A new modification of Rb[Al(NH2)4] and condensation in solid state

Abstract

A new modification of Rb[Al(NH2)4] in space group C2/c, which differs from the known structural modification in the way the [Al(NH2)4]−-tetrahedra are arranged in the surrounding area of the rubidium cation, was obtained from ammonothermal synthesis at 673 K and 680 bar. The crystal structure was determined by Rietveld refinements and further investigated by infrared and Raman spectroscopy. Thermal gravimetric investigations indicate two decomposition steps up to 450 °C, which can be assigned to ammonia leaving the material while the sample liquefies. During the third and final step, volatile rubidium amide is released, leaving nano-scaled cubic AlN behind. Investigating differently aged samples implies decomposition and condensation of amidoaluminate ions already at ambient temperature, which is supported by refinements of single crystal X-ray diffraction data, revealing lower nitrogen amounts than expected. The observed single crystal also exhibits a significantly smaller volume than the reported structures, further supporting the decomposition-condensation mechanism.