BaGe5: A New Type of Intermetallic Clathrate

Parsimonious Topology Based on Frank-Kasper Polyhedra in Metal-Organic Frameworks

A new topology previously unknown in metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) provides an important clue to uncovering a new series of polyhedral MOFs. We report a novel MOF crystallized in a parsimonious mep topology based on Frank-Kasper (FK) polyhedra. The distribution of angles in a tetrahedral arrangement (T-O-T) is crucial for the formation of FK polyhedra in mep topology. This finding led us to investigate the T-O-T angle distribution in related zeolites and zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIFs). Unlike zeolites, it is extremely difficult to achieve high T-O-T angles in ZIFs, which prevents the formation of some FK topologies. Density functional theory (DFT) total energy calculations support a correlation between T-O-T angles and the feasibility of new tetrahedron-based FK frameworks. This result may lead to innovative ways of accessing new cellular topologies by simple chemical tweaking of T-O-T angles.

A Sodium Germanosilicide with Unusual Network Topology

The germanosilicide Na4-xGeySi16-y (0.4 ≤ x ≤ 1.1, 4.7 ≤ y ≤ 9.3) was synthesized under high-pressure, high-temperature conditions. The novel guest-host compound comprises a unique tetrel framework with dual channels housing sodium and smaller, empty (Si,Ge)9 units. The arrangement represents a new structure type with an overall structural topology that is closely related to a hypothetical carbon allotrope. Topological analysis of the structure revealed that the guest environment space cannot be tiled with singular polyhedra as in cage compounds (e.g., clathrates). The analysis of natural tilings provides a convenient method to unambiguously compare related tetrel-rich structures and can help elucidate new possible structural arrangements of intermetallic compounds.

Ge32 Co9-x : Creating "Empty" Space by High Pressure

The compound Ge₃₂ Co_9-x (x=0.54(6), a=10.9861(3) Å, space group Im 3 ‾ $\bar 3$ m) prepared under high pressure and at high temperature is metastable under ambient conditions. It crystallizes in a new structure type, Pearson symbol cI82-1.08. The crystal structure represents a slightly distorted cubic primitive arrangement of germanium atoms with part of the Ge cubes filled by cobalt. Analysis of the chemical bonding by real-space methods revealed three-core cluster units Ge₁₆ Co₃ and seemingly empty regions comprising either covalent inter-polyhedral Ge-Ge bonds or lone-pairs located at the germanium atoms. The electrical conductivity is metal-like.

Germanium Dumbbells in a New Superconducting Modification of BaGe3

We report the high-pressure high-temperature synthesis (P = 15 GPa, T = 1300 K) of BaGe3(tI32) adopting a CaGe3-type crystal structure. Bonding analysis reveals layers of covalently bonded germanium dumbbells being involved in multicenter Ba-Ge interactions. Physical measurements evidence metal-type electrical conductivity and a transition to a superconducting state at 6.5 K. Chemical bonding and physical properties of the new modification are discussed in comparison to the earlier described hexagonal form BaGe3(hP8) with a columnar arrangement of Ge3 triangles.

Inelastic neutron scattering study of the lattice dynamics in the clathrate compound BaGe₅

We report inelastic neutron scattering (INS) measurements on the polycrystalline oP60-type clathrate BaGe5, whose crystal structure is related to the type-I clathrate Ba8Ge43□3 and to the cP124-clathrate Ba6Ge25. Our results show that BaGe5 exhibits a similar phonon density of states (PDOS) in the energy range 0-40 meV with respect to Ba8Ge43□3. The low-energy region of the PDOS spectrum (0-10 meV) consists of two peaks at 4.1 and 6.2 meV likely related to Ba-weighted modes. Compared to Ba8Ge43□3, the low-energy region of the phonon spectrum of BaGe5 shows a more complex structure, likely reflecting the presence of three distinct crystallographic sites for Ba. The specific heat data of BaGe5, reexamined in light of the INS results, indicate that the Ba-weighted modes dominate the low-temperature behavior of Cp.

High-Pressure Synthesis and Electronic Structure of a New Superconducting Strontium Germanide (SrGe3) Containing Ge2 Dumbbells

We obtained a new strontium germanide (SrGe3) by high-pressure and high-temperature synthesis. It was prepared at 13 GPa and 1100 °C. The space group and cell constants are I4/mmm (No. 139), a = 7.7800(8) Å, c = 12.0561(13) Å, and V = 729.74(17) Å(3). SrGe3 crystallizes in the CaSi3 structure composed of Ge-Ge dumbbells and Sr(2+) ions. SrGe3 is a type II superconductor with a transition temperature of 6.0 K.

Thermoelectric properties and electronic structure of the Zintl phase Sr₅In₂Sb₆ and the Ca(5-x)Sr(x)In₂Sb₆ solid solution

The Zintl phase Sr5In2Sb6 is isostructural with Ca5In2Sb6-a promising thermoelectric material with a peak zT of 0.7 when the carrier concentration is optimized by doping. Density functional calculations for Sr5In2Sb6 reveal a decreased energy gap and decreased valence band effective mass relative to the Ca analog. Chemical bonding analysis using the electron localizability indicator was found to support the Zintl bonding scheme for this structure type. High temperature transport measurements of the complete Ca(5-x)Sr(x)In2Sb6 solid solution were used to investigate the influence of the cation site on the electronic and thermal properties of A5In2Sb6 compounds. Sr was shown to be fully miscible on the Ca site. The higher density of the Sr analog leads to a slight reduction in lattice thermal conductivity relative to Ca5In2Sb6, and, as expected, the solid solution samples have significantly reduced lattice thermal conductivities relative to the end member compounds.

Thermoelectric properties of the Zintl phases Yb5M2Sb6(M = Al, Ga, In)

Zintl compounds of Yb₅M₂Sb₆(M = Al, Ga, and In) exhibit semimetallic properties with high p-type carrier concentrations, low resistivities and low Seebeck coefficients in agreement with our band structure calculations.

Cage-forming compounds in the Ba-Rh-Ge system: from thermoelectrics to superconductivity

Phase relations and solidification behavior in the Ge-rich part of the phase diagram have been determined in two isothermal sections at 700 and 750 °C and in a liquidus projection. A reaction scheme has been derived in the form of a Schulz-Scheil diagram. Phase equilibria are characterized by three ternary compounds: τ(1)-BaRhGe(3) (BaNiSn(3)-type) and two novel phases, τ(2)-Ba(3)Rh(4)Ge(16) and τ(3)-Ba(5)Rh(15)Ge(36-x), both forming in peritectic reactions. The crystal structures of τ(2) and τ(3) have been elucidated from single-crystal X-ray intensity data and were found to crystallize in unique structure types: Ba(3)Rh(4)Ge(16) is tetragonal (I4/mmm, a = 0.65643(2) nm, c = 2.20367(8) nm, and R(F) = 0.0273), whereas atoms in Ba(5)Rh(15)Ge(36-x) (x = 0.25) arrange in a large orthorhombic unit cell (Fddd, a = 0.84570(2) nm, b = 1.4725(2) nm, c = 6.644(3) nm, and R(F) = 0.034). The body-centered-cubic superstructure of binary Ba(8)Ge(43)□(3) was observed to extend at 800 °C to Ba(8)Rh(0.6)Ge(43)□(2.4), while the clathrate type I phase, κ(I)-Ba(8)Rh(x)Ge(46-x-y)□(y), reveals a maximum solubility of x = 1.2 Rh atoms in the structure at a vacancy level of y = 2.0. The cubic lattice parameter increases with increasing Rh content. Clathrate I decomposes eutectoidally at 740 °C: κ(I) ⇔ (Ge) + κ(IX) + τ(2). A very small solubility range is observed at 750 °C for the clathrate IX, κ(IX)-Ba(6)Rh(x)Ge(25-x) (x ∼ 0.16). Density functional theory calculations have been performed to derive the enthalpies of formation and densities of states for various compositions Ba(8)Rh(x)Ge(46-x) (x = 0-6). The physical properties have been investigated for the phases κ(I), τ(1), τ(2), and τ(3), documenting a change from thermoelectric (κ(I)) to superconducting behavior (τ(2)). The electrical resistivity of κ(I)-Ba(8)Rh(1.2)Ge(42.8)□(2.0) increases almost linearly with the temperature from room temperature to 730 K, and the Seebeck coefficient is negative throughout the same temperature range. τ(1)-BaRhGe(3) has a typical metallic electrical resistivity. A superconducting transition at T(C) = 6.5 K was observed for τ(2)-Ba(3)Rh(4)Ge(16), whereas τ(3)-Ba(5)Rh(15)Ge(35.75) showed metallic-like behavior down to 4 K.