Zn₂(TeO₃)Br₂

Abstract

Single crystals of dizinc tellurium dibromide trioxide, Zn(2)(TeO(3))Br(2), were synthesized via a transport reaction in sealed evacuated silica tubes. The compound has a layered crystal structure in which the building units are [ZnO(4)Br] distorted square pyramids, [ZnO(2)Br(2)] distorted tetra-hedra, and [TeO(3)E] tetra-hedra (E being the 5s(2) lone pair of Te(4+)) joined through sharing of edges and corners to form layers of no net charge. Bromine atoms and tellurium lone pairs protrude from the surfaces of each layer towards adjacent layers. This new compound Zn(2)(TeO(3))Br(2) is isostructural with the synthetic compounds Zn(2)(TeO(3))Cl(2), CuZn(TeO(3))(2), Co(2)(TeO(3))Br(2) and the mineral sophiite, Zn(2)(SeO(3))Cl(2).