Synthesis of Cu3(PO4)2 · H2O based solid solutions through Co or Ni substitution for Cu

Abstract

New substitutional solid solutions have been synthesized: (Cu1 − x Cox)3(PO4)2 · H2O (0 < x ≤ 0.20), (Cu1 − x Nix)3(PO4)2 · H2O (0 < x ≤ 0.12), and (Cu1 − y Coy)3(PO4)2 · H2O (0.55 ≤ y ≤ 0.65). The first two solid solutions are isostructural with Cu3(PO4)2 · H2O (monoclinic symmetry, sp. gr. C2/c); the third solid solution also has a monoclinic structure, which is a Cu3(PO4)2 · H2O related superstructure. The lattice parameter b of (Cu1 − y Coy)3(PO4)2 · H2O (0.55 ≤ y ≤ 0.65) is almost twice that of (Cu1 − x Cox)3(PO4)2 · H2O (0 < x ≤ 0.20), while their a and c parameters differ little. The solid solutions have been characterized by chemical analysis, x-ray diffraction, IR spectroscopy, and thermal analysis.