Structural changes and cation site ordering in Na and K forms of aluminogermanates with the zeolite gismondine topology

Two new aluminogermanates, K - AlGe-GIS (K₈Al₈Ge₈O₃₂ ·8H₂O) and Na - AlGe-GIS (Na₂₄Al₂₄Ge₂₄O₉₆ ·40H₂O), with the zeolite gismondine (GIS) type framework topology have been synthesized hydrothermally and characterized using single-crystal X-ray diffraction. K - AlGe-GIS crystallizes in the monoclinic space group I2/a with a = 10.311(2) Å, b = 9.749-(1) Å, c = 10.225(6) Å, β = 90.000(2)°, and Z = 8. Na - AlGe-GIS crystallizes in the monoclinic space group C2/c with a = 14.490(3) Å, b = 9.940(2) Å, c = 23.530(5) Å, β = 105.90(3)°, and Z = 8. Strict alternation of Ge and Al atoms over the framework sites lowers the symmetry of these aluminogermanates from their topological framework symmetry of I4₁/amd to the real symmetry I2/a. Both structures consist of twisted double-crankshaft chains running along the a and c axes. In K - AlGe-GIS, potassium and water statistically occupy extraframework sites along the perpendicular eight-ring channels. In Na - AlGe-GIS, all three sodium sites are fully occupied and only three out of seven sites containing water are statistically occupied. A zigzag-ordered arrangement of Na sites in Na - AlGe-GIS results in unit cell symmetry hitherto unobserved for GIS. The synthesis of Na - AlGe-GIS requires the presence of organic bases, while K - AlGe-GIS can be synthesized from gels with or without organic bases. Time-resolved synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction patterns obtained as a function of temperature for Na - AlGe-GIS show a gradual disappearance of the C-centered cell between 150 and 180 °C with a simultaneous appearance of an I-centered monoclinic phase. Calculated powder diffraction patterns indicate that this phase change results from disordering of Na sites in the eight-ring channels. Results of a single-crystal diffraction study for a 50% Na-exchanged K - AlGe-GIS (K₄Na₄Al₈Ge₈O₃₂ ·8H₂O) shows that the space group I2/a is retained with a 0.3% increase in the unit cell volume. Both the AlGe frameworks retain the GIS topology until ca. 750 °C after dehydration. The average Al-O-Ge (T-O-T) bond angle of 135.75° in K - AlGe-GIS and 135.29° in Na - AlGe-GIS is smaller than the average Al - O - Si bond angle of 145° in aluminosilicates.