Raman spectroscopic study of the antimonate mineral brizziite NaSbO3

Abstract Raman spectra of antimonate mineral brizziite NaSbO3 were studied and related to the structure of the mineral. Two sharp bands at 617 and 660 cm−1 are attributed to the SbO symmetric stretching mode. The reason for two symmetric stretching vibrations depends upon the bonding of the SbO units. The band at 617 cm−1 is assigned to bonding through the Sb and 660 cm−1 to bonding through the oxygen. The low intensity band at 508 cm−1is ascribed to the SbO antisymmetric stretching vibration. Low intensity bands were found at 503, 526 and 578 cm−1. Sharp Raman bands observed at 204, 230, 307 and 315 cm−1 are assigned to OSbO bending modes. Raman spectroscopy enables a better understanding of the molecular structure of the mineral brizziite. Keywords: antimonitebrizziiteantimonatebrandholzitehydroxylsRaman spectroscopy Acknowledgements The financial and infrastructure support of the Queensland University of Technology Inorganic Materials Research Program of the School of Physical and Chemical Sciences is gratefully acknowledged. The Australian Research Council is thanked for funding the instrumentation.