On a new FeOF polymorph: Synthesis and stability

•A new layered polymorph of FeOF was prepared from FeOCl.•The stability of the new polymorph is similar to that of rutile FeOF.•Such experimental results can be rationalized through DFT calculations.

A new polymorph of FeOF (up to now only known in its rutile type structure) was prepared by using a new synthesis approach formally based on anionic exchange using the well-known layered FeOCl as precursor. The synthesis was achieved using [CH3C(CH2O–)2(COO–)B] to vehicle fluorine through the formation of soluble (CH3)4N+ [CH3C(CH2O–)2(COO–)BF]− and using N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) as the reacting medium. The XRD pattern of layered FeOF can be indexed with an orthorhombic cell which doubles along the b axis (which is the direction perpendicular to the layers) with respect to that of pristine FeOCl (a = 3.792(1) Å, b = 12.699(1) Å, c = 3.321(1) Å). Both thermal analysis and diffraction indicate similar stability for the layered and rutile polymorphs. Such findings are rationalized through Density Functional Theory calculations. It is found that the energy difference between the more stable rutile and layered polymorphs is practically nul. The origin of the similar stability lies in the fact that although the number of Fe–F and Fe–O bonds is different in the two structures, the strength of both the total number of Fe–O as well as Fe–F bonds are found to be almost identical. Even if the crystal and electronic structures are considerably different, the total bonding and thus, the stability of the two polymorphs, is comparable. The stability of different FeOF rutile type structures is also analyzed.

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