Synthesis, Structural Study and Thermal Expansion of Cesium Dititanium Tris(Phosphate)
<p>The new phosphate CsTi<sub>2</sub>(PO<sub>4</sub>)<sub>3</sub> was synthesized by precipitating method and characterized by scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray microanalyzer, X-ray powder diffraction and IR-spectroscopy. The structure refinement of the phosphate was carried out by a Rietveld analysis. CsTi<sub>2</sub>(PO<sub>4</sub>)<sub>3</sub> crystallizes with the cubic system (space group <em>Ia</em><em>3</em><em>d</em>), its unit-cell parameters: <em>a</em> = 19.909(5) Å, <em>V</em> = 7892(1) Å<sup>3</sup>. It has the framework structure formed by TiO<sub>6</sub> octahedra and PO<sub>4</sub> tetrahedra, the two type positions of Cs<sup>+</sup> cations are in the cavities of the structure. CsTi<sub>2</sub>(PO<sub>4</sub>)<sub>3</sub> structure features are discussed. The results of the undertaken study showed that cesium dititanium tris(phosphate) crystal structure differs from its isoformulic analogues CsZr<sub>2</sub>(PO<sub>4</sub>)<sub>3</sub> and AM<sub>2</sub>(PO<sub>4</sub>)<sub>3</sub> (A = Na, K, Rb; M = Ti, Zr), crystallizing in the trigonal system (space group <em>R</em> <em>c</em>) with the kosnarite type. Thermal expansion of the CsTi<sub>2</sub>(PO<sub>4</sub>)<sub>3</sub> was studied: α<em><sub>a</sub></em> = 7.85∙10<sup>-6</sup> °C<sup>-1</sup>, α<em><sub>V</sub></em> = 23.5∙10<sup>-6</sup> °C<sup>-1 </sup>in the range 25–800 °C.</p>