title: Accidental formation of Gd₄(SiO₄)₂OTe: crystal structure and spectroscopic properties.
abstract: Designing new functional materials with increasingly complex compositions is of current interest in science and technology. Complex rare-earth-based chalcogenides have specific thermal, electrical, magnetic and optical properties. Tetragadolinium bis[tetraoxidosilicate(IV)] oxide telluride, Gd4(SiO4)2OTe, was obtained accidentally while studying the Gd2Te3-Cu2Te system. The crystal structure was determined by means of single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The compound crystallizes in the space group Pnma. Three symmetry-independent gadolinium sites were determined. The excitation and emission spectra were collected at room temperature and at 10 K. Gd4(SiO4)2OTe appears to be a promising optical material when doped with rare-earth ions.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Low Temperature and Structure Research, Polish Academy of Sciences, PO Box 1410, Wrocław 50-950, Poland.
authors.forename: Marek
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Daszkiewicz
authors.affiliation: Department of Ecology and Protection of Environment, Eastern European National University, Voli Ave 13, Lutsk 43009, Ukraine.
authors.forename: Lubomir D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Gulay
keywords: UV–vis spectra; crystal structure; optical material; rare-earth compounds; silicates; tellurides