An investigation of microporous cetineite-type phases A6[B12O18][CX3]2[Dx(H2O,OH,O)6−y] I. The cetineite structure field

Hydrothermal syntheses between 120 and 200 °C have been performed to determine the chemical variability of semiconducting microporous materials with cetineite structure. The syntheses were based on the general formula A₆[B₁₂O₁₈][CX₃]₂[D_x(H₂O,OH,O)_6−y], (0≤×≤2; 0≤y≤6), which was derived from X-ray crystal structure refinements. A = Li⁺, Na⁺, K⁺, Rb⁺, Cs⁺, Tl⁺, NH₄⁺, Ca²⁺, Sr²⁺, and Ba²⁺ were introduced as hydroxides, in some cases as carbonates, B = C = As³⁺, Sb³⁺, and Bi³⁺, and X = S²⁻, Se²⁻, and Te²⁻ as elements. Only syntheses with B = C = Sb³⁺ and X = S²⁻ and Se²⁻ were successfull. Known cetineite-type phases now include the element combinations A/Sb³⁺/S²⁻ with A = Na⁺ and K⁺, and A/Sb³⁺/Se²⁻ with A = Na⁺, K⁺, Rb⁺, Sr²⁺, Ba²⁺, and probably Tl⁺. Variable amounts of Na⁺, Sb³⁺ and C⁴⁺ were found to occupy the D position of the cetineite-type structure. The chemical variability can be described by the coupled substitutions A⁺ + H₂OA²⁺ + OH⁻ mH₂OD^m+ + mOH, and nOH⁻Dⁿ⁺ + nO²⁻. The crystals obtained are orange to dark red, in agreement with their semiconducting properties.