RHENIUM OXIDE (ReO3)
Rhenium oxide forms a more complex and
interesting structure.
In the unit cell below, rhenium (Re) is
red and oxygen (O) is yellow.
Click on the unit cell above to view it rotating.
The unit cells stack to form the crystal thus:
Expanded
Rhenium Oxide Lattice Tight
Rhenium Oxide lattice
Horizontal
Vertical
Click on the images above to view the ReO3 structure
rotating.
The oxygen ions at the corners of the expanded lattice have been
made darker simply to help keep the structure in perspective. They are
otherwise identical to all other oxygens in the lattice.
Particularly interesting are:
(1) In some orientations square boxes of oxygen atoms appear, filled
with columns of rhenium. These are easier to see in the open
lattice.
(2) In other orientations similar, but empty square channels exist.
These can allow other atoms, molecules, or ions to migrate within the crystal.
This provides a mechanism for the crystal to act as a catalyst or for the
crystal to change its composition without breaking down the lattice itself.
The ReO3 sublattices are not identical, as you can see
below.
Click
here to go to the next page.
Structure of Crystals
Crystal Lattices
Unit Cells
From Unit Cell to Lattice
From Lattice to Unit Cell
Stoichiometry
Packing & Geometry
Simple Cubic Metals
Close Packed Structures
Body Centered Cubic
Cesium Chloride
Sodium Chloride
Rhenium
Oxide
Niobium Oxide
Except as otherwise noted, all images, movies
and VRMLs are owned and copyright
by
Dr. Barbara L. Sauls and Dr. Frederick C. Sauls
1998.
Contact the owners for individual permission
to use. barbarasauls@kings.edu