CdB10O14(OH)4·H2O with an unprecedented decaborate fundamental building block

CdB10O14(OH)4·H2O has been synthesized under boric acid flux condition and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, infrared spectra, and UV–vis reflectance spectroscopy. It crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P21/n with a = 7.7277(8), b = 18.95(2), c = 9.8616(10) Å, β= 91.454(1)°, V = 1443.7(3) Å. The structure consists of [B10O16(OH)4] layers of 9-membered borate rings enclosing Cd2+ cations. Adjacent borate layers are interconnected via hydrogen bonding to form a 3D network. It possesses an unprecedented decaborate fundamental building block B10O20. The structure details are discussed together with Sr[B6O9(OH)2]·3H2O, Pb[B8O11(OH)4], Pr[B8O11(OH)5], and Nd[B9O13(OH)4]·H2O, which have correlated FBBs. The band structure calculations show its direct energy band gap of ∼4.68 eV, in consistent with the estimated value (4.77 eV) from UV–vis. In addition, dielectric constants and refractive indexes are also calculated.

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► CdB10O14(OH)4·H2O is prepared by boric acid flux method.
► Its structure is solved by single-crystal X-ray diffraction in space group P21/n.
► It possesses an unprecedented decaborate fundamental building block B10O20.
► Structure features are discussed in detail and compared with other polyborates.