Crystal structure of a layered phosphate molybdate K₂Gd(PO₄)(MoO₄)

The title compound dipotassium gadolinium(III) phosphate(V) molybdate(VI), K2Gd(PO4)(MoO4), was synthesized from a high-temperature melt starting from GdF3 as a source of gadolinium. Its structure is isotypic with other (M2MIII)-M-I ((MO4)-O-VI)(PO4) compounds, where M-I = Na, K or Cs, and M-III = rare-earth cation, M-VI = Mo or W. The three-dimensional framework is built up from [Gd(PO4)(MoO4)] anionic sheets, which are organized by adhesion of [GdPO4] layers and [MoO4] tetrahedra stacked above and below these layers. The interstitial space is occupied by K cations having eightfold oxygen coordination. The polyhedron of GdO8 was estimated to be a triangular dodecahedron by the continuous shape measurement method.