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Title: The crystal structure of a nonstoichiometric nasicon

Journal Article · · Mater. Res. Bull.; (United States)

The crystal structure of a nonstoichiometric NASICON prepared from a hydrothermally synthesized precursor phase was solved by means of Xray powder and neutron powder diffraction methods. The NASICON phase is monoclinic with unit cell parameters, from Rietveld refinement of the neutron data, of a = 15.6209(8), b = 9.0326(5), c = 9.2172(5)A, ..beta.. = 123.67(1)A, V = 1082.5A/sup 3/. The space group is C2/c with Z = 4. The structure is essentially that proposed earlier by Hong, but the nonstoichiometry results from replacement of part of the Zr/sup 4 +/ by Na/sup +/. Refinement of site occupancies coupled with the requirement of overall charge balance yields the formula Na /sub 2.88/ (Na /sub 0.32/ Zr /sub 1.68/ )Si /sub 1.84/ P /sub 1.16/ O /sub 11.54/ which also agrees well with analytical data. Only 20% of the Na1 sites are occupied, but 80% of the Na3 sites are filled. This structure provides a framework from which to rationalize the many reports in the literature that NASICON can only be prepared with difficulty by high temperature solid state reactions.

Research Organization:
Department of Chemistry, Texas A and M University, College Station, Texas
OSTI ID:
6407209
Journal Information:
Mater. Res. Bull.; (United States), Vol. 20:6
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English