Synthesis and X-ray-graphical characteristics of the MеSn<sub>2</sub>F<sub>5</sub> (Mе = Na, K, Rb, Cs) fluoride-ion conductors

Abstract

Objectives. Pentafluorodistannates of alkali metals are promising materials for use as electrolytes in fluoride-ion batteries due to their electrophysical properties, such as high fluoride-ion conductivity. This work aims to synthesize crystals of alkali metals MeSn2F5 (Me = Na, K, Rb, Cs), carry out X-ray diffraction studies on them, and investigate the possibility of obtaining lithium fluorostannates.Methods. Supersaturated aqueous solutions were employed to synthesize the crystals. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis was carried out.Results. Oversaturated solutions yield microcrystalline powders of sodium, potassium, rubidium, and cesium pentafluorodistannates. The presence of a single-phase was confirmed by XRD analysis of the powders corresponding to the MеSn2F5 (Mе = Na, K, Rb, Cs) composition. XRD data analysis and literature indicated that MеSn2F5 (Mе = K, Rb, Cs) have a fluorite-like structure, with the cations forming three-layer closest packing. The RbSn2F5 compound was discovered to be isostructural to KSn2F5. Based on this discovery, RbSn2F5 was reindexed to a hexagonal unit cell with parameters a = 7.40(3) Å, с = 10.12(6) Å (KSn2F5 P3, a = 7.29(3) Å, с = 9.86(2) Å). The CsSn2F5 compound was reindexed to a monoclinic unit cell (a = 10.03(4) Å, b = 5.92(7) Å, c = 11.96(9) Å, β = 107.4(5)°). A crystallochemical analysis of the pentafluorodistannates was carried out, and common structural motifs were discovered. The motifs are similar to lead tetrafluorostannate PbSnF4, the best fluoride-ion conductor. The effect of the pentafluorodistannates structures on the ionic conductivity is considered. The LiF–SnF2 system contains no compounds; the compositions were obtained by melting the original fluorides. Conclusions. MеSn2F5 (Mе = Na, K, Rb, Cs) were synthesized and investigated by XRD analysis. The structural characteristics of the RbSn2F5 and CsSn2F5 compounds have been redefined. The crystallochemical structure is analyzed in relation to the electrophysical properties of the alkali metal pentafluorodistannates. Pentafluorodistannates MеSn2F5 (Mе = K, Rb, Cs) have a fluorite-like structural motif with cubic parameters а = 5.694 Å (KSn2F5), а = 5.846 Å (RbSn2F5), а = 6.100 Å (CsSn2F5), with the cations forming three-layer closest packing. The cationic layers alternate like Me–Sn–Sn–Me (Mе = K, Rb, Cs). For KSn2F5 and RbSn2F5, they are normal to the three-fold axis and normal to the four-fold axis in the case of CsSn2F5.