Synthesis and single-crystal structure of NaTmSiO 4

Abstract The silicate NaTmSiO 4 has been obtained through a high-temperature flux synthesis. NaTmSiO 4 crystallizes in the olivine structure type in the orthorhombic space group Pnma (no. 62) with the unit cell parameters a = 11.0786(4), b = 6.3637(2), c = 5.0933(2) Å, V = 359.08(2) Å 3 , and four formula units per cell. The structure consists of an anionic orthosilicate substructure with Tm 3+ as well as Na + ions in distorted octahedral coordination for charge compensation. The single-crystal data presented are supported by bond-length/bond-strength and charge distribution calculations as well as calculations of the Madelung part of lattice energy.