Syntheses and characterization of zero-dimensional molybdoantimonites, A2(Mo4Sb2O18) (A=Y, La, Nd, Sm, Gd and Dy)

Six new isostructural A2(Mo4Sb2O18) (A=Y, La, Nd, Sm, Gd and Dy) compounds have been synthesized by solid-state reactions and characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction and spectroscopic techniques. They crystallize in C2/c space group with 4 formula units and contain A3+ cations and discrete centrosymmetric anionic (Mo4Sb2O18)6− aggregates, made of tetrahedral MoO4 and disphenoidal SbO4 moieties. They exhibit characteristic Sb3+ photoluminescence.