Na1.85Mg1.85In1.15(PO4)3 and Ag1.69Mg1.69In1.31(PO4)3 with alluaudite-type structures

摘要

Single crystals of two new phosphates, sodium magnesium indium(III) tris­(orthophosphate) and silver magnesium indium(III) tris­(orthophosphate), were obtained from solid-state reactions. The two phosphates are isotypic and exhibit alluaudite-type structures. They are characterized by a cationic disorder of the Mg and In sites and a partial occupation of the Na and Ag sites, respectively. The structure of both phosphates is made up of chains of edge-sharing [(Mg,In)O6] octa­hedra extending parallel to [10]. Adjacent chains are linked by PO4 tetra­hedra to form a three-dimensional framework delimiting two types of channels parallel to [001] in which the monovalent cations are situated. The coordination numbers of the Na⁺ cations are 6 and 8, and for both Ag⁺ cations 6. The corresponding coordination spheres are considerably distorted.