Abstract

Crystals of Ba(2)Cu(PO(4))(2) have been grown in a low-temperature eutectic flux of 32% KCl and 68% CuCl (mp = 140 degrees C). The X-ray single-crystal structure analysis shows that this barium copper(II) phosphate crystallizes in a monoclinic lattice with a = 12.160(4) Å, b = 5.133(4) Å, c = 6.885(4) Å, beta = 105.42(4) degrees, and V = 414.3(4) Å(3); C2/m (No. 12); Z = 2. The structure has been refined by the least-squares method to a final solution with R = 0.020, R(w) = 0.026, and GOF = 1.05. The framework of the title compound consists of [Cu(PO(4))(2)](infinity) linear chains with Ba(2+) cations residing between these parallel chains. The chains are composed of an array of Cu(2+) cations that are doubly bridged by PO(4) anions. Each pair of bridging PO(4) tetrahedra are in a staggered configuration above and below the CuO(4) square plane, resulting in a linear chain with a long Cu---Cu separation distance, 5.13 Å ( identical withb). This quasi-one-dimensional framework is unusual among the Cu(2+)-based phosphates. Magnetic susceptibility data shows Curie-Weiss paramagnetic behavior in the range of ca. 190-300 K and a possible antiferro-to-ferromagnetic transition at approximately 8 K. In this paper, the synthesis, structure, and properties of the title compound are presented. A structural comparison to a closely related vanadyl (VO)(2+) phosphate, Ba(2)(VO)(PO(4))(2).H(2)O, as well as Na(2)CuP(2)O(7) will be discussed.