Spectroscopic characterization of pure and cation-stabilized sodium phosphate

A systematic study was conducted of pure Na3PO4 and solid solutions of Na3P O4 doped with Mg2+ and Zn2+. Na3PO4 has two solid phases: a low-temperature tetragonal phase and a high-temperature cubic phase. A factor group analys is of the two phases yielded the expected number of modes and their symmetr y-based assignments. A temperature-dependent Raman spectroscopic study was then performed for the pure compound. Analysis of the doped Na3PO4 has also provided another description of the local structural distortions present i n the cubic structure. (C) 2000 American Institute of Physics. [S0021-9606( 00)01906-1].