Effect of alkali-metal cations on synthesis of stoichiometric layered perovskite oxynitrides

Layered perovskite oxynitrides, which contain a stoichiometric lattice N content, are promising visible-light-driven photocatalysts. However, their synthesis remains a challenge for inorganic chemists. Herein, we report the successful synthesis of layered perovskite oxynitrides A2A'2Ta3O9N with different cations at A/A′-sites (A = Na, K, Rb, Cs; A' = Ca, Sr, Ba) via thermal ammonolysis from layered Dion–Jacobson phase oxide precursors (AA'2Ta3O10). We present the first experimental study of layered oxynitride formation across the A and A′ cation size series, revealing that the A-site alkali-metal cation rather than the A′-site alkaline-earth metal cation is critical to the successful synthesis of the stoichiometric layered oxynitrides. Nitrided products with A = Na, K, or Rb exhibited structural transitions, while no structural transition was observed for Cs. Interestingly, nitrided products with A = Rb and K exhibited the same structural transition behavior, i.e., alkali-metal cations entered the interlayer to form an oxynitride with a composition A2A'2Ta3O9N·nH2O. By contrast, with A = Na, it formed an oxynitride that differs from the Ruddlesden–Popper structure but has the same composition of A2A'2Ta3O9N·nH2O. Our finding suggests that, as the cation size decreases from Cs to Na, stoichiometric A2A'2Ta3O9N compositions become more favorable than compounds with A-sites. This work provides a new perspective for the future design and synthesis of novel layered oxynitrides.