Mixed-metal phosphates K1.64Na0.36TiFe(PO4)3 and K0.97Na1.03Ti1.26Fe0.74(PO4)3 with a langbeinite framework.

Single crystals of the langbeinite-type phosphates K1.65Na0.35TiFe(PO4)3 and K0.97Na1.03Ti1.26Fe0.74(PO4)3 were grown by crystallization from high-temperature self-fluxes in the system Na2O-K2O-P2O5-TiO2-Fe2O3 using fixed molar ratios of (Na+K):P = 1.0, Ti:P = 0.20 and Na:K = 1.0 or 2.0 over the temperature range 1273-953 K. The three-dimensional framework of the two isotypic phosphates are built up from [(Ti/Fe)2(PO4)3] structure units containing two mixed [(Ti/Fe)O6] octa-hedra (site symmetry 3) connected via three bridging PO4 tetra-hedra. The potassium and sodium cations share two different sites in the structure that are located in the cavities of the framework. One of these sites has nine and the other twelve surrounding O atoms.

Partial Substitution of Potassium with Sodium in the K2Ti2(PO4)3 Langbeinite-Type Framework: Synthesis and Crystalline Structure of K1.75Na0.25Ti2(PO4)3.

The interaction of TiN with Na2O-K2O-P2O5 melts was investigated at (Na+K)/P molar ratios of 0.9, 1.0, and 1.2 and at Na/K molar ratios of 1.0 and 2.0. Interactions in the system led to the loss of nitrogen and the partial loss of phosphorus and resulted in the formation of KTiP2O7 and langbeinite-type K2-x Na x Ti2(PO4)3 (x=0.22-0.26) solid solutions over the temperature range of 1173 to 1053 K. The phase compositions of the obtained samples were determined by using X-ray diffraction (including Rietveld refinement), scanning electron microscopy (using energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and element mapping), FTIR spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis/differential thermal analysis. K1.75Na0.25Ti2(PO4)3 was characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction [P213 space group, a=9.851(5) Å]. The 3D framework is built up by TiO6 octahedra and PO4 tetrahedra sharing all the oxygen vertices with the formation of cavities occupied by K(Na) cations. Only one of the two crystallographically inequivalent potassium sites is partially substituted by sodium, and this was confirmed by calculating the bond-valence sum. The thermodynamic stability of K1.75Na0.25Ti2(PO4)3 crystals and the preferable occupation sites of NaK cationic substitutions were investigated by DFT-based electronic structure calculations performed by the plane-wave pseudopotential method.