Abstract
During the exploration of the K2O-Bi2O 3 -As2O5 system, single crystals of a new arsenate of trivalent bismuth, K3Bi5(AsO4) 6, were isolated by solid state reaction at 600°C. The title compound crystallizes in the monoclinic system, space group C2/c (N°15) with a = 18.257(2) Å, b = 7.260(1) Å, c = 20.130(4) Å, β = 119.86(1)°, and Z = 4. Its structure consists of a three-dimensional framework made up of AsO4 tetrahedra and BiO6 and BiO7 polyhedra sharing edges and corners, delimiting cavities wherein K+ ions reside. This compound exhibits a potassium ion conductivity but with rather low conductivity value.