Synthesis and structural characterization of CaGaO.

CaGaO was successfully synthesized using a wet chemistry technique to promote the homogenous mixing of the Ca and Ga cations. Rietveld refinements on X-ray and neutron powder diffraction data confirm that the compound is isostructural to CaAlO however, with a significantly larger lattice parameter allowing for the cages that result from the framework arrangement to expand. In naturally occurring CaAlO, the mineral mayenite, these cages are occupied by O anions, however, experimental studies exchanging the O anions with other anions has led to a host of applications, depending on the caged anion.