Structural Variations in Complex Sodium Thorium Arsenates.

Three new sodium thorium arsenates, Na5Th4(AsO4)7 (1), Na5Th(AsO4)3 (2), and Na4Th(As2O7)2 (3) were synthesized via a high temperature route and their structures and optical properties were studied. Compound 1 adopts a three‐dimensional structure that consists of tetrameric fundamental building blocks (FBBs) [Th4(AsO4)7]5–, which are constructed by ThO8 and ThO9 polyhedra. The structures of 2 and 3 are based on open frameworks with channels running along the a or c axes, respectively, which are occupied by Na cations. Structural relations between the structures of 2 and 3 have been discussed regarding their composition. In contrast to the other two compounds, the arsenate anions in the structure of 2 play role of bridging ligands and do not connect more than two Th atoms. Owing to this, the underlying net of this compound contains only Th nodes has a lon topology. The Raman spectra of 1 and 2 contain similar peaks due to As–O vibrations of AsO4 groups, while the Raman spectrum of 3 differs significantly owing to the presence of As–O–As bridging group in As2O74– anions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]