Silicate-germanate K₂Y[(Si₃Ge)O₁₀(OH)] with unusual complex corrugated layer and its correlation to ring silicate gerenite and chain silicate chkalovite

Abstract A new silicate-germanate K2Y[(Si3Ge)O10(OH)] was synthesized hydrothermally in a system Y2O3:GeO2:SiO2 = 1:1:2 (T = 280 °C; P = 90–100 atm.); K2CO3 was added to the solution as a mineralizer. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction experiment was carried out at low temperature (150 K). The unit cell parameters are a = 10.4975(4), b = 6.9567(2), c = 15.4001(6) Å, β = 104.894(4)°; V = 1086.86(7) Å3; space group is P 21/c. A novel complex anion is presented by corrugated (Si,Ge) tetrahedral layers connected by couples of YO6 octahedra into the mixed microporous framework with the channels along b and a axes, the maximal size of cross-section is ~5.6 Å. This structure has similarity with the two minerals: ring silicate gerenite (Ca,Na)2(Y,REE)3Si6O18 · 2H2O and chain silicate chkalovite Na2BeSi2O6. Six-member rings with 1̅ symmetry as in gerenite are distinguished in the new layer. They are mutually perpendicular to each other and connected by additional tetrahedra. Straight crossing chains in chkalovite change to zigzag four-link chains in the new silicate-germanate layer.