Abstract
The crystal structure of Li2Na2NiP6O18 center dot 12H(2)O is characterized by the presence of six-membered P6O186- phosphate ring anions (internal symmetry 1) having a chair conformation and three different cations, viz. Li+, Na+ and Ni2+,to counterbalance the anionic charge. All atoms are in general positions except for nickel, which lies on a special position with site symmetry 2. Lithium has a tetrahedral environment (LiO4), and sodium and nickel have octahedral environments [NaO6 and Ni(H2O)(6), respectively]. The P6O18 rings are linked via corner sharing by NaO6 octahedra and LiO4 tetrahedra to form a three-dimensional framework presenting tunnels running along [010] in which the six-coordinated Ni2+ cations are located. The structure is stabilized by a network of O-H center dot center dot center dot O hydrogen bonds.