STRUCTURAL CHARACTERISATION OF HYDROTHERMALLY GROWN RB2CO(SEO3)2: A CRYSTALLOGRAPHIC AND HIRSHFELD SURFACE STUDY.

A cobalt-containing selenite, Rb2Co(SeO3)2 was obtained through hydrothermal synthesis and structurally investigated using single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The compound adopts a trigonal crystal system (space group R-3m) featuring a three-dimensional network formed by corner-sharing CoO6 octahedra and SeO32 - trigonal pyramids. Detailed geometric analysis revealed bond parameters consistent with typical values, with lattice connectivity influenced by the large ionic radius of Rb+. Hirshfeld surface analysis identified that the crystal packing is primarily stabilised by Rb...O, Se...Rb, and Rb...Rb interactions, supported by enrichment ratio calculations that highlight the dominance of rubidium-mediated contacts. Complementary infrared spectroscopy confirmed the presence of characteristic Co-O and Se-O vibrations, consistent with literature data. This study integrates crystallographic, vibrational, and surface interaction analyses to provide a comprehensive insight into the atomic-scale architecture of Rb2Co(SeO3)2 and its potential for applications in multifunctional materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]