Hydrothermal synthesis and characterization of the lutetium borate–nitrate Lu2B2O5(NO3)2·2H2O

The lutetium diborate–dinitrate Lu2B2O5(NO3)2·2H2O was discovered through a hydrothermal synthesis from Lu(NO3)3·H2O and H3BO3. The compound crystallizes in the space group P1̅ (no. 2) with the lattice parameters a=789.52(5), b=988.62(6), c=1460.33(8) pm, α=90.83(1), β=101.75(1), and γ=110.02(1)° (Z=4). Isolated [B2O5]4− units show coplanar alignment and the coordinating [NO3]− groups are stacked perpendicular to the borate plane. Thereby, a novel, open arrangement solely built up from diborate and nitrate groups at a 1:1 ratio is formed. Additionally, Lu2B2O5(NO3)2·2H2O is characterized by vibrational spectroscopy (IR/Raman).