Charge states of Ca atoms in β-dicalcium silicate

In order to study the crystal structure of β‐Ca2SiO4β‐Ca2SiO4, time-of-flight neutron powder diffraction experiments were carried out at temperatures between room temperature (RT) and 600 °C. Rietveld refinement at RT has shown that β‐Ca2SiO4β‐Ca2SiO4 is monoclinic based on P21/n symmetry and two different types of Ca sites, Ca(1) and Ca(2). All interatomic distances within 3 Å were calculated, with the valences of Ca(1) with seven CaO bonds and Ca(2) with eight were estimated to be 1.87+ and 2+ by the Zachariasen–Brown–Altermatt formula (bond valence sum). Applying charge neutrality the two charge states of Ca in β‐Ca2SiO4β‐Ca2SiO4 are [Ca(1)SiO4]2− and Ca(2)2+, respectively. Furthermore, the [Ca(1)SiO4]2− unit has the shortest Ca–O distance, and its length kept constant at 2.23 Å at all temperatures. In the short-range structure analysis at RT, the shortest Ca–O bond was also observed in a radial distribution function. These results imply that the [Ca(1)SiO4]2− unit has covalency on the shortest Ca–O in addition to Si–O.

Temperature dependences of: (a) Ca(1)–O bond lengths, (b) Ca(2)–O.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide