Sn20.5□3.5As22I8: A Largely Disordered Cationic Clathrate with a New Type of Superstructure and Abnormally Low Thermal Conductivity

Sn(20.5)As(22)I(8), a new cationic clathrate, has been prepared by using an ampoule technique. According to the X-ray powder diffraction data, it crystallizes in the face-centered cubic space group F23 or Fm(-)3 with a unit-cell parameter of a=22.1837(4) A. Single-crystal X-ray data allowed solution of the crystal structure in the subcell with a unit-cell parameter of a(0)=11.092(1) A and the space group Pm(-)3n (R=5.7 %). Sn(20.5)As(22)I(8) (or Sn(20.5) square(3.5)As(22)I(8), accounting for the vacancies in the framework) possesses the clathrate-I type crystal structure, with iodine atoms occupying the cages of the cationic framework composed of tin and arsenic atoms. The crystal structure is strongly disordered. The main features are a random distribution of vacancies, and shifts of the tin and arsenic atoms away from their ideal positions. The coordination of the tin atoms has been confirmed by using (119)Sn Mössbauer spectroscopy. Electron diffraction and high-resolution electron microscopy (HREM) analyses have confirmed the presence of the superstructure ordering, which results in a doubling of the unit-cell parameter and a change of the space group from Pm(-)3n to either F23 or Fm(-)3. Analysis of the crystal structure has led to the construction of four ordering models for the superstructure, which have been corroborated by HREM, and has also led to the identification of disordered regions originating from overlap of the different types of ordered domains. Sn(20.5)As(22)I(8) is a diamagnetic semiconductor with an estimated band gap of 0.45 eV; it displays abnormally low thermal conductivity, with the room temperature value being just 0.5 W m(-1) K(-1).

Reduction of the Host Cationic Framework Charge by Isoelectronic Substitution: Synthesis and Structure of Hg7Ag2P8X6 (X = Br, I) and Hg6Ag4P8Br6

The first compounds, Hg(7)Ag(2)P(8)X(6) (X = Br, I) and Hg(6)Ag(4)P(8)Br(6), featuring the partial isoelectronic substitution of Hg(2+) for Ag(1+) in mercury-pnicogen frameworks have been obtained and structurally characterized. The new compounds are the supramolecular assemblies built of the covalently bonded metal-pnicogen frameworks trapping guests of different complexity. The frameworks feature the perfect ordering of Hg(2+) and Ag(1+) cations and contain P(2)(4)(-) and P(6)(6)(-) phosphorus clusters. The substitution of Hg(2+) with Ag(1+) leads to the reduction in charge of the host cluster-containing cationic matrix and concomitant replacement of the monatomic X(-) guest by a lesser amount of the AgBr(3)(2)(-) anions.

Sn19.3Cu4.7As22I8: a New Clathrate-I Compound with Transition-Metal Atoms in the Cationic Framework

Sn19.3Cu4.7As22I8, a new clathrate-I compound with a cationic host framework containing transition metals, has been synthesized, and its crystal structure has been determined. It crystallizes in the cubic space group Pmn with a unit cell parameter a = 11.1736(3) angstroms and Z = 1 (R = 0.031 for 329 independent reflections and 22 variables). Tin, copper, and arsenic form the cationic clathrate framework hosting the guest iodine anions in cages of two different shapes. Sn19.3Cu4.7As22I8 does not contain vacancies in the framework but reveals three partially occupied positions of the metal atoms, leading to the formation of Sn-Sn and Sn-Cu bonds that differ in length. The 119Sn Mössbauer spectrum confirms the local environment of tin atoms. The hyperfine constants obtained from the Mössbauer spectra for different cationic tin clathrates are discussed. Electron diffraction and electron microscopy reveal that the splitting affects the short-range ordering but does not lead to a superstructure. Though containing a transition metal, Sn19.3Cu4.7As22I8 is diamagnetic, and its composition corresponds to the Zintl formalism.

Unusually high chemical compressibility of normally rigid type-I clathrate framework: synthesis and structural study of Sn(24)P(19.3)Br(x)I(8)(-)(x) solid solution, the prospective thermoelectric material

A novel tin phosphide bromide, Sn(24)P(19.3(2))Br(8), and Sn(24)P(19.3(2))Br(x)()I(8)(-)(x) (x = 0-8) solid solution have been prepared and structurally characterized. All compounds crystallize with the type-I clathrate structure in the cubic space group Pmn (No. 223). The clathrate framework of the title solid solution shows a remarkable chemical compressibility: the unit cell parameter drops from 10.954(1) to 10.820(1) A on going from x = 0 to x = 8, a feature that has never been observed for normally rigid clathrate frameworks. The chemical compressibility as well as non-Vegard dependence of the unit cell parameter upon the bromine content is attributed to the nonuniform distribution of the guest halogen atoms in the polyhedral cavities of the clathrate framework. The temperature-dependent structural study performed on Sn(24)P(19.3(2))Br(8) has shown that, in contrast to the chemical compressibility, the thermal compressibility (linear contraction) of the phase is similar to that observed for the Group 14 anionic clathrates. The tin phosphide bromide does not undergo phase transition down to 90 K, and the atomic displacement parameters for all atoms decrease linearly upon lowering the temperature. These linear dependencies have been used to assess such physical constants as Debye temperature, 220 K, and the lattice part of thermal conductivity, 0.7 W/(m K). Principal differences between the title compounds and the group 14 anionic clathrates are highlighted, and the prospects of creating new thermoelectric materials based on cationic clathrates are briefly discussed.

Coordinated and clathrated guests in the 3infinity[Hg6As4]4+ bicompartmental framework: synthesis, crystal and electronic structure, and properties of the novel supramolecular complexes [Hg6As4](CrBr6)Br and [Hg6As4](FeBr6)Hg0.6

Two new supramolecular complexes [Hg(6)As(4)](CrBr(6))Br (1) and [Hg(6)As(4)](FeBr(6))Hg(0.6) (2) have been prepared by the standard ampoule technique and their crystal structures determined. Both crystallize in the cubic space group Pa$\bar 3$ with the unit cell parameter a=12.275(1) (1) and 12.332(1) A (2), and Z=4. Their structures consist of bicompartmental, three-dimensional [Hg(6)As(4)](4+) frameworks with cavities of two different sizes occupied by guest anions of different type. The bigger cavities are filled with the octahedral MBr(6) (n-) ions (M=Cr or Fe; n=3 or 4), whereas the smaller cavities trap either Br- ions (1) or Hg(0) (2). The analysis of the host-guest contacts has allowed a classification of the octahedral guests as coordinated and the monatomic guests as clathrated. Magnetic measurements and ESR spectroscopy data have given information about the interaction between the host and guests. Band structure calculations (HF and hybrid DFT level) indicate that both 1 and 2 are non-metallic, with a band gap of approximately 1.5 eV (B3LYP), and that the interaction between the host and guests is of predominantly electrostatic character. It is shown that though the electrostatic host-guest interaction is weak it plays an important role in assembling the perfectly ordered supramolecular architectures.

Unique [(1)infinityNi(8)Bi(8)S] metallic wires in a novel quasi-1D compound. Synthesis, crystal and electronic structure, and properties of Ni(8)Bi(8)SI

A new quasi-one-dimensional compound Ni(8)Bi(8)SI has been synthesized and its crystal structure determined from single-crystal X-ray diffraction data. The structure of Ni(8)Bi(8)SI consists of [(1)infinityNi(8)Bi(8)S] columns separated by iodine atoms. Conductivity and magnetic susceptibility measurements (down to 4.2 K) show that Ni(8)Bi(8)SI is a one-dimensional metal and exhibits Pauli paramagnetic properties. These observations are in good agreement with the results from electronic structure calculations. An analysis of the chemical bonding employing difference electron charge density maps reveals strong multicenter Ni-Bi bonds and pair Ni-S interactions within the [(1)infinityNi(8)Bi(8)S] columns. Only electrostatic interactions are inferred between the columns and iodine atoms.

First Tin Pnictide Halides Sn(24)P(19.3)I(8) and Sn(24)As(19.3)I(8): Synthesis and the Clathrate-I Type of the Crystal Structure

Sn(24)P(19.3)I(8) (I) and Sn(24)As(19.3)I(8) (II) have been prepared by a standard ampule synthesis. I crystallizes in a cubic space group Pm&thremacr;n, a = 10.9540(10) Å, z = 1. The crystal structure of I is built of the 3D net composed of tin and phosphorus atoms, while iodine atoms occupy large polyhedral holes of two different types, pentagonal dodecahedral and tetrakaidodecahedral. An arrangement of such polyhedra follows that of the clathrate-I type. The 3D net has vacancies at one of the phosphorus atoms positions. The vacancies cause the split of the tin atomic position into two, having different coordination, which is reflected in the (119)Sn Mössbauer spectrum. The vacancy concentration correlates well with the occupancy factors of the split tin atomic positions, and in accordance with the Zintl-Klemm formalism for valence compounds, I is a narrow-gap semiconductor. Powder diffraction data shows that II belongs to the same clathrate family, but has an 8 times larger face-centered cubic unit cell.