The AM-4 Family of Layered Titanosilicates: Single-Crystal-to-Single-Crystal Transformation, Synthesis and Ionic Conductivity.

Flexible crystal structures, which exhibit single-crystal-to-single-crystal (SCSC) transformations, are attracting attention in many applied aspects: magnetic switches, catalysis, ferroelectrics and sorption. Acid treatment for titanosilicate material AM-4 and natural compounds with the same structures led to SCSC transformation by loss Na⁺, Li⁺ and Zn²⁺ cations with large structural changes (20% of the unit-cell volume). The conservation of crystallinity through complex transformation is possible due to the formation of a strong hydrogen bonding system. The mechanism of transformation has been characterized using single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis, powder diffraction, Rietvield refinement, Raman spectroscopy and electron microscopy. The low migration energy of cations in the considered materials is confirmed using bond-valence and density functional theory calculations, and the ion conductivity of the AM-4 family's materials has been experimentally verified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]