A novel crystal polymorph of volborthite, Cu3V2O7(OH)2 2H2O

TL;DR

This paper reports the discovery of a new monoclinic polymorph of volborthite with a different crystal structure, which may influence its magnetic properties due to varied CuII spin interactions.

Contribution

The study identifies a novel monoclinic crystal structure of volborthite, expanding understanding of its polymorphism and potential magnetic behavior.

Findings

New monoclinic structure with space group C2/c identified.

Structural differences suggest altered magnetic interactions.

Comparison with previous C2/m structure highlights polymorphic diversity.

Abstract

A new polymorph of volborthite [tricopper(II) divanadium(V) heptaoxide dihydroxide dihydrate], Cu3V2O7(OH)2 2H2O, has been discovered in a single crystal prepared by hydrothermal synthesis. X-ray analysis reveals that the monoclinic structure has the space group C2/c at room temperature, which is different from that of the previously reported C2/m structure. Both structures have Cu3O6(OH)2 layers composed of edge-sharing CuO4(OH)2 octahedra, with V2O7 pillars and water molecules between the layers. The Cu atoms occupy two and three independent crystallographic sites in the C2/m and C2/c structures, respectively, likely giving rise to different magnetic interactions between CuII spins in the kagome lattices embedded in the Cu3O6(OH)2 layers.