Synthesis and structural chemistry of La18Li8Rh4MO39 (M=Ti, Mn, Ru)

Polycrystalline samples of La18Li8Rh4M O39 (M =Ti, Mn, Ru) have been prepared by a solid-state method and studied by neutron powder diffraction. They are isostructural with La18Li8Rh5O39 and adopt the cubic space group View the MathML sourcePm3¯n with a ∼12.22 Å. Their structure consists of a La–O framework containing intersecting channels that run along 〈111〉. These channels are occupied by chains made up of alternating, face-sharing trigonal-prismatic and octahedral coordination polyhedra; there are two crystallographically distinct types of octahedral site. The prisms are occupied by Li and the transition metals are disordered over the two octahedral sites.