Synthesis, Crystal Structure, Vibrational Spectroscopy and Thermal Behavior of the First Alkali Metal Hydrated Hexaborate:K2[B6O9(OH)2]
Abstract
New hydrated potassium hexaborate K2[B6O9(OH)2] has been synthesized under mild solvothermal conditions. The structure was determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction and further characterized by FT-IR, Raman spectra and DTA-TG. It crystallizes in the monoclinic system with space group P21/n, a=0.9036(2) nm, b=0.66052(18) nm, c=1.5997(4) nm, β=91.862(4)°, V=0.9543(4) nm3 and Z=4. Its crystal structure consists of K–O polyhedra and 1-D stepped polyborate chains constructed by new [B6O9(OH)2]2− fundamental building blocks. 1-D polyborate chains contain 3,8-membered boron rings. Adjacent chains are further linked via H-bonding interactions into 2-D layers. The K+ cations reside not only between the layers but also in the 8-membered boron rings of the chains, compensating the negative charges of the borate chains and holding the layers together into the 3-D structure through bonding with oxygen atoms of the chains.
