The dobrovolskyite-type Na4Ca(SO4)3 compound was obtained by rapid cooling of a melt. Crystal structure was solved and refined using single crystal X-ray diffraction (SCXRD) data (R3, a = 15.7355(3), c = 22.4023(5) Å, V = 4803.8(2) Å3, R1 = 0.053). The thermal behavior of Na4Ca(SO4)3 was investigated using high-temperature powder X-ray diffraction (HTPXRD) from 30 to 840 °C. The HTPXRD data reveal a reversible R3 ↔ P63/mmc phase transition at 280 °C. The crystal structure of the high-temperature polymorph (P63/mmc) was refined via the Rietveld method using data collected at 820 °C (P63/mmc, a = 5.38706(6), c = 7.82774(2) Å, V = 196.731(1) Å3, Z = 2, R1 = 0.060). The low-temperature Na4Ca(SO4)3 (R3) polymorph exhibits highly anisotropic thermal expansion between 30 and 270 °C (αa = 26(1), αc = 53 (1), αV = 105 (2) × 10 −6 °C–1 at 30 °C). Bond-valence energy landscape (BVEL) maps, constructed using the crystal structure data for both polymorphs, predict potential Na+ migration pathways. The calculated activation energies for migration at 30 °C are 1.64 eV within the ab plane and 1.61 eV along the c axis. Experimentally, the electrical conductivity is 5.89 × 10−6 S/cm at 200 °C for the low-temperature modification and increases significantly to 7.06 × 10−2 S/cm at 600 °C for the high-temperature modification. The activation energies Ea for electrical conductivity are 1.21(4) eV and 0.49(2) eV for both polymorphs, respectively. © 2025
Original languageEnglish
Article number108178
JournalSolid State Sciences
Volume173
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Mar 2026

    Research areas

  • Crystal structure, Dobrovolskyite, Phase transition, Sulfates, Thermal behavior, Activation energy, Calcium compounds, Ionic conductivity, Rietveld analysis, Single crystals, Sodium compounds, Sulfur compounds, Temperature, Thermal expansion, Crystals structures, Electrical conductivity, Highest temperature, Rapid cooling, Structural phase transition, Sulphates, Thermal, Thermal behaviours, X-ray diffraction data, Phase transitions

ID: 148349287