Single crystal growth and structure of LaOBr and SmOBr

Single crystals of LaOBr and SmOBr were grown from a flux of the corresponding anhydrous rare earth bromide by slow cooling. The crystals were obtained as thin platelets with dimensions up to 5×5×0.1 mm. In the case of LaOBr the formation of needle-like crystals (1×0.1×0.1 mm) was also observed. The crystal structures of LaOBr and SmOBr were determined from single crystal X-ray diffraction data. They both crystallize in the PbFCl structure with z(La) = 0.16206(6)z(Br) = 0.6352(2) (LaOBr) and z(Sm) = 0.1464(4) z(Br) = 0.6550(7) (SmOBr).