Synthesis and physicochemical characterization of a new mixed-valence IronIII-ZincII diphosphate: Zn2+Fe3+2(P2O7)2

A new mixed-valence ironIII-zincII diphosphate, Zn2+Fe3+2(P2O7)2, has been prepared by a dry way and characterized structurally by several techniques. Analysis of the powder diffraction pattern of the synthesized diphosphate showed that it is isostructural with the ironIII-ironII diphosphate, Fe2+Fe3+2(P2O7)2, crystallizing in an orthorhombic symmetry in the Pnma space group. Other physical properties were characterized using Mössbauer spectroscopy and Vibrating Sample Magnetometer measurements, which showed that this new phosphate with Fe3+ ions in VI coordination has a paramagnetic behavior at room temperature. Infrared and Raman spectroscopies were also used in this study to help characterizing structurally the new synthesized material.