β-Li0.37Na0.63Fe(MoO4)2

Abstract

The title compound, lithium/sodium iron(III) bis[orthomolybdate(VI)], was obtained by a solid-state reaction. The main structure units are an FeO6octahedron, a distorted MoO6octahedron and an MoO4tetrahedron sharing corners. The crystal structure is composed of infinite double MoFeO11chains along theb-axis direction linked by corner-sharing to MoO4tetrahedra so as to form Fe2Mo3O19ribbons. The cohesion between ribbonsviamixed Mo—O—Fe bridges leads to layers arranged parallel to thebcplane. Adjacent layers are linked by corners shared between MoO4tetrahedra of one layer and FeO6octahedra of the other layer. The Na+and Li+ions partially occupy the same general position, with a site-occupancy ratio of 0.631 (9):0.369 (1). A comparison is made withAFe(MoO4)2(A= Li, Na, K and Cs) structures.