Synthesis, structural and vibrational properties of microcrystalline RbNd(MoO4)2

Rubidium neodymium dimolybdate, RbNd(MoO4)(2), microcrystals have been fabricated by solid state synthesis at T=550-600 degrees C by t=324 ks. Crystal structure of RbNd(MoO4)(2) has been refined by Rietveld method in space group Pbcn with cell parameters a = 5.1772(1) angstrom, b = 18.7293(4) angstrom, and c = 8.2774(1) angstrom (R-B=5.05%). The crystal structure of RbNd(MoO4)(2) consists of layers of MoO4 tetrahedrons cornersharing with NdO8 square antiprisms. These layers are perpendicular to b-axis of the unit cell. About 20 narrow Raman lines have been observed in Raman spectrum recorded for RbNd(MoO4)(2) powder sample. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.