ABSTRACT
The intermetallic compounds YbAu(2)In(4) and Yb(2)Au(3)In(5) were obtained as single crystals in high yield from reactions run in liquid indium. Single crystal X-ray diffraction data of YbAu(2)In(4) showed that it crystallizes as a new structure type in the monoclinic space group P2(1)/m and lattice constants a = 7.6536(19) Å, b = 4.5424(11) Å, c = 9.591(2) Å and ß = 107.838(4)°. The YbAu(2)In(4) compound is composed of a complex [Au(2)In(4)](3-) polyanionic network in which the rare-earth ions are embedded. Yb(2)Au(3)In(5) crystallizes in the polar space group Cmc2(1) with the Y(2)Rh(3)Sn(5) type structure and lattice constants a = 4.5351(9) Å, b = 26.824(5) Å, and c = 7.4641(15) Å. The gold and indium atoms define a complex three-dimensional [Au(3)In(5)] network with a broad range of Au-In (2.751(2) Å-3.0518(16) Å) and In-In (3.062(3) Å-3.3024(19) Å) distances. Magnetic susceptibility measurements of YbAu(2)In(4) revealed a transition at 25 K. Below the transition, the susceptibility of YbAu(2)In(4) follows Curie-Weiss behavior with an effective paramagnetic moment of 0.79 µ(B)/Yb. Magnetic susceptibility measurements on Yb(2)Au(3)In(5) show a mixed valent ytterbium and the magnetic moment within the linear region (<100 K) of 1.95 µ(B)/Yb. Heat capacity data for YbAu(2)In(4) and Yb(2)Au(3)In(5) give Debye temperatures of 185 and 153 K, respectively.
ABSTRACT
The germanide Eu(2)AuGe(3) was obtained as large single crystals in high yield from a reaction of the elements in liquid indium. At room temperature Eu(2)AuGe(3) crystallizes with the Ca(2)AgSi(3) type, space group Fmmm, an ordered variant of the AlB(2) type: a = 857.7(4), b = 1485.5(10), c = 900.2(4) pm. The gold and germanium atoms build up slightly distorted graphite-like layers which consist of Ge(6) and Au(2)Ge(4) hexagons, leading to two different hexagonal-prismatic coordination environments for the europium atoms. Magnetic susceptibility data showed Curie-Weiss law behavior above 50 K and antiferromagnetic ordering at 11 K. The experimentally measured magnetic moment indicates divalent europium. The compound exhibits a distinct magnetic anisotropy based on single crystal measurements and at 5 K it shows a metamagnetic transition at â¼10 kOe. Electrical conductivity measurements show metallic behavior. The structural transition at 130 K observed in the single crystal data was very well supported by the conductivity measurements. (151)Eu Mössbauer spectroscopic data show an isomer shift of -11.24 mm/s at 77 K, supporting the divalent character of europium. In the magnetically ordered regime one observes superposition of two signals with hyperfine fields of 26.0 (89%) and 3.5 (11%) T, respectively, indicating differently ordered domains.
ABSTRACT
The new stannide ScAgSn was synthesized by induction melting of the elements in a sealed tantalum tube and subsequent annealing. ScAgSn crystallizes with a pronounced subcell structure: ZrNiAl type, P2m, a = 708.2(2) pm, c = 433.9(1) pm, wR2 = 0.1264, 321 F2 values, and 14 variables. The Guinier powder pattern reveals weak superstructure reflections pointing to a TiFeSi-type structural arrangement: I2cm, a = 708.1(1) pm, b = 1225.2(2) pm, c = 869.9(1) pm, wR2 = 0.0787, 5556 F2 values, and 49 variables. So far the growth of high-quality single crystals failed. Determination of the superstructure was partly based on merohedral triplet X-ray data augmented by 119Sn Mössbauer spectroscopy and 119Sn and 45Sc solid-state NMR data. In particular, the observation of three crystallographically inequivalent sites in 45Sc NMR triple quantum magic-angle spinning (TQ-MAS) NMR spectra provided unambiguous proof of the superstructure proposed. The ScAgSn structure consists of a three-dimensional [AgSn] network (with Ag-Sn distances between 273 and 280 pm) in which the scandium atoms are located in distorted hexagonal channels, each having five tin and two silver nearest neighbors. Both crystallographically independent tin sites have a tricapped trigonal prismatic coordination, that is, [Sn1Sc6Ag3] and [Sn2Ag6Sc3] environments, which are well distinguished in the 119Sn NMR and Mössbauer spectra because of their different site symmetries.
ABSTRACT
Ag3SnCuP10 was synthesized from a stoichiometric mixture of copper, silver, tin, and red phosphorus, with SnI4 added as a mineralization agent. Cubic Ag3SnCuP10, space group F3m (No. 216) with lattice parameter a = 10.503(1) A and Z = 4, consisting of orientationally disordered [Ag3Sn] heteroclusters and adamantane-type [P10] cages, is one example in which structure determination was possible only by the combined use of diffraction and spectroscopic methods. An ideal 4-fold domain twin structure that results for a R3m model, featuring an ordered arrangement of the heteroclusters, cannot be differentiated from the F3m model by diffraction methods alone. After a detailed NMR spectroscopic examination using state of the art solid-state NMR techniques, we found the local environment around the [P10] cages of the F3m model to be the correct description of the Ag3SnCuP10 structure. A possible Cu/Ag or Ag/Sn disorder in the [Ag3Sn] heterocluster and within the copper substructure was excluded by Mössbauer spectroscopic investigations and NMR measurements.
