Synthesis of a new bismuth oxide fluoride with the γ-Bi2O3 structure type

Abstract A new bismuth compound with the γ-Bi 2 O 3 structure type has been synthesized by a hydrothermal method. The experimental results show that only the solution or starting materials which contain fluorine ions are effectual for the synthesis of the compound. Chemical analysis proved that the new compound contains a small amount of fluorine. We comment the stabilization of the γ-form by partial replacement of oxygen atoms with fluorine atoms and assume Bi 26 O 38 F 2 as its constitution. The measured dimension of the unit cell is 10.183(2) A. Its thermal stability is also studied by differential thermal analysis.