Dilithium barium diphosphate.

The crystal structure of the novel title diphosphate, Li(2)BaP(2)O(7), exists with a three-dimensional lattice composed of BaO(9) polyhedra linked to corner- and edge-sharing P(2)O(7) diphosphate groups, forming layers parallel to the (010) plane, the layers being linked by P[bond]O[bond]Ba bridges. Tunnels thus created between the layers are occupied by Li(+) cations, two of which lie on twofold axes.