Inorganic Chemistry, Vol.34, No.20, 5013-5016, 1995
Synthesis, Structure, and Magnetic-Properties of a Novel Mixed-Valence Copper(I/II) Phosphate, Cu2Po4
Via phase compatibility studies, a novel mixed-valence copper(I/II) phosphate, Cu2PO4, has been isolated from a direct reaction of (Cu2O)-O-I, (CuO)-O-II, and P2O5 in fused silica. The single-crystal X-ray diffraction shows that the title compound crystallizes in a triclinic (P (1) over bar) unit cell, with lattice dimensions a = 6.145(2) Angstrom, b = 9.348(2) Angstrom, c = 6.009(1) Angstrom, alpha = 96.46(2)degrees, beta = 100.16(2)degrees, gamma = 73.97(2)degrees, V = 325.8(1) Angstrom(3) : Z = 4. The structure has been refined by the least-squares method to R = 0.019, R(w) = 0.030, and GOF = 1.43 for 128 variables. The four copper atoms in each asymmetric unit adopt three distorted coordination geometries that are consistent with the corresponding electronic states, e.g., square pyramidal Cu(1)O-II(5), octahedral Cu(2)O-II(6), and linear Cu(3,4)O-I(2). A low-dimensional framework exists consisting of arrays of nearly parallel CuO2 units which are separated by the nonmagnetic, closed-shell P5+ cation in PO4 tetrahedra. Closely spaced CuO2 chains and a relatively short Cu-I-Cu-I distance, e.g., 2.737 Angstrom for Cu(3)-Cu(3), are attributed to the bond strength of the cross-linked PO4 tetrahedra. In the extended Cu(I/II)-O framework, short linkages of Cu-I-O-Cu-II-O-Cu-I and Cu-II-O-Cu-II, composed of regular Cu-O bonds (1.86-1.99 Angstrom), are interconnected through long Cu-II-O bonds (2.36-2.74 Angstrom). The magnetic measurements indicate that the Cu-O framework exhibits a spin 1/2 ground state and an antiferromagnetic ordering with a broad susceptibility maximum between 95 and 105 K. The results of stoichiometric synthesis, thermal analysis, and bond valence sum calculations of the title compound are also discussed.
Keywords:OXOSILICATE