Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 11, 2026
Crystallizing Membrane Proteins for Structure Determination using Lipidic Mesophases
Published on: November 21, 2010
Synthesis, crystal structure and optical properties of a new fluorocarbonate with an interesting sandwich-like
Changcheng Tang1, Xingxing Jiang, Shu Guo
1Beijing Center for Crystal Research and Development, Key Lab of Functional Crystal and Laser Technology, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, P. R. China. llj@mail.ipc.ac.cn.
Abstract:
A new fluorocarbonate, Na3Zn2(CO3)3F, was synthesized using a subcritical hydrothermal method. Na3Zn2(CO3)3F crystallizes in the space group C2/c with a sandwich-like framework in which the stacked [Zn(CO3)]∞ layers are connected with one another by bridging F atoms and [CO3] groups alternately. Interestingly, each Zn atom is surrounded by one F atom and four O atoms, forming a distorted [ZnO4F] trigonal bipyramid, which is observed for the first time in the carbonate system. Na3Zn2(CO3)3F has high transparency in a wide spectral region ranging from UV to mid IR with a short ultraviolet absorption edge (∼213 nm). First-principles calculations revealed that Na3Zn2(CO3)3F possesses a large birefringence (Δn = 0.11, λ = 589 nm), which is mainly contributed by the coplanar arrangement of [CO3] groups in the ab plane. Na3Zn2(CO3)3F might find applications as a UV birefringence crystal.
More Related Videos
09:55From Constructs to Crystals – Towards Structure Determination of β-barrel Outer Membrane Proteins
Published on: July 4, 2016
18:45Harvesting and Cryo-cooling Crystals of Membrane Proteins Grown in Lipidic Mesophases for Structure Determination by Macromolecular Crystallography
Published on: September 2, 2012
Related Concept Videos
02:42Ionic Crystal Structures
Most monatomic ions behave as charged spheres, and their attraction for ions of opposite charge is the same in every direction. Consequently, stable structures for ionic compounds result (1) when ions of one charge are surrounded by as many ions as possible of the opposite...
01:21Structural Properties and Dimensions of Lumber
The strength characteristics of...
02:37Structure and Physical Properties of Alkynes
In nature, compounds containing both carbon and hydrogen are known as "hydrocarbons". Aliphatic hydrocarbons are compounds whose molecules contain saturated single bonds (i.e., alkanes) or unsaturated double or triple bonds. Alkenes contain carbon–carbon double bonds and have a structural formula CnH2n. Unsaturated hydrocarbons containing carbon–carbon triple bonds are called "alkynes" and are structurally represented by the formula CnH2n-2.
The...
02:22Structures of Solids
02:34Structural Isomerism
Isomers are different chemical species that have the same chemical formula. Structural isomerism of coordination compounds can be divided into two subcategories, the linkage isomers and coordination-sphere isomers.
Linkage isomers occur when the coordination compound contains a ligand that can bind to the transition metal center through two different atoms. For example, the CN− ligand can bind through the carbon atom or through the nitrogen atom. Similarly, SCN− can...
02:15Protein and Protein Structure
A protein's shape is critical to its function. For example, an enzyme...