Synthesis, structural and spectroscopic investigations of dolomite-type MSn(BO3)2 with M = Mn, Fe, Co and Ni

Abstract Dolomite-type MSn(BO3)2 phases for M = Mn, Fe, Co and Ni have been synthesized using solid-state synthesis carried out in sealed quartz tubes. X-ray powder diffraction data Rietveld refinements confirm the rhombohedral space group R 3 ‾ $R\overline{3}$ for all compositions. The change in unit-cell parameters follows the increasing nature of the radius of the M-cations. Both the MO6 and SnO6 octahedra are found to be quite regular. 119Sn Mössbauer spectroscopy investigations complement the almost undistorted nature of the SnO6 octahedra and the tetra-valent charge of the tin-atoms. Detailed vibrational features are described from the Raman and the FTIR spectral data collected at ambient conditions. The frequency shifts of some selective Raman and IR bands are explained in terms of the change of cationic sizes and the respective M–O bond distances. The UV/Vis diffuse reflectance data are analyzed using the RATD method, leading to direct bandgaps for all the investigated samples. The wide bandgap semiconductors (3 – 4 eV) show increasing transition energies with increasing cation sizes of the high-spin M-cations in the dolomite types.