A series of new ternary and quaternary compounds in the Li(I)-Ga(III)-Te(IV)-O system.

Systematic explorations of new compounds in the Li(I)-Ga(III)-Te(IV)-O system led to two new isomeric ternary gallium tellurites, namely, α-Ga(2)(TeO(3))(3) and β-Ga(2)(TeO(3))(3), and two new quaternary lithium gallium tellurites, namely, HLi(2)Ga(3)(TeO(3))(6)(H(2)O)(6) and Li(9)Ga(13)Te(21)O(66). α-Ga(2)(TeO(3))(3) is a noncentrosymmetric structure (I4̅3d) and displays a moderately strong second-harmonic-generation response that is comparable with that of KDP (KH(2)PO(4)). Its structure features a condensed three-dimensional (3D) network alternatively connected by GaO(4) tetrahedra and TeO(3) trigonal pyramids via corner sharing. β-Ga(2)(TeO(3))(3) is centrosymmetric (P6(3)/m) and features a 3D open framework composed of Ga(2)O(9) dimers bridged by TeO(3) groups with one-dimensional (1D) 12-MR channels along the c axis. Although both HLi(2)Ga(3)(TeO(3))(6)(H(2)O)(6) and Li(9)Ga(13)Te(21)O(66) crystallized in the same space group R3̅, they belong to different structure types. The structure of HLi(2)Ga(3)(TeO(3))(6)(H(2)O)(6) can be viewed as the 1D tunnels of the 3D gallium tellurite being occupied by Li(+) and H(+) ions whereas the structure of Li(9)Ga(13)Te(21)O(66) is a complicated 3D framework composed of alternating gallium tellurite layers and GaO(6) octahedral layers with Li(+) cations being located at the cavities of the structure. Optical diffuse-reflectance spectrum measurements indicate that all four compounds are insulators and transparent in the range of 300-2500 nm.