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ISSN: 2056-9890

A synchrotron study of Na2.27Ho7.73(SiO4)6O0.72

aInstituto de Física, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, AP 20-364, 01000 México DF, Mexico, bFacultad de Química, Universidad Autónoma de Chihuahua, Chihuahua, Mexico, and cCentro de Investigación en Materiales Avanzados, Chihuahua, Mexico
*Correspondence e-mail: bucio@fisica.unam.mx

(Received 12 January 2009; accepted 30 March 2009; online 8 April 2009)

A well crystallized powder sample of sodium holmium orthosilicate oxyapatite, Na2.27Ho7.73(SiO4)6O0.72, was obtained after mechanical milling and thermal treatment at 1123 K. Crystal structure analysis was performed from the results of Rietveld refinement of the synchrotron diffraction data. As in other rare-earth orthosilicate apatites, sodium cations appear located sharing with holmium the 4f Wyckoff position at the center of a tricapped trigonal prism. In its turn, holmium almost fully occupies the 6h position at the center of a seven-coordinated penta­gonal bipyramid. A small quantity of Na atoms was found at this site. No vacancies are present in the two independent crystallographic sites available for Ho and Na atoms.

Related literature

The method of preparation was based on Rodríguez-Reyna et al. (2006[Rodríguez-Reyna, E., Fuentes, A. F., Maczka, M., Lanuza, J., Boulahya, K. & Amador, U. (2006). Solid State Chem. 179, 522-531.]) and Fuentes et al. (2006[Fuentes, A. F., Rodríguez-Reyna, E., Martínez-González, L. G., Maczka, M., Lanuza, J. & Amador, U. (2006). Solid State Ionics, 177, 1869-1873.]). For related structures, see: Gunawardane et al. (1982[Gunawardane, R. P., Howie, R. A. & Glasser, F. P. (1982). Acta Cryst. B38, 1564-1566.]); Gualtieri (2000[Gualtieri, A. F. (2000). J. Appl. Cryst. 33, 267-278.]); Emirdag-Eanes et al. (2004[Emirdag-Eanes, M., Pennington, W. T. & Kolis, J. W. (2004). J. Alloys Compd, 366, 76-80.]); Redhammer & Roth (2003[Redhammer, G. R. & Roth, G. (2003). Acta Cryst. C59, i120-i124.]). For bond-valence parameters for oxides, see: Brese & O'Keeffe (1991).

Experimental

Crystal data
  • Ho7.73Na2.27O24.72Si6

  • Mr = 1891.09

  • Hexagonal, P 63 /m

  • a = 9.3405 (1) Å

  • c = 6.7638 (1) Å

  • V = 511.05 (1) Å3

  • Z = 1

  • Synchrotron radiation

  • λ = 1.033490 (7) Å

  • T = 295 K

  • Specimen shape: flat sheet

  • 15 × 15 × 0.2 mm

  • Specimen prepared at 1123 K

Data collection
  • SSRL diffractometer

  • Specimen mounting: packed powder sample container

  • Specimen mounted in reflection mode

  • Scan method: step

  • 2θmin = 5, 2θmax = 70.0°

  • Increment in 2θ = 0.01°

Refinement
  • Rp = 0.10

  • Rwp = 0.14

  • Rexp = 0.11

  • RB = 0.04

  • S = 1.27

  • Excluded region(s): none

  • Profile function: conventional pseudo-Voigt

  • 281 reflections

  • 22 parameters

  • Preferred orientation correction: none

Data collection: SSRL Software; cell refinement: DICVOL (Boultif & Louër, 2004[Boultif, A. & Louër, D. (2004). J. Appl. Cryst. 37, 724-731.]); data reduction: FULLPROF (Rodríguez-Carvajal, 2006[Rodríguez-Carvajal, J. (2006). FULLPROF. http://www.ill.eu/sites/fullprof/php/reference.html .]); method used to solve structure: coordinates taken from an isotypic compound; program(s) used to refine structure: FULLPROF; molecular graphics: ATOMS (Dowty, 1994[Dowty, E. (1994). ATOMS for Windows. Shape Software, Kingsport, Tennessee, USA.]); software used to prepare material for publication: ATOMS.

Supporting information


Comment top

Apatites with general formula M10(XO4)6Z2 commonly have cationic and anionic substitutions generating different structural arrangements. In the preceding chemical formula, M is a divalent atom (typically Ca2+ and others); Z represents F-, OH-, Br-, Cl- or O2-; while X frequently is P5+ and in some cases Si4+, Ge4+ or V4+. Most apatites crystallize in the hexagonal system with symmetry given by the space group P63/m (No.176). Charge balance is assured by the presence of point defects or cationic vacancies in cases in which the element M splits in M' and M'' being M' an alkaline monovalent ion and M'' a trivalent metal giving rise to M'xM''10 - x(SiO4)6O3 - x oxyapatites, as in NaNd9(GeO4)6O2 (Emirdag-Eanes et al., 2004) and LiY9(SiO4)6O2 (Redhammer & Roth, 2003). The structural data used for the title OAp phase was established considering the isostructural compound NaY9(SiO4)6O2 reported by Gunawardane et al. (1982). For this compound, the chemical formula NaxY10 - x(SiO4)6O2 represents a model in which the sodium ion is introduced in the apatite structure substituting for yttrium. In the present work the nominal formula used for holmium oxyapatite and the possible incorporation of sodium and fluorine is represented as NaxHo10 - x(SiO4)6O2 - yFy. The crystal structure of OAp has an arrangement similar to some other alkaline rare-earth oxyapatites already reported such as NaY9(SiO4)6O2 and LiY9(SiO4)6O2 (Redhammer & Roth, 2003).

Related literature top

The method of preparation was based on Rodríguez-Reyna et al. (2006) and Fuentes et al. (2006). For related structures, see: Gunawardane et al. (1982); Gualtieri (2000); Emirdag-Eanes et al. (2004); Redhammer & Roth (2003). For bond-valence parameters for oxides, see: Brese & O'Keeffe (1991).

Experimental top

The mechanical milling at 612 rpm (FRITSCH Pulverisette mill model 06.102) of sodium holmium orthosilicate oxyapatite (OAp) was carried out considering the nominal composition Na2Ho8(SiO4)6F2 from stoichiometric mixtures of Ho2O3 (Aldrich.99.9%), SiO2 (Aldrich 99.6%) and NaF (Analit.Analytic grade) following the method of Rodríguez-Reyna et al. (2006) and Fuentes et al. (2006). Once the mechanochemical processing finished, the sample was heated in a tube furnace for 15 h at 1073 K in air atmosphere. Conventional X-ray powder diffraction data showed reflections that match with the isostructural oxyapatite NaY9(SiO4)6O2 (PDF file 35–404). At this step of synthesis, the sample exhibited very poor crystallinity. After an additional thermal treatment at 1123 K, the crystallization of the sample was reached with the presence of quartz (PDF file 46–1045) as a secondary phase. From wavelength dispersive spectrometry (WDS),chemical analysis was performed by means of a Jeol JXA-8900R, EPMA spectrometer.

The average atomic content with standard uncertainty for each element in the sample were 12.4(1.9) for sodium, 42.2(4.6) for holmium and 45.2(6.3) for silicon, and give a Na:Ho ratio of 0.29. The expected values, according to the initial mixture of reactives were 12.5 for sodium, 50.0 for holmium and 37.5 for silicon. These quantities changed as consequence of the process of mechanical milling. Fluorine could not be observed so the phase originally labeled as OAp could be considered as pure oxyapatite phase. The atomic content for each element in the unit cell for OAp was calculated dividing by 5.46 the averaged WDS values giving 2.27 for sodium, 7.23 for holmium and 8.28 for silicon. The excess of silicon was interpreted taking into account the presence of quartz measured as a secundary phase by x-ray diffraction. Therefore, the content of silicon had to be split in such way that 6 silicon atoms were corresponded to OAp and 2.28 to quartz for each unit cell of oxyapatite.

Refinement top

The incident beam was calibrated using LaB6 (NIST SRM 660) as reference standard. The starting parameters for performing the Rietveld refinement were, for the OAp phase, the data from the isostructural NaY9(SiO4)6O2 (ICSD 27191, Gunawardane et al., 1982); and for quartz the data from ICSD 90145 (Gualtieri, 2000). Atomic coordinates were refined for the OAp phase considering the holmium and sodium atoms distributed in each one of the two available sites according to the Na:Ho ratio of 0.29 (obtained by WDS). In the following step, the occupation factors for Na and Ho were constrained in such a way that the total amount of both Na and Ho be constant keeping the Na:Ho ratio at 0.29. This ratio was allowed to change for each one of the crystallographic sites. At the end of the refinement, the thermal isotropic parameters were refined independently for each site. These parameters were set to the same refined value for all the O atoms in the structure.

Bond valence calculations were made using the recommended bond-valence parameters for oxides published by Brese & O'Keeffe (1991). Bond valence sum around Ho1 and Ho2 gave the values of 3.01 and 2.75 respectively, being the last lower than the expecting valence of 3. One way to explain the low bond valence sum is considering the Na substituting for Ho. In such case, bond valence sum for Na2 in the Ho2 site is found to be 1.51, and the weighted bond valence sum results equal to the weighted atomic valence when the fraction of Na2 is 0.33 in the Ho2 site. This quantity is reasonably close to 0.38 obtained by Rietveld refinement. For the Ho1 site, the bond valence sum around Ho is practically the expecting valence of 3 which agrees with the very low proportion of Na (0.12) obtained in the refinement. For the Ho1—O4 bonds there are three Ho1 atoms coordinated to O4 oxygen with a bondlengths of 2.197 Å. Each Ho1—O4 bond contributes with a bond valence of 0.62 giving a bond valence sum of 1.87. This value agrees with the fact that this site is partialy occupied by oxygen O4 by an occupation factor of 0.36. With all this results, the chemical formula obtained was found to be Na2.27Ho7.73(SiO4)6O0.72, which is charge balanced. The composition agrees with the WDS results and sodium content. The final Rietveld refinement of the synchrotron diffraction pattern is shown in Fig. 1 and the crystal structure is represented in Fig. 2.

Computing details top

Data collection: SSRL software; cell refinement: DICVOL (Boultif & Louër,2004); data reduction: FULLPROF (Rodríguez-Carvajal, 2006); program(s) used to solve structure: coordinates taken from an isotypic compound; program(s) used to refine structure: FULLPROF (Rodríguez-Carvajal, 2006); molecular graphics: ATOMS (Dowty, 1994); software used to prepare material for publication: ATOMS (Dowty, 1994).

Figures top
[Figure 1] Fig. 1. Rietveld refinement for OAp employing synchrotron radiation data. Observed (crosses), calculated (solid line) and difference (bottom trace) plots are represented. Vertical marks correspond to the allowed Bragg reflections for OAp (first row) and SiO2 (second row).
[Figure 2] Fig. 2. , Structural representation of Na2.27Ho7.73(SiO4)6O0.72.
Sodium holmium orthosilicate oxyapatite top
Crystal data top
Ho7.73Na2.27O24.72Si6F(000) = 822.8
Mr = 1891.09Dx = 6.145 Mg m3
Hexagonal, P63/mSynchrotron radiation, λ = 1.033490 Å
Hall symbol: -P 6cT = 295 K
a = 9.3405 (1) Åwhite
c = 6.7638 (1) Åflat sheet, 15 × 15 mm
V = 511.05 (1) Å3Specimen preparation: Prepared at 1123 K
Z = 1
Data collection top
SSRL
diffractometer
Data collection mode: reflection
Radiation source: synchrotron sourceScan method: step
Si(111) monochromator2θmin = 5.0°, 2θmax = 70.0°, 2θstep = 0.01°
Specimen mounting: packed powder sample container
Refinement top
Least-squares matrix: full with fixed elements per cycleExcluded region(s): none
Rp = 0.10Profile function: conventional pseudo-Voigt
Rwp = 0.1422 parameters
Rexp = 0.110 restraints
RBragg = 0.04Weighting scheme based on measured s.u.'s
R(F2) = 0.03(Δ/σ)max = 0.05
χ2 = 1.613Background function: linear interpolation between a set of background points with refinable heights
6501 data pointsPreferred orientation correction: none
Crystal data top
Ho7.73Na2.27O24.72Si6V = 511.05 (1) Å3
Mr = 1891.09Z = 1
Hexagonal, P63/mSynchrotron radiation, λ = 1.033490 Å
a = 9.3405 (1) ÅT = 295 K
c = 6.7638 (1) Åflat sheet, 15 × 15 mm
Data collection top
SSRL
diffractometer
Scan method: step
Specimen mounting: packed powder sample container2θmin = 5.0°, 2θmax = 70.0°, 2θstep = 0.01°
Data collection mode: reflection
Refinement top
Rp = 0.10χ2 = 1.613
Rwp = 0.146501 data points
Rexp = 0.1122 parameters
RBragg = 0.040 restraints
R(F2) = 0.03
Fractional atomic coordinates and isotropic or equivalent isotropic displacement parameters (Å2) top
xyzUiso*/UeqOcc. (<1)
Ho10.2373 (2)0.0042 (3)0.250.0014 (4)0.875 (2)
Na10.2373 (2)0.0042 (3)0.250.0014 (4)0.125 (2)
Ho20.33330.66660.0028 (9)0.0013 (8)0.620 (2)
Na20.33330.66660.0028 (9)0.0013 (8)0.380 (2)
Si0.368 (1)0.397 (1)0.250.014 (3)
O10.246 (1)0.334 (1)0.444 (2)0.030 (4)
O20.490 (2)0.312 (2)0.250.030 (4)
O30.523 (2)0.403 (2)0.750.030 (4)
O40.00.00.250.030 (4)0.358
Geometric parameters (Å, º) top
Ho1—O1i2.42 (1)Ho2—O2viii2.29 (1)
Ho1—O1ii2.24 (1)Ho2—O2ix2.29 (1)
Ho1—O1iii2.42 (1)Ho2—O2x2.29 (2)
Ho1—O1iv2.24 (1)Ho2—O3viii2.45 (1)
Ho1—O22.66 (1)Ho2—O3ix2.45 (2)
Ho1—O3ii2.35 (2)Ho2—O3x2.45 (1)
Ho1—O42.197 (2)Si—O11.64 (1)
Ho2—O1v2.82 (2)Si—O1vi1.64 (1)
Ho2—O1vi2.82 (1)Si—O21.68 (3)
Ho2—O1vii2.82 (1)Si—O3ix1.62 (2)
O1v—Ho2—O3viii60.3 (7)
Symmetry codes: (i) x+y, x, z; (ii) y, x+y, z1/2; (iii) x+y, x, z+1/2; (iv) y, x+y, z+1; (v) x+y, x+1, z+1/2; (vi) x, y, z+1/2; (vii) y+1, xy+1, z+1/2; (viii) xy, x, z1/2; (ix) x+1, y+1, z1/2; (x) y, x+y+1, z1/2.

Experimental details

Crystal data
Chemical formulaHo7.73Na2.27O24.72Si6
Mr1891.09
Crystal system, space groupHexagonal, P63/m
Temperature (K)295
a, c (Å)9.3405 (1), 6.7638 (1)
V3)511.05 (1)
Z1
Radiation typeSynchrotron, λ = 1.033490 Å
Specimen shape, size (mm)Flat sheet, 15 × 15
Data collection
DiffractometerSSRL
diffractometer
Specimen mountingPacked powder sample container
Data collection modeReflection
Scan methodStep
2θ values (°)2θmin = 5.0 2θmax = 70.0 2θstep = 0.01
Refinement
R factors and goodness of fitRp = 0.10, Rwp = 0.14, Rexp = 0.11, RBragg = 0.04, R(F2) = 0.03, χ2 = 1.613
No. of data points6501
No. of parameters22

Computer programs: SSRL software, DICVOL (Boultif & Louër,2004), FULLPROF (Rodríguez-Carvajal, 2006), coordinates taken from an isotypic compound, ATOMS (Dowty, 1994).

 

Acknowledgements

Portions of this research were carried out at the Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource (http://smb.slac.stanford.edu/powder/ ), a national user facility operated by Stanford University on behalf of the US Department of Energy, Office of Basic Energy Sciences. The authors thank Manuel Aguilar for the conventional X-ray diffraction measurements at the Instituto de Física, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, and Carlos Linares for the WDS measurements at the Laboratorio Universitario de Petrología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, and Angel Osornio for technical support. IR acknowledges a fellowship from the Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología (CONACyT) and projects CONACyT SEP-2004-C01–47652 and DGAPA-PAPIIT IN118106–3.

References

First citationBoultif, A. & Louër, D. (2004). J. Appl. Cryst. 37, 724–731.  Web of Science CrossRef CAS IUCr Journals Google Scholar
First citationBrese, N. E. & O'Keeffe, M. (1991). Acta Cryst. B47, 192–197.  CrossRef CAS Web of Science IUCr Journals Google Scholar
First citationDowty, E. (1994). ATOMS for Windows. Shape Software, Kingsport, Tennessee, USA.  Google Scholar
First citationEmirdag-Eanes, M., Pennington, W. T. & Kolis, J. W. (2004). J. Alloys Compd, 366, 76–80.  Web of Science CrossRef CAS Google Scholar
First citationFuentes, A. F., Rodríguez-Reyna, E., Martínez-González, L. G., Maczka, M., Lanuza, J. & Amador, U. (2006). Solid State Ionics, 177, 1869–1873.  Web of Science CrossRef CAS Google Scholar
First citationGualtieri, A. F. (2000). J. Appl. Cryst. 33, 267–278.  Web of Science CrossRef CAS IUCr Journals Google Scholar
First citationGunawardane, R. P., Howie, R. A. & Glasser, F. P. (1982). Acta Cryst. B38, 1564–1566.  CrossRef CAS Web of Science IUCr Journals Google Scholar
First citationRedhammer, G. R. & Roth, G. (2003). Acta Cryst. C59, i120–i124.  Web of Science CrossRef CAS IUCr Journals Google Scholar
First citationRodríguez-Carvajal, J. (2006). FULLPROF. http://www.ill.eu/sites/fullprof/php/reference.htmlGoogle Scholar
First citationRodríguez-Reyna, E., Fuentes, A. F., Maczka, M., Lanuza, J., Boulahya, K. & Amador, U. (2006). Solid State Chem. 179, 522–531.  Google Scholar

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