Dipotassium samarium(III) molybdate(VI) phosphate(V), K2Sm(MoO4)(PO4)

The title compound, K(2)Sm(MoO(4))(PO(4)), has been prepared under atmospheric conditions using a high temperature solution growth (HTSG) method. The structure of K(2)Sm(MoO(4))(PO(4)) is isotypic with other A(2)M(MoO(4))(PO(4)) compounds, where A = Na or K, and M = trivalent rare earth cation. It can be described as being built up from two-dimensional anionic layers with composition [Sm(MoO(4))(PO(4))](2-) that are stacked along the c axis and are inter-connected by K(+) cations which are in an eightfold coordination by O atoms. The SmO(8), MoO(4) and PO(4) polyhedra exhibit 2 symmetry.