A new double-cell polytype of samarium aluminum dimetaborate: Synthesis, crystal structure, and spectroscopic characterization

New nonstoichiometric SmAl-dimetaborate crystals were synthesized using spontaneous nucleation from Sm2O3 - B2O3 - K2Mo3O10 flux melt. The room temperature and low-temperature single-crystal XRD investigations were carried out. Obtained solids crystallize in the non-centrosymmetric space group P (6) over bar2 m, with unit cells parameters a = b = 4.570(1) angstrom, c = 18.521(1) angstrom, V = 335.00(1) angstrom(3) (for Sm2Al3.84B8O21.27, T = 295 degrees K) and a = b = 4.563 (1) angstrom, c = 18.505(1) angstrom, V=333.91(1) angstrom(3) (for Sm2Al3.96B8O21.30, T = 90 degrees K), and z = 1. A comprehensive study of samarium double-cell polytype crystals was performed using scanning electron microscopy, luminescence spectroscopy and Raman measurements.

Automated summary

New nonstoichiometric SmAl-dimetaborate crystals were synthesized using spontaneous nucleation from Sm2O3 - B2O3 - K2Mo3O10 flux melt. The crystals were characterized through single-crystal XRD, scanning electron microscopy, luminescence spectroscopy, and Raman measurements, providing comprehensive information about their structure and properties.