Synthesis, crystal structure and vibrational spectra characterization of MILa(PO3)4 (MI=Na, Ag)

The single crystals of lanthanum metaphosphate MLa(PO3)4 (M=Na, Ag) have been synthesized and studied by a combination of X-ray crystal diffraction and vibrational spectroscopy. The sodium and silver compounds crystallize in the same monoclinic P21/n space group (image factor group) with the following respective unit cell dimensions: image, image, image, image, image, image and image, image, image, image, image, image. This three-dimensional framework is built of twisted zig-zag chains running along a direction and made up of PO4 tetrahedra sharing two corners, connected to the LaO8 and NaO7 or AgO7 polyhedra by common oxygen atoms to the chains. The infrared and Raman vibrational spectra have been investigated. A group factor analysis leads to the determination of internal modes of (PO3)− anion in the phosphate chain.