Cobalt lithium orthoborate, LiCoBO3

The title compound has been synthesized by a solid state reaction. Its stru cture is isotypic with those of LiMgBO3, LiMnBO3 and LiZnBO3. Co-II occupie s statistically two close positions within the CoO5 trigonal bipyramids. Th ese polyhedra share edges to form chains running along the [(1) over bar 01 ] axis and are linked together, via corner sharing, by BO3 planar groups. T he Li atoms occupy statistically the center of two face-sharing tetrahedra. Such pairs of tetrahedra share edges to form chains running along the c ax is.