posted on 2012-02-20, 00:00authored byAnne-Laure Rollet, Mathieu Allix, Emmanuel Veron, Michael Deschamps, Valérie Montouillout, Matthew R. Suchomel, Emmanuelle Suard, Maud Barre, Manuel Ocaña, Aymeric Sadoc, Florent Boucher, Catherine Bessada, Dominique Massiot, Franck Fayon
The synthesis and structure resolution of RbLaF4 are
described. RbLaF4 is synthesized by solid-state reaction
between RbF and LaF3 at 425 °C under a nonoxidizing
atmosphere. Its crystal structure has been resolved by combining neutron
and synchrotron powder diffraction data refinements (Pnma,a = 6.46281(2) Å, b = 3.86498(1)
Å, c = 16.17629(4) Å, Z = 4). One-dimensional 87Rb, 139La, and 19F MAS NMR spectra have been recorded and are in agreement
with the proposed structural model. Assignment of the 19F resonances is performed on the basis of both 19F–139La J-coupling multiplet patterns observed
in a heteronuclear DQ-filtered J-resolved spectrum
and 19F–87Rb HMQC MAS experiments. DFT
calculations of both the 19F isotropic chemical shieldings
and the 87Rb, 139La electric field gradient
tensors using the GIPAW and PAW methods implemented in the CASTEP
code are in good agreement with the experimental values and support
the proposed structural model. Finally, the conductivity of RbLaF4 and luminescence properties of Eu-doped LaRbF4 are investigated.