Li2Si3O7: Crystal structure and Raman spectroscopy

The crystal structure of metastable Li2Si3O7 was determined from single crystal X-ray diffraction data. The orthorhombic crystals were found to adopt space group Pmca   with unit cell parameters of a=19.648(3)Å, b=5.9969(8)Å and c=4.8691(6)Å. The content of the cell is Z=4Z=4. The obtained structural model was refined to a R  -value of 0.035. The structure exhibits silicate sheets, which can be classified as {uB,2,1∞2}[Si6O14] using the silicate nomenclature of Liebau. The layers are build up from zweier single chains running parallel to c. Raman spectra are presented and compared with other silicates. Furthermore, the structure is discussed versus Na2Si3O7.

Structure of Li2Si3O7: [Si6O14] silicate layers formed by two independent zweier single chains. Lithium atoms represented by 95% probability displacement ellipsoids.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide