Synthesis and crystal structure of dicobalt nickel orthoborate, Co2Ni(BO3)2

A new binary metal borate compound, dicobalt nickel orthoborate, Co2Ni(BO3)2 has been successfully synthesized by thermally-induced solid-state chemical reaction at 900 °C between the initial reactants of Co(NO3)2·6H2O, Ni(NO3)2·6H2O and H3BO3 (mol ratio 2:1:2). The product was structurally characterized by powder X-ray diffraction technique. Co2Ni(BO3)2 crystallizes in the kotoite type and isostructural with the chemical formula M3(BO3)2 where M = Mg, Co and Ni. Co2Ni(BO3)2 belongs to the orthorhombic crystal system with the refined unit cell parameters of a = 5.444(8), b = 8.404(0), c = 4.504(1) Å, Z = 2 and space group was determined as Pnmn. FTIR, elemental analysis and thermal analysis were also discussed in the article.