Structural modifications as a function of the degree of order (Q) in FeTa2O6 ferrotapiolite have been characterized by means of single-crystal X-ray diffraction (SC-XRD). A total of 26 datasets covering the range of Q between 0.154 and 1 have been obtained by thermal treatments followed by quenching of natural tapiolite crystals. Ordering of Fe2+ at the A sites and of Ta5+ at the B sites causes a linear increase in the a/c lattice constants ratio, as a consequence of a linear decrease of the c dimension and only slight modifications of the a parameter. Calibration of a/c vs. Q represents a very useful tool for a rapid determination of the degree of order of tapiolite samples. Polyhedral volumes of the two octahedral sites vary linearly with Q as a consequence of the different ionic radii of the two species. Both the sites remain almost regular at all Q values but the B site shows an increasing off-centre displacement of the cation with increasing Q. Observed structure factors of supercell reflections, characterized by 1 ≠ 3n, increase linearly as a function of Q, thus representing a further tool for a quick evaluation of the degree of order. © 2006 The Mineralogical Society.
Structural changes induced by cation ordering in ferrotapiolite
M. ZEMA;
2006-01-01
Abstract
Structural modifications as a function of the degree of order (Q) in FeTa2O6 ferrotapiolite have been characterized by means of single-crystal X-ray diffraction (SC-XRD). A total of 26 datasets covering the range of Q between 0.154 and 1 have been obtained by thermal treatments followed by quenching of natural tapiolite crystals. Ordering of Fe2+ at the A sites and of Ta5+ at the B sites causes a linear increase in the a/c lattice constants ratio, as a consequence of a linear decrease of the c dimension and only slight modifications of the a parameter. Calibration of a/c vs. Q represents a very useful tool for a rapid determination of the degree of order of tapiolite samples. Polyhedral volumes of the two octahedral sites vary linearly with Q as a consequence of the different ionic radii of the two species. Both the sites remain almost regular at all Q values but the B site shows an increasing off-centre displacement of the cation with increasing Q. Observed structure factors of supercell reflections, characterized by 1 ≠ 3n, increase linearly as a function of Q, thus representing a further tool for a quick evaluation of the degree of order. © 2006 The Mineralogical Society.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
