Hydroflux crystal growth of alkali tellurate oxide-hydroxides

Abstract

This study investigates the synthesis of novel magnetic materials via hydroflux synthesis, a method that combines flux-based and hydrothermal techniques. Single crystals of three novel alkali tellurate oxide-hydroxides were synthesized. One, CsTeO₃(OH), is nonmagnetic and a new member of the series ATeO₃(OH) (A = alkali). The other two phases contain magnetic Cu–Te substructures, one of which, KCu₂Te₃O₈(OH), is structurally three-dimensional and undergoes several magnetic ordering transitions. The other, Cs₂Cu₃Te₂O₁₀, is structurally two-dimensional and remains paramagnetic above T = 2 K. These exploratory investigations of novel phase spaces reveal key factors, including hydroxide concentration, precursor solubility, and oxidizing power of the solution, in the formation and composition of alkali tellurate oxide-hydroxides.