On the crystal structure and optical spectroscopy of rare earth comprising quaternary tungstates Li3Ba2RE3(WO4)8 (RE = La–Nd, Sm–Ho)

The quaternary tungstates Li3Ba2RE3(WO4)8 (RE = La–Nd, Sm–Ho) were obtained by a ceramic synthesis route and were characterized by powder and single crystal X-ray diffraction. The structures of Li3Ba2Pr3(WO4)8 and Li3Ba2Tb3(WO4)8 were refined from single crystal diffractometer data: RbLiBi2(MoO4)4 type, space group C2/c, a = 528.57(2), b = 1292.39(6), c = 1934.80(10) pm, β = 91.522(4)°, 2151 F2 values, 108 parameters for Li3Ba2Pr3(WO4)8 and a = 520.54(2), b = 1272.03(6), c = 1918.85(10) pm, β = 91.948(4)°, 2020 F2 values, 108 variables for Li3Ba2Tb3(WO4)8. Striking polyhedral building units in these tungstates are WO4 tetrahedra and LiO6 octahedra, while the mixed occupied site and the barium atoms have higher coordination numbers, i.e. RE/Li@O8 and Ba@O10. In addition to the powder quality assessment by means of reflection spectroscopy, the synthesized samples were studied for their suitability as a scintillator material. Therefore, X-ray excited luminescence measurements where performed. Apart from Li3Ba2Ce3(WO4)8 and Li3Ba2Nd3(WO4)8, all compounds show strong emission under X-ray irradiation. Li3Ba2La3(WO4)8 and Li3Ba2Gd3(WO4)8 show blue CT luminescence caused by tungstate units, while the other samples show typical and multiple lines due to well known [Xe]4fn → [Xe]4fn transitions.