Peters, L., Knorr, K., Fechtelkord, M., Appel, P. and Depmeier, W. (2006) Structural variations in the solid solution series of sodalite-type vertical bar(EuxCa2-x)(4)(OH)(8)vertical bar (Al2+xSi1-x)(4)O-24 -SOD with 0 <= x <= 1, determined by X-ray powder diffraction and Al-27 MAS NMR spectroscopy. Zeitschrift Fur Kristallographie, 221 (9). pp. 643-648. DOI 10.1524/zkri.2006.221.9.643.

Abstract

The mineral bicchulite, vertical bar Ca-8(OH)(8)vertical bar[Al8Si4O24]-SOD, has sodalite-(SOD)-type structure. It is one of the few minerals contradicting Loewenstein's rule, as it contains twice as much Al as Si at the topologically unique tetrahedrally coordinated position, with both species being randomly distributed. The solid solution series vertical bar(EuxCa2-x)(4)(OH)(8)vertical bar [(Al2+xSi1-x)(4)O-24]-SOD with 0 <= x <= I and Delta x = 0.125, was synthesized in order to clarify, whether the continuous violation of Loewenstein's rule is possible in an aluminosilicate framework structure like SOD, or whether the reported examples of SOD-type compounds with an Al: Si-stoichiometry of 2: 1 represent a preferred composition on the tetrahedrally coordinated site of the structure. Here, we report on the variation of the lattice parameter and of some structural parameters in the series, determined by X-ray powder diffraction and results of Al-27 MAS NMR spectroscopy. We found Loewenstein's rule to be systematically and continuously violated in this series. The observed structural variations mainly reflect stronger electrostatic interactions between the cage cations and the sodalite framework with increasing (Al + Eu)-content. While the evaluation of the X-ray diffraction data indicate a global adaptation of the sodalite framework to the cage guest size, the significant line-broadening of the NMR spectra with increasing (Al + Eu)-content points towards local adaptations of the framework to the shape of the cage guests.

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