AB2O4-type spinel oxides were extensively
investigated as prospective magnetic, photocatalytic, cathode, and
host materials. Herein, a new Mg4InSbO8 spinel
was rationally designed and structurally characterized by high-resolution
X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD) in combination with neutron powder
diffraction. Mg4InSbO8 crystallizes in the Imma-superstructure with lattice dimensions of a = √2/2·a
C, b = 3√2/2·a
C, and c = a
C, where a
C is the lattice parameter of the cubic (Fd3̅m) archetype spinel. The formation of this
hitherto unreported Imma-spinel superstructure is
a result of 2:1 Mg2+/Sb5+ ordering in the octahedral
sublattice, which further creates two crystallographically independent
tetrahedral sites with distinctive sizes and thereby resulting in
a site-selective 2:1 occupation for the Mg2+ and In3+ cations. Mg4InSbO8 is the first spinel
superstructure exhibiting double 2:1 cationic ordering in both octahedral
and tetrahedral sublattices. Compared with other ordered spinel structures,
we found that the ionic radius and charge differences, coordination
geometry preference, and chemical bonding character are all responsible
for the formation of this unique doubly ordered spinel superstructure
of Mg4InSbO8. Theoretical calculations, together
with diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, revealed that Mg4InSbO8 is an indirect semiconductor. Moreover, the multiple
tetrahedral and octahedral sites in Mg4InSbO8 are appropriate for green- and deep-red-emitting Mn2+ and Mn4+ activators, respectively. Tunable color emission
from green to white and then to deep red can be achieved for Mg4InSbO8/Mn2+/4+ phosphors by adjusting
the excitation energy. More importantly, Mn2+ and Mn4+ activators experience distinctive thermal quenching responses,
thereby resulting in a vivid color change from green to red for Mg4InSbO8/Mn2+/4+ upon heating. The highest
sensitivity for color change is S
r = 2.10%
at 453 K, manifesting potential applications in temperature sensing.
Our findings pave the way to designing cation-ordered spinel superstructures
and exploring and expanding their prospective applications.