Local structure of Rb2Li4(SeO4)3·2H2O by the modeling of X-ray diffuse scattering — from average-structure to microdomain model

Local structure of dirubidium tetralithium tris(selenate(VI)) dihydrate — Rb2Li4(SeO4)3· 2H2O has been determined basing on the modeling of X-ray diffuse scattering. The origin of observed structured diffuse streaks is SeO4 tetrahedra switching between two alternative positions in two quasi-planar layers existing in each unit cell and formation of domains with specific SeO4 tetrahedra configuration locally fulfilling condition for C-centering in the 2a×2b×c superstructure cell. The local structure solution is characterized by a uniform distribution of rather large domains (ca. thousand of unit cells) in two layers, but also monodomains can be taken into account. Inside a single domain SeO4 tetrahedra are ordered along ab-diagonal forming two-string ribbons. Inside the ribbons SeO4 and LiO4 tetrahedra share the oxygen corners, whereas ribbons are bound to each other by a net of hydrogen bonds and fastened by corner sharing SeO4 tetrahedra of the neighboring layers.