Structural trends in the sodalite family

Abstract

Correlations derived from the structural parameters of a wide range of gallium and germanium containing sodalites have been examined. This has allowed the effect of introducing gallium and germanium onto the framework sites to be studied. The framework expansion associated with gallium and germanium incorporation is principally accommodated by co-operative rotations about the axis and an increase in framework T–O–T bond angle. Correlations involving structural parameters such as framework T–O–T bond angle, T–O bond lengths and tetrahedral tilt angle have been examined and have been shown to be analogous to those found for their aluminosilicate counterparts.