New iodate materials as potential laser matrices. Preparation and characterisation of α-M(IO 3) 3 (M = Y, Dy) and β-M(IO 3) 3 (M = Y, Ce, Pr, Nd, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er). Structural evolution as a function of the Ln 3+ cationic radius

• Published in: Solid state sciences Vol. 9; no. 6; pp. 496 - 505
• Main Authors: Phanon, Delphine, Mosset, Alain, Gautier-Luneau, Isabelle
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Masson SAS 2007
• Subjects: Crystal structure; Iodate; Lanthanides; Laser matrices; XRD powder; Yttrium; Laser matrices; Lanthanides; Iodate; XRD powder; Yttrium; Crystal structure
• ISSN: 1293-2558; 1873-3085
• DOI: 10.1016/j.solidstatesciences.2007.04.004

Anhydrous yttrium iodate presents polymorphism; two crystalline phases are obtained under hydrothermal conditions. α-Y(IO 3) 3 crystallises in the monoclinic space-group P2 1/ c with a three-dimensional structure, whereas β-Y(IO 3) 3 crystallises in the monoclinic space-group P2 1/ n with a two-dimensional structure. The lattice parameters are a = 7.038(1) Å, b = 8.466(1) Å, c = 13.317(1) Å, β = 99.65(1)°, V = 782.3(2) Å 3, Z = 4 for α-Y(IO 3) 3 and a = 8.685(1) Å, b = 5.964(1) Å, c = 14.958(1) Å, β = 96.99(2)°, V = 769.0(2) Å 3, Z = 4 for β-Y(IO 3) 3. The α-form is isostructural with α-Dy(IO 3) 3 studied in this work and α-Ln(IO 3) 3 (Ln = Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, and Lu) already studied. The β-form is isostructural with β-Ln(IO 3) 3 (Ln = Ce, Pr, Nd, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho and Er) studied in this work. The structural evolutions as a function of the Ln 3+ cationic radius are studied. α-Y(IO 3) 3 and β-Y(IO 3) 3 present good thermal stability since they decompose at 600 °C. They are transparent up to 11.5 μm and they have good optical damage thresholds on powder. Anhydrous yttrium iodates present dimorphism: α-Y(IO 3) 3 and β-Y(IO 3) 3 having two and tri-dimensional structures, respectively. [Display omitted]