Hydrothermal synthesis, structure, and property characterization of rare earth silicate compounds: NaBa3Ln3Si6O20 (Ln = Y, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd)

Abstract

A series of new lanthanide (Ln) silicates have been synthesized using high temperature hydrothermal techniques, and structurally characterized using single crystal and powder X-ray diffraction. The compounds have the general formula NaBa3Ln3Si6O20 (Ln = Y, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd), and crystallize in the space group Ama2 (No.40). As a representative example, the unit cell parameters of NaBa3Gd3Si6O20 are a = 14.731(3) Å, b = 23.864(5) Å, c = 5.5449(11) Å and Z = 4. The title compounds adopt a three dimensional polar acentric framework made of Ln–O–Si bonding. The framework is comprised of LnO8 and LnO7 units forming edge-sharing infinite chains along the c-axis. These oxy-bridged infinite chains are also linked by [Si4O13] tetrasilicate and [Si2O7] disilicate units to form the three-dimensional framework structure, with Ba2+ and Na+ cations residing inside channels of the framework. The polarity in the structure is imparted by the unusual tetrasilicate arrangement. The luminescence and magnetic properties were investigated on selected compounds. The temperature dependent magnetic susceptibility measurements on the Nd, Sm, and Gd derivatives reveal a Curie–Weiss behavior with an antiferromagnetic coupling parameter. For the Eu-derivative, the temperature dependent magnetic susceptibility deviates significantly from Curie–Weiss behavior. Luminescence properties of NaBa3Eu3Si6O20 and NaBa3Sm3Si6O20 compounds exhibited the characteristic transitions of Eu3+ (5D0 → 7FJ, J = 0–4) and Sm3+ (4G5/2 → 6HJ, J = 5/2, 7/2), respectively, leading to strong visible red and orange emissions, respectively.