What is it about?

Synthetic analogues of the silicate framework mineral leucites have silicons partially replaced by divalent and trivalent metal cations. Alkali metal cations are sited in extra framework channels and can be easily replaced by ion exchange. These materials have a potential technological application as storage media for radioactive Caesium from nuclear waste.

Featured Image

Why is it important?

This is a continuation of my studies of the crystal structures of leucite analogues, I have had many publications in collaboration with Prof. Henderson of the University of Manchester. This is the first crystal structure refinement that has been done away from central facilities (synchrotron and neutron sources).

Perspectives

These are the first leucite crystal structures that I have refined using a laboratory powder diffractometer with an X-ray tube radiation source. All previous structures were refined using data collected at central facilities (synchrotron and neutrons). Modern laboratory powder diffractometers, with the advances in detector technology, makes it much easier to collect Rietveld quality powder diffraction data.

Dr Anthony Martin Thomas Bell
Sheffield Hallam University

Read the Original

This page is a summary of: Rietveld refinement of the crystal structures of Rb2XSi5O12(X= Ni, Mn), Acta Crystallographica Section E Crystallographic Communications, January 2016, International Union of Crystallography,
DOI: 10.1107/s2056989016001390.
You can read the full text:

Read

Contributors

The following have contributed to this page