Modulation of Framework and Centricity: Cation Size Effect in New Quaternary Selenites, ASc(SeO3)2 (A = Na, K, Rb, and Cs).

Four new stoichiometrically equivalent quaternary scandium selenites, ASc(SeO3)2 (A = Na, K, Rb, and Cs) have been hydrothermally synthesized using A2CO3, Sc(NO3)3·xH2O (or ScO3), and SeO2 as starting materials. All four materials share similar bond networks that are composed of corner-shared distorted ScO6 octahedra and SeO3 trigonal pyramids. However, each material reveals different frameworks and centricities. Detailed structural analysis suggests that the structural variation is attributed to the difference in size and subsequent coordination number for the alkali metal cations. Powder second-harmonic generation (SHG) measurements on noncentrosymmetric (NCS) RbSc(SeO3)2 show that the compound has an SHG efficiency similar to that of (NH4)H2PO4. The observed SHG efficiency is due to the remaining net polarization after cancellation of oppositely aligned moments for SeO3 and ScO6 groups. Thorough characterizations such as spectroscopic, thermal, and elemental analyses for the new materials are presented as are dipole moment and out-of-center distortion calculations.