DiscussionThe crystal structures of hexagonal tungsten bronze type (HTB) can be described as built up of WOe octahedra sharing comers with the neighboring octahedra forming a three dimensional network. The homogeneity range of HTB phases M*W03 with Μ = Κ, Rb, Cs using similar preparation conditions was found to be mostly restricted on χ between 0.19 and 0.33 [ 1 ]. The formula of tungsten bronzes can be rewritten as M. t (W/ + W ι -y^Oj) indicating a presence of formally pentavalent tungsten ions. The present structure investigations show that tungsten can be substituted by niobium according to Rb^Nb^Wi-yCb here with y=0.13 (jc=0.31) and y = 0.19 (jc = 0.30) which is in reasonable agreement with the preceding nominal composition. Mattes et al. [3] reported for a HTB-type structure with a e-lattice parameter of 3.862 A. However, the present structure refinement leads to a double c-lattice parameter due to the shift of W and 0(2) as given in Table 2 and Table 4. Nbo.19O3Rbo.30Wo.8i, hexagonal, P6}Jmcm (No. 193), a = 7.389(2) A, c = 7.562( 1) A, V = 357.5 A 3 , Ζ = 6, Pm = 6.689 gem" 3 , R(wP) = 0.049, R(P) = 0.037, R(l) = 0.031, R(F) = 0.017, Γ =293 K.
Source of materialThe starting materials were K2WO4, Rb2WÜ4, WO3, WO2 and Nb 2 Os (high quality reagent grade). Samples were prepared according to the chemical reaction: jc/2 Rb 2 W0 4 + (l-vc-y2) WO3 + (x-y)/2 WO2 + y/2 Nb 2 0 5 Rb,Nb v Wi-y 0 3 (χ = 0.2; >> = 0.1 or 0.2). The reactants were mixed intimately in an agate mortar, taken into silica tubes, evacuated at room temperature for 2-3 hours, sealed, then heated in a Muffle furnace at a temperature of 1073 Κ for a period of 5 days and quenched to room temperature. After this reaction single phase black powder remained for both phases.