RE4B4O11F2 (RE = Sm, Tb, Ho, Er): four new rare earth fluoride borates isotypic to Gd4B4O11F2
AbstractThe rare earth fluoride borates RE4B4O11F2 (RE = Sm, Tb, Ho, Er) were synthesized in a Walker-type multianvil apparatus from the corresponding rare earth oxides and fluorides with boron oxide. Sm4B4O11F2 was obtained under high-pressure/high-temperature conditions of 6 GPa/1100°C, Tb4B4O11F2 at 7.5 GPa/1200°C, and Ho4B4O11F2 and Er4B4O11F2 at 9.5 GPa/1300°C. The single-crystal structure determinations showed that all compounds are isotypic to the known rare earth fluoride borates RE4B4O11F2 (RE = Pr, Nd, Eu, Gd, Dy). They crystallize in the monoclinic space group C2/c (Z = 4). The structure is built up from BO4 tetrahedra as well as BO3 groups connected via common corners. Here, we report about the crystallographic characterization of these new compounds in comparison to the isotypic phases RE4B4O11F2 (RE = Pr, Nd, Eu, Gd, Dy).