Explorations of new selenites of the group IIIA and IVA metals

Systematic explorations of new phases in the GaIII/InIII/GeIV–SeIV–O systems by hydrothermal syntheses or solid-state reactions at high-temperature led to six new ternary compounds, namely, M2Se2O7 (M=Ga 1, In 2), M(OH)(SeO3) (M=Ga 3, In 4), α-Ge(SeO3)25 and β-Ge(SeO3)26. Ga2Se2O71 displays a 3D open framework composed of 2D gallium oxide layers being further bridged and capped by SeO3 groups. In2Se2O72 features a 3D indium oxide framework formed by corner- and edge- sharing InO6 octahedra with SeO3 groups attached on the cavities and the 8-member ring tunnels of the structure. The isostructural of M(OH)(SeO3) (M=Ga 3, In 4) exhibit a 2D metal selenite layer composed of 1D edge-sharing MO6 octahedral chains that are interconnected by SeO3 groups. α-Ge(SeO3)2 (P21/n) 5 displays a 3D open framework with 1D 8-member ring tunnels along the a-axis while β-Ge(SeO3)2 (Pa-3) 6 exhibits a condensed 3D network.