Nierite (α-Si$_{3}$N$_{4}$) Structure: A4B3_hP28_159_ab2c_2c-001
| Prototype | N$_{4}$Si$_{3}$ |
| AFLOW prototype label | A4B3_hP28_159_ab2c_2c-001 |
| Mineral name | nierite |
| ICSD | 79797 |
| Pearson symbol | hP28 |
| Space group number | 159 |
| Space group symbol | $P31c$ |
| AFLOW prototype command |
aflow --proto=A4B3_hP28_159_ab2c_2c-001
--params=$a, \allowbreak c/a, \allowbreak z_{1}, \allowbreak z_{2}, \allowbreak x_{3}, \allowbreak y_{3}, \allowbreak z_{3}, \allowbreak x_{4}, \allowbreak y_{4}, \allowbreak z_{4}, \allowbreak x_{5}, \allowbreak y_{5}, \allowbreak z_{5}, \allowbreak x_{6}, \allowbreak y_{6}, \allowbreak z_{6}$ |
- Nierite can also be found as hexagonal $\beta$–Si$_{3}$N$_{4}$.
- The data for this structure was taken at 300K.
\[ \begin{array}{ccc}
\mathbf{a_{1}}&=&\frac{1}{2}a \,\mathbf{\hat{x}}- \frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}a \,\mathbf{\hat{y}}\\\mathbf{a_{2}}&=&\frac{1}{2}a \,\mathbf{\hat{x}}+\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}a \,\mathbf{\hat{y}}\\\mathbf{a_{3}}&=&c \,\mathbf{\hat{z}}
\end{array}\]
Basis vectors
| Lattice coordinates | Cartesian coordinates | Wyckoff position | Atom type | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $\mathbf{B_{1}}$ | = | $z_{1} \, \mathbf{a}_{3}$ | = | $c z_{1} \,\mathbf{\hat{z}}$ | (2a) | N I |
| $\mathbf{B_{2}}$ | = | $\left(z_{1} + \frac{1}{2}\right) \, \mathbf{a}_{3}$ | = | $c \left(z_{1} + \frac{1}{2}\right) \,\mathbf{\hat{z}}$ | (2a) | N I |
| $\mathbf{B_{3}}$ | = | $\frac{1}{3} \, \mathbf{a}_{1}+\frac{2}{3} \, \mathbf{a}_{2}+z_{2} \, \mathbf{a}_{3}$ | = | $\frac{1}{2}a \,\mathbf{\hat{x}}+\frac{\sqrt{3}}{6}a \,\mathbf{\hat{y}}+c z_{2} \,\mathbf{\hat{z}}$ | (2b) | N II |
| $\mathbf{B_{4}}$ | = | $\frac{2}{3} \, \mathbf{a}_{1}+\frac{1}{3} \, \mathbf{a}_{2}+\left(z_{2} + \frac{1}{2}\right) \, \mathbf{a}_{3}$ | = | $\frac{1}{2}a \,\mathbf{\hat{x}}- \frac{\sqrt{3}}{6}a \,\mathbf{\hat{y}}+c \left(z_{2} + \frac{1}{2}\right) \,\mathbf{\hat{z}}$ | (2b) | N II |
| $\mathbf{B_{5}}$ | = | $x_{3} \, \mathbf{a}_{1}+y_{3} \, \mathbf{a}_{2}+z_{3} \, \mathbf{a}_{3}$ | = | $\frac{1}{2}a \left(x_{3} + y_{3}\right) \,\mathbf{\hat{x}}- \frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}a \left(x_{3} - y_{3}\right) \,\mathbf{\hat{y}}+c z_{3} \,\mathbf{\hat{z}}$ | (6c) | N III |
| $\mathbf{B_{6}}$ | = | $- y_{3} \, \mathbf{a}_{1}+\left(x_{3} - y_{3}\right) \, \mathbf{a}_{2}+z_{3} \, \mathbf{a}_{3}$ | = | $\frac{1}{2}a \left(x_{3} - 2 y_{3}\right) \,\mathbf{\hat{x}}+\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}a x_{3} \,\mathbf{\hat{y}}+c z_{3} \,\mathbf{\hat{z}}$ | (6c) | N III |
| $\mathbf{B_{7}}$ | = | $- \left(x_{3} - y_{3}\right) \, \mathbf{a}_{1}- x_{3} \, \mathbf{a}_{2}+z_{3} \, \mathbf{a}_{3}$ | = | $- \frac{1}{2}a \left(2 x_{3} - y_{3}\right) \,\mathbf{\hat{x}}- \frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}a y_{3} \,\mathbf{\hat{y}}+c z_{3} \,\mathbf{\hat{z}}$ | (6c) | N III |
| $\mathbf{B_{8}}$ | = | $y_{3} \, \mathbf{a}_{1}+x_{3} \, \mathbf{a}_{2}+\left(z_{3} + \frac{1}{2}\right) \, \mathbf{a}_{3}$ | = | $\frac{1}{2}a \left(x_{3} + y_{3}\right) \,\mathbf{\hat{x}}+\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}a \left(x_{3} - y_{3}\right) \,\mathbf{\hat{y}}+c \left(z_{3} + \frac{1}{2}\right) \,\mathbf{\hat{z}}$ | (6c) | N III |
| $\mathbf{B_{9}}$ | = | $\left(x_{3} - y_{3}\right) \, \mathbf{a}_{1}- y_{3} \, \mathbf{a}_{2}+\left(z_{3} + \frac{1}{2}\right) \, \mathbf{a}_{3}$ | = | $\frac{1}{2}a \left(x_{3} - 2 y_{3}\right) \,\mathbf{\hat{x}}- \frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}a x_{3} \,\mathbf{\hat{y}}+c \left(z_{3} + \frac{1}{2}\right) \,\mathbf{\hat{z}}$ | (6c) | N III |
| $\mathbf{B_{10}}$ | = | $- x_{3} \, \mathbf{a}_{1}- \left(x_{3} - y_{3}\right) \, \mathbf{a}_{2}+\left(z_{3} + \frac{1}{2}\right) \, \mathbf{a}_{3}$ | = | $- \frac{1}{2}a \left(2 x_{3} - y_{3}\right) \,\mathbf{\hat{x}}+\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}a y_{3} \,\mathbf{\hat{y}}+c \left(z_{3} + \frac{1}{2}\right) \,\mathbf{\hat{z}}$ | (6c) | N III |
| $\mathbf{B_{11}}$ | = | $x_{4} \, \mathbf{a}_{1}+y_{4} \, \mathbf{a}_{2}+z_{4} \, \mathbf{a}_{3}$ | = | $\frac{1}{2}a \left(x_{4} + y_{4}\right) \,\mathbf{\hat{x}}- \frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}a \left(x_{4} - y_{4}\right) \,\mathbf{\hat{y}}+c z_{4} \,\mathbf{\hat{z}}$ | (6c) | N IV |
| $\mathbf{B_{12}}$ | = | $- y_{4} \, \mathbf{a}_{1}+\left(x_{4} - y_{4}\right) \, \mathbf{a}_{2}+z_{4} \, \mathbf{a}_{3}$ | = | $\frac{1}{2}a \left(x_{4} - 2 y_{4}\right) \,\mathbf{\hat{x}}+\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}a x_{4} \,\mathbf{\hat{y}}+c z_{4} \,\mathbf{\hat{z}}$ | (6c) | N IV |
| $\mathbf{B_{13}}$ | = | $- \left(x_{4} - y_{4}\right) \, \mathbf{a}_{1}- x_{4} \, \mathbf{a}_{2}+z_{4} \, \mathbf{a}_{3}$ | = | $- \frac{1}{2}a \left(2 x_{4} - y_{4}\right) \,\mathbf{\hat{x}}- \frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}a y_{4} \,\mathbf{\hat{y}}+c z_{4} \,\mathbf{\hat{z}}$ | (6c) | N IV |
| $\mathbf{B_{14}}$ | = | $y_{4} \, \mathbf{a}_{1}+x_{4} \, \mathbf{a}_{2}+\left(z_{4} + \frac{1}{2}\right) \, \mathbf{a}_{3}$ | = | $\frac{1}{2}a \left(x_{4} + y_{4}\right) \,\mathbf{\hat{x}}+\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}a \left(x_{4} - y_{4}\right) \,\mathbf{\hat{y}}+c \left(z_{4} + \frac{1}{2}\right) \,\mathbf{\hat{z}}$ | (6c) | N IV |
| $\mathbf{B_{15}}$ | = | $\left(x_{4} - y_{4}\right) \, \mathbf{a}_{1}- y_{4} \, \mathbf{a}_{2}+\left(z_{4} + \frac{1}{2}\right) \, \mathbf{a}_{3}$ | = | $\frac{1}{2}a \left(x_{4} - 2 y_{4}\right) \,\mathbf{\hat{x}}- \frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}a x_{4} \,\mathbf{\hat{y}}+c \left(z_{4} + \frac{1}{2}\right) \,\mathbf{\hat{z}}$ | (6c) | N IV |
| $\mathbf{B_{16}}$ | = | $- x_{4} \, \mathbf{a}_{1}- \left(x_{4} - y_{4}\right) \, \mathbf{a}_{2}+\left(z_{4} + \frac{1}{2}\right) \, \mathbf{a}_{3}$ | = | $- \frac{1}{2}a \left(2 x_{4} - y_{4}\right) \,\mathbf{\hat{x}}+\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}a y_{4} \,\mathbf{\hat{y}}+c \left(z_{4} + \frac{1}{2}\right) \,\mathbf{\hat{z}}$ | (6c) | N IV |
| $\mathbf{B_{17}}$ | = | $x_{5} \, \mathbf{a}_{1}+y_{5} \, \mathbf{a}_{2}+z_{5} \, \mathbf{a}_{3}$ | = | $\frac{1}{2}a \left(x_{5} + y_{5}\right) \,\mathbf{\hat{x}}- \frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}a \left(x_{5} - y_{5}\right) \,\mathbf{\hat{y}}+c z_{5} \,\mathbf{\hat{z}}$ | (6c) | Si I |
| $\mathbf{B_{18}}$ | = | $- y_{5} \, \mathbf{a}_{1}+\left(x_{5} - y_{5}\right) \, \mathbf{a}_{2}+z_{5} \, \mathbf{a}_{3}$ | = | $\frac{1}{2}a \left(x_{5} - 2 y_{5}\right) \,\mathbf{\hat{x}}+\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}a x_{5} \,\mathbf{\hat{y}}+c z_{5} \,\mathbf{\hat{z}}$ | (6c) | Si I |
| $\mathbf{B_{19}}$ | = | $- \left(x_{5} - y_{5}\right) \, \mathbf{a}_{1}- x_{5} \, \mathbf{a}_{2}+z_{5} \, \mathbf{a}_{3}$ | = | $- \frac{1}{2}a \left(2 x_{5} - y_{5}\right) \,\mathbf{\hat{x}}- \frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}a y_{5} \,\mathbf{\hat{y}}+c z_{5} \,\mathbf{\hat{z}}$ | (6c) | Si I |
| $\mathbf{B_{20}}$ | = | $y_{5} \, \mathbf{a}_{1}+x_{5} \, \mathbf{a}_{2}+\left(z_{5} + \frac{1}{2}\right) \, \mathbf{a}_{3}$ | = | $\frac{1}{2}a \left(x_{5} + y_{5}\right) \,\mathbf{\hat{x}}+\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}a \left(x_{5} - y_{5}\right) \,\mathbf{\hat{y}}+c \left(z_{5} + \frac{1}{2}\right) \,\mathbf{\hat{z}}$ | (6c) | Si I |
| $\mathbf{B_{21}}$ | = | $\left(x_{5} - y_{5}\right) \, \mathbf{a}_{1}- y_{5} \, \mathbf{a}_{2}+\left(z_{5} + \frac{1}{2}\right) \, \mathbf{a}_{3}$ | = | $\frac{1}{2}a \left(x_{5} - 2 y_{5}\right) \,\mathbf{\hat{x}}- \frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}a x_{5} \,\mathbf{\hat{y}}+c \left(z_{5} + \frac{1}{2}\right) \,\mathbf{\hat{z}}$ | (6c) | Si I |
| $\mathbf{B_{22}}$ | = | $- x_{5} \, \mathbf{a}_{1}- \left(x_{5} - y_{5}\right) \, \mathbf{a}_{2}+\left(z_{5} + \frac{1}{2}\right) \, \mathbf{a}_{3}$ | = | $- \frac{1}{2}a \left(2 x_{5} - y_{5}\right) \,\mathbf{\hat{x}}+\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}a y_{5} \,\mathbf{\hat{y}}+c \left(z_{5} + \frac{1}{2}\right) \,\mathbf{\hat{z}}$ | (6c) | Si I |
| $\mathbf{B_{23}}$ | = | $x_{6} \, \mathbf{a}_{1}+y_{6} \, \mathbf{a}_{2}+z_{6} \, \mathbf{a}_{3}$ | = | $\frac{1}{2}a \left(x_{6} + y_{6}\right) \,\mathbf{\hat{x}}- \frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}a \left(x_{6} - y_{6}\right) \,\mathbf{\hat{y}}+c z_{6} \,\mathbf{\hat{z}}$ | (6c) | Si II |
| $\mathbf{B_{24}}$ | = | $- y_{6} \, \mathbf{a}_{1}+\left(x_{6} - y_{6}\right) \, \mathbf{a}_{2}+z_{6} \, \mathbf{a}_{3}$ | = | $\frac{1}{2}a \left(x_{6} - 2 y_{6}\right) \,\mathbf{\hat{x}}+\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}a x_{6} \,\mathbf{\hat{y}}+c z_{6} \,\mathbf{\hat{z}}$ | (6c) | Si II |
| $\mathbf{B_{25}}$ | = | $- \left(x_{6} - y_{6}\right) \, \mathbf{a}_{1}- x_{6} \, \mathbf{a}_{2}+z_{6} \, \mathbf{a}_{3}$ | = | $- \frac{1}{2}a \left(2 x_{6} - y_{6}\right) \,\mathbf{\hat{x}}- \frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}a y_{6} \,\mathbf{\hat{y}}+c z_{6} \,\mathbf{\hat{z}}$ | (6c) | Si II |
| $\mathbf{B_{26}}$ | = | $y_{6} \, \mathbf{a}_{1}+x_{6} \, \mathbf{a}_{2}+\left(z_{6} + \frac{1}{2}\right) \, \mathbf{a}_{3}$ | = | $\frac{1}{2}a \left(x_{6} + y_{6}\right) \,\mathbf{\hat{x}}+\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}a \left(x_{6} - y_{6}\right) \,\mathbf{\hat{y}}+c \left(z_{6} + \frac{1}{2}\right) \,\mathbf{\hat{z}}$ | (6c) | Si II |
| $\mathbf{B_{27}}$ | = | $\left(x_{6} - y_{6}\right) \, \mathbf{a}_{1}- y_{6} \, \mathbf{a}_{2}+\left(z_{6} + \frac{1}{2}\right) \, \mathbf{a}_{3}$ | = | $\frac{1}{2}a \left(x_{6} - 2 y_{6}\right) \,\mathbf{\hat{x}}- \frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}a x_{6} \,\mathbf{\hat{y}}+c \left(z_{6} + \frac{1}{2}\right) \,\mathbf{\hat{z}}$ | (6c) | Si II |
| $\mathbf{B_{28}}$ | = | $- x_{6} \, \mathbf{a}_{1}- \left(x_{6} - y_{6}\right) \, \mathbf{a}_{2}+\left(z_{6} + \frac{1}{2}\right) \, \mathbf{a}_{3}$ | = | $- \frac{1}{2}a \left(2 x_{6} - y_{6}\right) \,\mathbf{\hat{x}}+\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}a y_{6} \,\mathbf{\hat{y}}+c \left(z_{6} + \frac{1}{2}\right) \,\mathbf{\hat{z}}$ | (6c) | Si II |
References
- P. Yang, H.-K. Fun, I. A. Rahman, and M. I. Salehb, Two phase refinements of the structures of α-Si$_{3}$N$_{4}$ and β-Si$_{3}$N$_{4}$ made from rice husk by Rietveld analysis, Ceramics Int. 21, 137–142 (1995).
- D. Hardie and K. H. Jack, Crystal Structures of Silicon Nitride, Nature 180, 332–333 (1957), doi:10.1038/180332a0.
Found in
- R. T. Downs and M. Hall-Wallace, The American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database, Am. Mineral. 88, 247–250 (2003).
Prototype Generator
aflow --proto=A4B3_hP28_159_ab2c_2c --params=$a,c/a,z_{1},z_{2},x_{3},y_{3},z_{3},x_{4},y_{4},z_{4},x_{5},y_{5},z_{5},x_{6},y_{6},z_{6}$