What question did this study set out to answer?

The research aims to explore the crystal growth of Na3xLn(2-x)F6 lanthanide fluorides using a hydrothermal method.

April 10, 2026

The Yin and Yang of Crystal Growth of Ternary Lanthanide Fluorides Na 3 x Ln (2-x) F 6 ( Ln = Er–Yb)

Key Points

The research aims to explore the crystal growth of Na3xLn(2-x)F6 lanthanide fluorides using a hydrothermal method.
Utilized mild hydrothermal method with sodium carbonate and HF(aq).
Conducted structure determination via single-crystal X-ray diffraction.
Synthesized pure polycrystalline powders using NaNO3/NaF as flux.
Successfully obtained high-quality single crystals of Na3xLn(2-x)F6 (Ln = Er–Lu).
All four phases showed isostructural characteristics in the hexagonal space group P-6.
Sodium carbonate significantly promoted the crystallization process.

Abstract

The mild hydrothermal method using sodium carbonate in the presence of HF(aq) resulted in a series of high-quality single crystals of Na3xLn(2-x)F6 (Ln = Er–Lu). Sodium carbonate was found to strongly promote the formation and crystallization of the Na3xLn(2-x)F6 phase under hydrothermal conditions. Structure determination was carried out by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. All four phases are isostructural and crystallize in the hexagonal space group P-6. Pure polycrystalline powders of Na3xLn(2-x)F6 (Ln = Er–Lu) were obtained via flux synthesis using NaNO3/NaF as the flux.

The Yin and Yang of Crystal Growth of Ternary Lanthanide Fluorides Na 3 x Ln (2-x) F 6 ( Ln = Er–Yb)

Key Points

Abstract

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