Structure and thermal decomposition of Cs2HPO4 · 2H2O

Abstract

The thermal transformations of disubstituted cesium orthophosphate crystal hydrate under heating in air up to 400°C have been studied. The dehydration process occurs in two stages with the loss of 0.6 water molecules at 60‒100°C and 1.4 water molecules at 100‒160°C. Anhydrous Cs₂HPO₄ is stable up to 300°C and is completely converted into cesium pyrophosphate Cs₄P₂O₇ at 330°C. The structure of Cs₂HPO₄ · 2H₂O has been determined. The compound crystallizes in monoclinic space group P2₁/c and has the unit cell parameters a = 7.4761(5) Å, b = 14.2125(8) Å, c = 7.9603(6) Å, β = 116.914(5)°, V = 754.20(9) ų, and Z = 4 at‒123°C. An earlier unknown polymorph of Cs₄P₂O₇ has been found. According to X-ray powder diffraction data, hexagonal space group Р6₃ has been proposed for the formed pyrophosphate.