Disorder in crystals of dioxofluorotungstates, (NH4)2WO2F4 and Rb2WO2F4

Abstract

Dioxotetrafluorotungstates (NH4)2WO2F4 [(I) at 297 K and (II) at 133 K] and Rb2WO2F4 (III) were synthesized in a single-crystal form and their structures were determined by X-ray diffraction. Two independent states of the cis-WO2F4 octahedron are characteristic of static and dynamic disorder in structure (I). Dynamically disordered W2 is displaced from the symmetry axis producing four possible orientations of anion that permits O and F atoms to be identified in separate orientations owing to the inherent differences between W—O and W—F bonding. After the phase transition at lower temperature (201 K), (I) transforms into the twin structure (II) with complete O/F ordering. Structure (III) is characterized by full O/F static disorder without any phase transitions at lower temperature.