Highlights
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Simple synthetic route for hureaulite [Mn5(PO4)2[PO3(OH)]2(H2O)4] mineral.
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Confirmation the LiMnPO4 formation by using synthetic hureaulite as a new precursor.
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Report on the relationship between thermal and vibrational behaviors.
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Report on the factor-group splitting analysis (theoretical vibrational bands).
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Applying the deconvolution function for the complex thermal decomposition.
Abstract
Plate-like hureaulite is successfully synthesized via a simple precipitation technique, and its vibrational and thermal behaviors are investigated. Its composition stabilizes at up to 165 °C and decomposes to Mn2P2O7 and Mn3(PO4)2 with different morphologies. Three thermal processes correspond to the first and second dehydrations, and polycondensation. However, the second dehydration shows two characteristics, and hence the deconvolution function is employed, which indicates two different water types in the crystal structure. Olivine-structured lithiophilite with nanosize is obtained from the thermal decomposition of the hureaulite precursor. The relationship between thermal and vibrational data is studied and the results are in agreement with each other. The factor-group analysis of hureaulite is also investigated by analyzing [PO3(HO)]2–, PO43–, and H2O. X-ray diffraction is applied for the sample structure determination. The obtained peaks and the corresponding lattice parameters are also found in agreement with the standard databases. The average crystallite sizes of synthesized compounds are determined by using the Scherrer equation, whereas the metal compositions are determined by using atomic spectrophotometers.