A　novel　ternary　borate,　trisodium　zinc　pentaborate,　Na3ZnB5O10(),　has　been　prepared　by　solid-state　reaction　at　temperature　below　750　degrees　C.　The　single-crystal　X-ray　structural　analysis　showed　that　Na3ZnB5O10　crystallizes　in　the　monoclinic　space　group　P2(1)/n　with　a　=　6.6725(7)angstrom,　b　=　18.1730(10)angstrom,　c　=　7.8656(9)angstrom,　beta　=　114.604(6)degrees,　Z　=　4.　It　represents　a　new　structure　type　in　which　double　ring　[B5O10](5-)　building　units　are　bridged　by　ZnO4　tetrahedra　through　common　O　atoms　to　form　a　two-dimensional　(2)(infinity)[ZnB5O10](3-)　layer　that　affords　one-dimensionai　channels　running　parallel　to　the　[101]　direction.　Symmetry-cen　ter　related　(2)(infinity)[ZnB5O10](3-)　layers　are　stacked　along　the　b-axis,　with　the　interlayer　void　spaces　and　intralayer　open　channels　filled　by　Na+　cations　to　balance　charge.　The　IR　spectrum　further　confirms　the　presence　of　both　BO3　and　BO4　groups　and　UV-vis　diffuse　reflectance　spectrum　shows　a　band　gap　of　about　3.2eV.　(c)　2007　Elsevier　Inc.　All　rights　reserved.