Synthesis and structure of alkali metal zirconium vanadate phosphates

Mixed vanadate phosphates in the systems MZr₂(VO₄) _x (PO₄)_{3 − x} , where M is an alkali metal, were synthesized and studied by X-ray diffraction, electron probe microanalysis, and IR spectroscopy. Substitutional solid solutions with the structure of the mineral kosnarite (NZP) are formed at the compositions 0 ≤ x ≤ 0.2 for M = Li; 0 ≤ x ≤ 0.4 for M = Na; 0 ≤ x ≤ 0.5 for M = K; 0 ≤ x ≤ 0.3 for M = Rb; and 0 ≤ x ≤ 0.2 for M = Cs. Apart from the high-temperature NZP modification, lithium vanadate phosphates LiZr₂(VO₄) _x (PO₄)_{3 − x} with 0 ≤ x ≤ 0.8 synthesized at temperatures not exceeding 840°C crystallize in the scandium tungstate type structure. The crystal structures of LiZr₂(VO₄)_0.8(PO₄)_2.2 (space group P2₁/n, a = 8.8447(6) Å, b = 8.9876(7) Å, c = 12.3976(7) Å, β = 90.821(4)○, V = 985.4(1) ų, Z = 4) and NaZr₂(VO₄)_0.4(PO₄)_2.6 (space group $R\bar 3c$ = 8.8182(3) Å, c = 22.7814(6) Å, V = 1534.14(1) ų, Z = 6) were refined by the Rietvield method. The framework of the vanadate phosphate structure is composed of tetrahedra (that are statistically occupied by vanadium and phosphorus atoms) and ZrO₆ octahedra. The alkali metal atoms occupy extra-framework sites.