β-Si$_{3}$N$_{4}$ (Nierite) Structure: A4B3_hP14_173_bc_c-001
| Prototype | N$_{4}$Si$_{3}$ |
| AFLOW prototype label | A4B3_hP14_173_bc_c-001 |
| Mineral name | nierite |
| ICSD | 644690 |
| CCDC | 2138539 |
| Pearson symbol | hP14 |
| Space group number | 173 |
| Space group symbol | $P6_3$ |
| AFLOW prototype command |
aflow --proto=A4B3_hP14_173_bc_c-001
--params=$a, \allowbreak c/a, \allowbreak z_{1}, \allowbreak x_{2}, \allowbreak y_{2}, \allowbreak z_{2}, \allowbreak x_{3}, \allowbreak y_{3}, \allowbreak z_{3}$ |
Other compounds with this structure
Nb$_{3}$Te$_{4}$
- We have substantially revised this page. Originally, we used the reference (Forgeng, 1958), found in (Villars, 2013). This is duplicated by (Lartigue, 1985), referenced in (Villars, 2024). However neither of the quoted references actually have the atomic coordinates, with (Villars, 2024) stating
cell parameters determined and structure type assigned.
- (Grün, 1979) presents essentially the same structure with fully determined structure parameters, so we now use it as the reference.
- (Yang, 1995) places this structure in space group $P6_{3}/m$ #176. His structure is nearly indistinguishable from this one. The only difference is that the Yang et al. assign z$_{1}$ = z$_{2}$ = z$_{3}$ = 1/4, changing the space grop from polar $P6_{3}$ #173 to centrosymmetri $P6_{3}/m$ # 176. This involves moving the N II atom by 0.18Å and the Si I atom by 0.03Å, so the difference in the two structures is minimal.
- Si$_{3}$N$_{4}$ also exists as $\alpha$–Si$_{3}$N$_{4}$.
- Space group $P6_{3}$ #173 is polar and so allows an arbitrary choice for the origin of the $z$-axis. We follow (Grün, 1979) and set z$_{1}$ = 1/4 for the N-I site.
\[ \begin{array}{ccc}
\mathbf{a_{1}}&=&\frac{1}{2}a \,\mathbf{\hat{x}}- \frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}a \,\mathbf{\hat{y}}\\\mathbf{a_{2}}&=&\frac{1}{2}a \,\mathbf{\hat{x}}+\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}a \,\mathbf{\hat{y}}\\\mathbf{a_{3}}&=&c \,\mathbf{\hat{z}}
\end{array}\]
Basis vectors
| Lattice coordinates | Cartesian coordinates | Wyckoff position | Atom type | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $\mathbf{B_{1}}$ | = | $\frac{1}{3} \, \mathbf{a}_{1}+\frac{2}{3} \, \mathbf{a}_{2}+z_{1} \, \mathbf{a}_{3}$ | = | $\frac{1}{2}a \,\mathbf{\hat{x}}+\frac{\sqrt{3}}{6}a \,\mathbf{\hat{y}}+c z_{1} \,\mathbf{\hat{z}}$ | (2b) | N I |
| $\mathbf{B_{2}}$ | = | $\frac{2}{3} \, \mathbf{a}_{1}+\frac{1}{3} \, \mathbf{a}_{2}+\left(z_{1} + \frac{1}{2}\right) \, \mathbf{a}_{3}$ | = | $\frac{1}{2}a \,\mathbf{\hat{x}}- \frac{\sqrt{3}}{6}a \,\mathbf{\hat{y}}+c \left(z_{1} + \frac{1}{2}\right) \,\mathbf{\hat{z}}$ | (2b) | N I |
| $\mathbf{B_{3}}$ | = | $x_{2} \, \mathbf{a}_{1}+y_{2} \, \mathbf{a}_{2}+z_{2} \, \mathbf{a}_{3}$ | = | $\frac{1}{2}a \left(x_{2} + y_{2}\right) \,\mathbf{\hat{x}}- \frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}a \left(x_{2} - y_{2}\right) \,\mathbf{\hat{y}}+c z_{2} \,\mathbf{\hat{z}}$ | (6c) | N II |
| $\mathbf{B_{4}}$ | = | $- y_{2} \, \mathbf{a}_{1}+\left(x_{2} - y_{2}\right) \, \mathbf{a}_{2}+z_{2} \, \mathbf{a}_{3}$ | = | $\frac{1}{2}a \left(x_{2} - 2 y_{2}\right) \,\mathbf{\hat{x}}+\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}a x_{2} \,\mathbf{\hat{y}}+c z_{2} \,\mathbf{\hat{z}}$ | (6c) | N II |
| $\mathbf{B_{5}}$ | = | $- \left(x_{2} - y_{2}\right) \, \mathbf{a}_{1}- x_{2} \, \mathbf{a}_{2}+z_{2} \, \mathbf{a}_{3}$ | = | $- \frac{1}{2}a \left(2 x_{2} - y_{2}\right) \,\mathbf{\hat{x}}- \frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}a y_{2} \,\mathbf{\hat{y}}+c z_{2} \,\mathbf{\hat{z}}$ | (6c) | N II |
| $\mathbf{B_{6}}$ | = | $- x_{2} \, \mathbf{a}_{1}- y_{2} \, \mathbf{a}_{2}+\left(z_{2} + \frac{1}{2}\right) \, \mathbf{a}_{3}$ | = | $- \frac{1}{2}a \left(x_{2} + y_{2}\right) \,\mathbf{\hat{x}}+\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}a \left(x_{2} - y_{2}\right) \,\mathbf{\hat{y}}+c \left(z_{2} + \frac{1}{2}\right) \,\mathbf{\hat{z}}$ | (6c) | N II |
| $\mathbf{B_{7}}$ | = | $y_{2} \, \mathbf{a}_{1}- \left(x_{2} - y_{2}\right) \, \mathbf{a}_{2}+\left(z_{2} + \frac{1}{2}\right) \, \mathbf{a}_{3}$ | = | $\frac{1}{2}a \left(- x_{2} + 2 y_{2}\right) \,\mathbf{\hat{x}}- \frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}a x_{2} \,\mathbf{\hat{y}}+c \left(z_{2} + \frac{1}{2}\right) \,\mathbf{\hat{z}}$ | (6c) | N II |
| $\mathbf{B_{8}}$ | = | $\left(x_{2} - y_{2}\right) \, \mathbf{a}_{1}+x_{2} \, \mathbf{a}_{2}+\left(z_{2} + \frac{1}{2}\right) \, \mathbf{a}_{3}$ | = | $\frac{1}{2}a \left(2 x_{2} - y_{2}\right) \,\mathbf{\hat{x}}+\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}a y_{2} \,\mathbf{\hat{y}}+c \left(z_{2} + \frac{1}{2}\right) \,\mathbf{\hat{z}}$ | (6c) | N II |
| $\mathbf{B_{9}}$ | = | $x_{3} \, \mathbf{a}_{1}+y_{3} \, \mathbf{a}_{2}+z_{3} \, \mathbf{a}_{3}$ | = | $\frac{1}{2}a \left(x_{3} + y_{3}\right) \,\mathbf{\hat{x}}- \frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}a \left(x_{3} - y_{3}\right) \,\mathbf{\hat{y}}+c z_{3} \,\mathbf{\hat{z}}$ | (6c) | Si I |
| $\mathbf{B_{10}}$ | = | $- y_{3} \, \mathbf{a}_{1}+\left(x_{3} - y_{3}\right) \, \mathbf{a}_{2}+z_{3} \, \mathbf{a}_{3}$ | = | $\frac{1}{2}a \left(x_{3} - 2 y_{3}\right) \,\mathbf{\hat{x}}+\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}a x_{3} \,\mathbf{\hat{y}}+c z_{3} \,\mathbf{\hat{z}}$ | (6c) | Si I |
| $\mathbf{B_{11}}$ | = | $- \left(x_{3} - y_{3}\right) \, \mathbf{a}_{1}- x_{3} \, \mathbf{a}_{2}+z_{3} \, \mathbf{a}_{3}$ | = | $- \frac{1}{2}a \left(2 x_{3} - y_{3}\right) \,\mathbf{\hat{x}}- \frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}a y_{3} \,\mathbf{\hat{y}}+c z_{3} \,\mathbf{\hat{z}}$ | (6c) | Si I |
| $\mathbf{B_{12}}$ | = | $- x_{3} \, \mathbf{a}_{1}- y_{3} \, \mathbf{a}_{2}+\left(z_{3} + \frac{1}{2}\right) \, \mathbf{a}_{3}$ | = | $- \frac{1}{2}a \left(x_{3} + y_{3}\right) \,\mathbf{\hat{x}}+\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}a \left(x_{3} - y_{3}\right) \,\mathbf{\hat{y}}+c \left(z_{3} + \frac{1}{2}\right) \,\mathbf{\hat{z}}$ | (6c) | Si I |
| $\mathbf{B_{13}}$ | = | $y_{3} \, \mathbf{a}_{1}- \left(x_{3} - y_{3}\right) \, \mathbf{a}_{2}+\left(z_{3} + \frac{1}{2}\right) \, \mathbf{a}_{3}$ | = | $\frac{1}{2}a \left(- x_{3} + 2 y_{3}\right) \,\mathbf{\hat{x}}- \frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}a x_{3} \,\mathbf{\hat{y}}+c \left(z_{3} + \frac{1}{2}\right) \,\mathbf{\hat{z}}$ | (6c) | Si I |
| $\mathbf{B_{14}}$ | = | $\left(x_{3} - y_{3}\right) \, \mathbf{a}_{1}+x_{3} \, \mathbf{a}_{2}+\left(z_{3} + \frac{1}{2}\right) \, \mathbf{a}_{3}$ | = | $\frac{1}{2}a \left(2 x_{3} - y_{3}\right) \,\mathbf{\hat{x}}+\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}a y_{3} \,\mathbf{\hat{y}}+c \left(z_{3} + \frac{1}{2}\right) \,\mathbf{\hat{z}}$ | (6c) | Si I |
References
- R. Grün, The crystal structure of β-Si$_3$N$_4$: structural and stability considerations between α- and β-Si$_3$N$_4$, Acta Crystallogr. Sect. B 35, 800–804 (1979), doi:10.1107/S0567740879004933.
- W. D. Forgeng and B. F. Decker, Nitrides of silicon, Trans. Am. Inst. Min. Met. Eng. 212, 343–348 (1958).
- J. F. Lartigue and F. Sibieude, Diffractométrie X à haute température sur Si$_{3}$N$_{4}$ C.V. D., Revue internationale des hautes températures et des réfractaires 22, 71–81 (1985).
- P. Villars and K. Cenzual, Pearson's Crystal Data – Crystal Structure Database for Inorganic Compounds (2013). ASM International.
- P. Villars, Pauling File, in Inorganic Solid Phases, SpringerMaterials (online database)} (Springer Materials, Heidelberg, 2024). {sd_0533401.
- P. Yang, H.-K. Fun, I. A. Rahman, and I. Saleh, Two phase refinements of the structures of α-Si$_3$N$_4$ and β-Si$_3$N$_4$ made from rice husk by Rietveld analysis, Ceram. Int. 21, 137–142 (1995), doi:10.1016/0272-8842(95)95885-L.
Found in
- P. Villars and K. Cenzual, Pearson's Crystal Data – Crystal Structure Database for Inorganic Compounds (2013). ASM International.
First cited in
- D. Hicks, M. J. Mehl, E. Gossett, C. Toher, O. Levy, R. M. Hanson, G. L. W. Hart, and S. Curtarolo, The AFLOW Library of Crystallographic Prototypes: Part 2, Comp. Mat. Sci. 161, S1-S1011 (2019). (doi=10.1016/j.commatsci.2018.10.043)
Geometry files
Prototype Generator
aflow --proto=A4B3_hP14_173_bc_c --params=$a,c/a,z_{1},x_{2},y_{2},z_{2},x_{3},y_{3},z_{3}$