Crystal Structure and Physical Properties of BiCoPO5

BiCoPO5 is isostructural with BiNiPO5, a=7.253(1) ?, b=11.294(1) ?, c=5.230(1) ?, beta=107.82(1)°, P21/n, z=4, R1 [I> 2sigma(I)]=0.025, R1 for all REFLECTIONS=0.030. Co is in a slightly distorted octahedral coordination with Co–O bonds ranging from 2.007(5) to 2.150(5) ?. Bi is in six-fold coordination to oxygen in a distorted octahedral coordination with Bi-O bonds ranging from 2.129(4) to 2.693(5) ?. The lone-pair electrons are 0.39 ? from the Bi nucleus. The PO4 tetrahedron is quite regular with P–O bonds 1.532(5)–1.558(5) ?. Phases in the solid solution series BiNi1-xCoxPO5, 0