AbstractPolycrystalline samples of La- and Lu-agardite with the composition RECu6(OH)6(AsO4)3 · n H2O (RE = La, Lu; n≈3) have been prepared and the structure of the products was determined by X-ray powder diffraction studies. The characterization has been complemented by Raman and UV/Vis spectroscopic, magnetic and TGA investigations. DFT calculations support the conclusions drawn from the experiments. The arsenates RECu6(OH)6(AsO4)3 · n H2O (RE = La, Lu; n≈3) are isostructural with the mineral mixite and crystallize with a hexagonal structure which contains ribbons of edge-sharing [CuO5] square-pyramids extending along the hexagonal axis. They are interconnected via (AsO4)3− groups to form hexagonal tubes of about 10 Å inner diameter. Such zeolite-like tubes host water molecules, which can be reversibly removed at moderate temperatures (T≈100°C). Like in mixite and YCu6(OH)6(AsO4)3 · 3 H2O, the Cu2+ cations in RECu6(OH)6(AsO4)3 · n H2O (RE = La, Lu; n≈3) exhibit low-dimensional antiferromagnetic properties, which are subject to changes in the Cu–O–Cu bond lengths and angles due to the lanthanide contraction.
Emerging Low‐Dimensional Crystal Structure of Metal Halide Perovskite Optoelectronic Materials and Devices