Cs7Sm11[TeO3]12Cl16 and Rb7Nd11[TeO3]12Br16, the new tellurite halides of the tetragonal Rb6LiNd11[SeO3]12Cl16 structure type

•Two new rare-earth – alkali – tellurium oxide halides were synthesized.•They adopt slab structure of rare earth-tellurium-oxygen and CsCl-like slabs.•The Br-based CsCl-like slabs have been observed first in this layered family.

Two new rare-earth – alkali – tellurium oxide halides were synthesized by a salt flux technique and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The structures of the new compounds Cs7Sm11[TeO3]12Cl16 (I) and Rb7Nd11[TeO3]12Br16 (II) (both tetragonal, space group I4/mcm) correspond to the sequence of [MLn11(TeO3)12] and [M6X16] layers and bear very strong similarities to those of known selenite analogs. We discuss the trends in similarities and differences in compositions and structural details between the Se and Te compounds; more members of the family are predicted.

Graphical abstractTwo new rare-earth – alkali – tellurium oxide halides were predicted and synthesized.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide