Polymorphism of Niobium Phosphate Bronze Na4Nb8P4O32 Deduced by the Packings of Structural Units: A Centrosymmetric Phase

Inorg Chem. 2024 May 6;63(18):8440-8448. doi: 10.1021/acs.inorgchem.4c00914. Epub 2024 Apr 22.

Abstract

Herein, a new centrosymmetric phase Na4Nb8P4O32 (referred to as CS-Na4Nb8P4O32) was obtained by a molten salt method, which is a polymorph of niobium phosphate bronze Na4Nb8P4O32. CS-Na4Nb8P4O32 displays high structural similarity to the noncentrosymmetric Na4Nb8P4O32 phase (referred to as NCS-Na4Nb8P4O32): Distorted NbO6 octahedra are corner-coordinated to form ReO3-type layers, which are further joined together by isolated PO4 tetrahedra. However, two polymorphous phases adopt different packings of structural units, resulting in distinct symmetries. NbO3 layers and PO4 tetrahedra are reversely arranged along the crystallographic a direction in CS-Na4Nb8P4O32, thereby producing a centrosymmetric structure. The reverse packing cancels out all contributions of dipole moments originating from the distorted NbO6 octahedra; NCS-Na4Nb8P4O32 exhibits the C2-rotation distribution of NbO3 layers and PO4 tetrahedra, thus generating a noncentrosymmetric and polar structure. The C2-rotation packing of structural units brings a constructive addition of the dipole moments, further obtaining large calculated independent second harmonic generation susceptibilities. The study of structural evolution deduced by the packings of structural units in polymorphous Na4Nb8P4O32 might provide valuable insights into polymorphism and structural regulation.