Distrontium lithium beryllium triborate, Sr(2)LiBeB(3)O(8).

Single crystals of distrontium lithium beryllium triborate, Sr(2)LiBeB(3)O(8), were obtained by spontaneous nucleation from a high-temperature melt. In the Sr(2)Li[BeB(3)O(8)] structure, [BeB(2)O(7)](6-) rings, made up from one BeO(4) tetra-hedron and two BO(3) triangles, are connected to each other by [BO(3)] triangles to form the smallest repeat unit {[BeB(3)O(8)](8-)} and then form chains along the b axis. The Sr(2+) cations are seven- or eight--coordinated and Li(+) cations are tetra--coordinated and lie between the chains.