Structure and Vibrational Analyses of LiP15

LiP15 was synthesized by reaction of the elements in the presence of CuCl2 as a mineralizer additive in sealed silica ampoules at 823 K. The product was characterized by powder and single-crystal X-ray diffraction experiments, quantum chemical calculations and IR and Raman spectroscopy. It crystallizes in the triclinic crystal system in space group P (1) over bar with the lattice parameters a = 6.974(1) angstrom, b = 9.008(1) angstrom, c = 11.294(2) angstrom, = 104.51(1)degrees, = 93.78(1)degrees, = 106.330(10)degrees and V = 652.1 angstrom(3). The structure of the phosphorus-rich polyphosphide consists of tubular polyphosphide strands that are coordinated by lithium atoms to form double strands with an antiparallel arrangement. Quantum chemical investigations and structure optimizations were applied to localize the Li positions within the polyphosphide framework, and a full factor group analysis was done to understand the complex IR and Raman spectra of the title compound. LiP15 does not crystallize isotypically to compounds with the higher homologues of lithium but forms its own structure type, in contrast to previous reports. On the basis of our results, a LiP15 polymorph isotypic to KP15 might exist energetically separated by a few kJ/mol. We also predict that a second KP15 polymorph with the reported LiP15 structure would be energetically as favourable as the known one.