Redetermination of LaZn(5) based on single crystal X-ray diffraction data.

The crystal structure of the already known binary title compound LaZn(5) (lanthanum penta-zinc) (space group P6/mmm, Pearson symbol hP6, CaCu(5) structure type) has been redetermined from single-crystal X-ray diffraction data. In contrast to previous determinations based on X-ray powder data [Nowotny (1942). Z. Metallkd.34, 247-253; de Negri et al. (2008). Inter-metallics, 16, 168-178], where unit-cell parameters and assignment of the structure type were reported, the present study reveals anisotropic displacement parameters for all atoms. The crystal structure consists of three crytallographically distinct atoms. The La atom (Wyckoff site 1a, site symmetry 6/mmm) is surrounded by 18 Zn atoms and two La atoms. The coordination polyhedron around one of the Zn atoms (Wyckoff site 2c, site symmetry -6m2) is an icosa-hedron made up from three La and nine Zn atoms. The other Zn atom (Wyckoff site 3g, site symmetry mmm) is surrounded by four La and eight Zn atoms. Bonding between atoms is explored by means of the TB-LMTO-ASA (tight-binding linear muffin-tin orbital atomic spheres approximation) program package. The positive charge density is localized around La atoms, and the negative charge density is around Zn atoms, with weak covalent bonding between the latter.

Structures and physical properties of rare-earth zinc antimonides Pr6Zn(1+x)Sb(14+y) and RE6Zn(1+x)Sb14 (RE = Sm, Gd-Ho).

A new series of isostructural ternary rare-earth zinc antimonides RE(6)Zn(1+x)Sb(14+y) (RE = Pr, Sm, Gd-Ho) has been obtained by direct reaction of the elements at 1050-1100 degrees C. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies revealed that these compounds adopt an orthorhombic structure type (space group Immm (no. 71), Z = 2, a = 4.28-4.11 A, b = 15.15-14.73 A, c = 19.13-18.56 A in the progression from RE = Pr to Ho) that may be regarded as stuffed variants of a (U(0.5)Ho(0.5))(3)Sb(7)-type host structure. Columns of face-sharing RE(6) trigonal prisms, centered by Sb atoms, occupy channels defined by an extensive polyanionic Sb network. This network is constructed from three-atom-wide and four-atom-wide Sb strips, the latter being linked together by single Sb atoms in RE(6)Zn(1+x)Sb(14) (RE = Sm, Gd-Ho; y = 0), but also by additional Sb-Sb pairs in a disordered fashion in Pr(6)Zn(1+x)Sb(14+y) (y = approximately 0.6). Interstitial Zn atoms then partially fill tetrahedral sites (occupancy of 0.5-0.7) and, to a lesser extent, square pyramidal sites (occupancy of 0.04-0.12), accounting for the observed nonstoichiometry with variable x. Except for the Gd member, these compounds undergo antiferromagnetic ordering below T(N) < 9 K, with the magnetic susceptibilities of the Tb, Dy, and Ho members following the Curie-Weiss law above T(N). For the Ho member, the thermal conductivities are low and the Seebeck coefficients are small and positive, implying p-type character consistent with the occurrence of partial Zn occupancies. At low temperatures (down to 5 K), electrical resistivity measurements for the Tb, Dy, and Ho members indicated metallic behavior, which persists at high temperatures (up to 560 K) for the Ho member. Band structure calculations on an idealized "Gd(6)Zn(2)Sb(14)" model revealed the existence of a pseudogap near the Fermi level.

Ce20Mg19Zn81: a new structure type with a giant cubic cell.

Icosacerium nonadecamagnesium henoctacontazinc, Ce(20)Mg(19)Zn(81), synthesized by fritting of the pure elements with subsequent arc melting, crystallizes with an unusually large cubic unit cell [space group F\overline{4}3m, a = 21.1979 (8) A] and represents a new structure type among the technologically important family of ternary rare earth-transition metal-magnesium intermetallics. The majority of atoms (two Ce and five Zn) display .3m site symmetry, two Ce and one Mg atom occupy three 2.mm positions, one Mg and one Zn have \overline{4}3m site symmetry, one Mg and three Zn atoms sit in ..m positions, and one Zn atom is in a general position. The Ce(20)Mg(19)Zn(81) structure can be described using the geometric concept of nested polyhedral units, by which it consists of four different polyhedral units, viz. A (Zn+Zn(4)+Zn(4)+Zn(12)+Ce(6)), B (Mg+Zn(12)+Ce(4)+Zn(24)+Ce(4)), C (Zn(4)+Zn(12)+Mg(6)) and D (Zn(4)+Zn(4)+Mg(12)+Ce(6)), with the outer construction unit being an octahedron or tetrahedron. All interatomic distances in the structure indicate metallic-type bonding.

Ternary rare-earth manganese bismuthides: structures and physical properties of RE(3)MnBi(5) (RE = La-Nd) and Sm(2)Mn(3)Bi(6).

Investigations in the ternary RE-Mn-Bi systems where RE is an early rare earth element have revealed the existence of the polybismuthides RE3MnBi5 (RE = La-Nd), previously known only for the Ce member, and the new compound Sm2Mn3Bi6. Their structures were determined from single-crystal X-ray diffraction data. The RE3MnBi5 compounds adopt the hexagonal inverse Hf5Cu3Sn-type structure (Pearson symbol hP18, space group P63/mcm, a = 9.7139(11)-9.5438(16) A, c = 6.4883(7)-6.4089(11) A for RE = La-Nd), containing chains of face-sharing Mn-centered octahedra. Sm2Mn3Bi6 adopts a new monoclinic structure type (Pearson symbol mP22, space group P21/m, a = 10.3917(8) A, b = 4.4557(3) A, c = 13.2793(10) A, beta = 108.0100(10) degrees ) in which the Mn centers are coordinated by Bi atoms in diverse geometries (distorted octahedral, trigonal bipyramidal, and distorted tetrahedral (seesaw)) and participate in extensive metal-metal bonding in the form of chains of Mn3 clusters. Homoatomic bonding interactions involving nominally anionic Bi atoms are manifested as one-dimensional Bi chains in RE3MnBi5 and as four-atom-wide Bi ribbons in Sm2Mn3Bi6. Electrical resistivity measurements on single crystals revealed metallic behavior with prominent transitions near 40 K for RE3MnBi5 and 50 K for Sm2Mn3Bi6. Magnetic susceptibility measurements showed that Pr3MnBi5 undergoes magnetic ordering near 25 K.