Crystal structure of chain silicate Cs3LuSi3O9

Abstract

A caesium lutetium(III) silicate, Cs3LuSi3O9, was synthesized by heating a pelletized mixture of Cs2CO3, Lu2O3 and SiO2 at 1273 K. Single crystals of the title compound were grown in a melted area of the pellet. Cs3LuSi3O9 is a single-chain silicate (orthorhombic space group Pna21) with a chain periodicity of six and is isostructural with Cs3 RE IIIGe3O9 (RE = Pr, Nd and Sm–Yb). The two symmetry-dependent [Si6O18]12− chains in the unit cell lie parallel to the [011] direction. The Lu3+ ions are octahedrally coordinated by O atoms of the silicate chains, generating a three-dimensional framework. Cs+ ions are located in the voids in the framework.