are well-known due to their structural diversity and their important potential application in many fields of sciences. A member of this family, represented by transition metal phosphates, is in the forefront of important researchers. A new manganese and indium based phosphate is successfully isolated by means of solid state reaction. Its corresponding crystal structure is isotypic to the alluaudite and crystallizes in the monoclinic system with the space group C2/c and cell parameters a=12.4697(5)Å ; b=12.9365(5)Å ; c=6.5625(3)Å and β=115.603(1)°. The framework of this phosphate is built up on the basis of MnO6, InO6 and PO4 polyhedra. The InO6 octahedra are linked together via common edge, leading to the formation of In2O10 dimers. The In2O10 dimers share edge with MnO6 octahedra, generating chains along the [101] direction. The PO4 tetrahedra connect two chains giving arise to a three-dimensional framework with hexagonal tunnels where the barium and calcium are located.