Cobalt(ii) fluorophosphate frameworks

Abstract

Nine new cobalt fluorophosphates frameworks have been synthesised hydrothermally in a fluoride-rich medium, through the use of CoF₃ and HPF₆ as reactants in combination with Group I/II metal hydroxides and organic cations as templating species. Products have been structurally characterised using single crystal X-ray diffraction. Reaction in fluoride-rich conditions produces chain, layer and three dimensional framework structures containing new and unusual structural features based on the linking of PO₃F, PO₂(OH,F)₂ and Co(O,F)_n polyhedra (n = 5–6) including μ², μ³ and μ⁴ bridging fluoride. Structures exhibiting inter-layer spaces and channels frequently have these lined by terminal fluoride anions of the PO₃F, PO₂(OH,F)₂ and Co(O,F)_n polyhedra.