Ba-3(P1-xMnxO4)(2): Blue/green inorganic materials based on tetrahedral Mn(V)

Abstract

We describe a blue/green inorganic material, Ba-3(P1-x-MnxO4)(2) (I) based on tetrahedral MnO43-:3d(2) chromophore. The solid solutions (I) which are sky-blue and turquoise-blue for x <= 0.25 and dark green for x >= 0-50, are readily synthesized in air from commonly available starting materials, stabilizing the MnO43- chromophore in an isostructural phosphate host. We suggest that the covalency/ionicity of P-O/Mn-O bonds in the solid solutions tunes the crystal field strength around Mn(V) such that a blue colour results for materials with small values of x. The material could serve as a nontoxic blue/green inorganic pigment.