Crystal structures of TiO(OH)2 and Li2TiO3 have been studied in detail and refined using X-ray powder diffraction data. Both compounds possess a high concentration of defects in the structure. The crystal structure of the Li2TiO3 salt obtained at 700 °C reveals stacking faults of LiTi2 metal layers, which leads to the appearance of short-range order in three possible space groups: C2/c, C2/m, P3112. The possibility to stabilise this imperfect state increases the mobility of the Li+ ions in the structure and allows the complete exchange of lithium by hydrogen in acid water solutions with formation of TiO(OH)2 . The crystal structure of TiO(OH)2 belongs to the layered double hydroxide structure type with the 3R1 sequence of oxygen layers and can be described as a stacking of charge-neutral metal oxyhydroxide slabs [(OH)2OTi2O(OH)2 ]. TiO(OH)2 is the first layered double hydroxide structure formed by a cation with oxidation state +4 only.
A new series of Bi3+/Sm3+ and Bi3+/Eu3+ codoped Ba2Gd2Ge4O13 phosphors crystallizing in the monoclinic system (S.G. C2/c) have been prepared. The studied germanates are promising materials for non-contact temperature measurements.