Zintl Phase versus Covalent Metal: Chemical Bonding in Silicon Dumbbells of Ca5Si3 and CaSi3

Silicon dumbbells constitute identifiable anionic molecular species in Zintl phases and so-called covalent metals holding units with homopolar bonding inside a metallic framework. Based on electron-precise Ca5Si3 and metallic CaSi3, the chemical bonding in Si2 units is investigated by computational quantum chemical methods considering the dual nature of the wave function. This concerted wave-vector and real space study substantiates that the Si2 dumbbells in Ca5Si3 can be referred to as molecular building units Si26- with additional metallic and ionic contributions in the solid. In the covalent metal CaSi3, however, the bonding within the dumbbells falls short of fulfilling the octet rule. As a result, antibonding states of the Si2 building units are depopulated and attend metallic interactions, simultaneously giving rise to stronger covalent Si-Si bonds.

Structures of Three Alkaline-Earth Metal Germanides Refined from Single-Crystal X-ray Diffraction Data

The calcium- and strontium- alumo-germanides SrxCa1–xAl2Ge2 (x ≈ 0.4) and SrAl2Ge2 have been synthesized and structurally characterized. Additionally, a binary calcium germanide CaGe has also been identified as a byproduct. All three crystal structures have been established from single-crystal X-ray diffraction methods and refined with high accuracy and precision. The binary CaGe crystallizes with a CrB-type structure in the orthorhombic space group Cmcm (no. 63; Z = 4; Pearson symbol oC8), where the germanium atoms are interconnected into infinite zigzag chains, formally [Ge]2−. The calcium atoms are arranged in monocapped trigonal prisms, centered by Ge atoms. SrxCa1−xAl2Ge2 (x ≈ 0.4) and SrAl2Ge2 have been confirmed to crystallize with a CaAl2Si2-type structure in the trigonal space group P3¯m1 (no. 164; Z = 1; Pearson symbol hP5), where the germanium and aluminum atoms form puckered double-layers, formally [Al2Ge2]2−. The calcium atoms are located between the layers and reside inside distorted octahedra of Ge atoms. All presented structures have a valence electron count satisfying the octet rules (e.g., Ca2+Ge2− and Ca2+[Al2Ge2]2−) and can be regarded as Zintl phases.

The germanides APtGe2 (A = Ca, Sr, Eu)

The germanides APtGe2 (A = Ca, Sr, Eu) were synthesized from the elements in sealed tantalum ampoules in an induction furnace followed by annealing. The polycrystalline samples were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (Guinier patterns). The structures of CaPtGe2 (CeRhSn2 type, Cmcm, a = 443.45(3), b = 1593.03(12), c = 886.15(6) pm, wR = 0.0464, 673 F 2 values, 30 variables) and EuPt1.043(5)Ge1.957(5) (CeNiSi2 type, Cmcm, a = 445.23(4), b = 1752.5(2), c = 429.63(4) pm, wR = 0.0415, 389 F 2 values, 19 variables) were refined from single crystal X-ray diffractometer data. One of the germanium site in EuPt1.043(5)Ge1.957(5) showed a small Ge/Pt mixed occupancy. SrPtGe2 (a = 451.13(6), b = 1764.8(2), c = 429.60(5) pm) is isotypic with EuPtGe2. The platinum atoms in both germanides have trigonal prismatic coordination: Pt@Ca4Ge2 and Pt@Eu4Ge2. The germanium substructures differ significantly: Ge2 dumb-bells with 246 and 262 pm Ge–Ge distances in CaPtGe2 versus germanium zig-zag chains (253 pm Ge–Ge distances) and a distorted square net (309 pm Ge–Ge distances) in EuPtGe2. CaPtGe2 and SrPtGe2 are diamagnetic. EuPtGe2 is a Curie–Weiss paramagnet with an experimental magnetic moment of 7.88(1) µB Eu atom−1. The purely divalent character of europium is manifested by a single signal at δ = −11.38(1) mm s−1 in the 151Eu Mössbauer spectrum at 78 K. EuPtGe2 orders antiferromagnetically at T N = 5.4(1) K.

Unusual Electronic and Bonding Properties of the Zintl Phase Ca5Ge3 and Related Compounds. A Theoretical Analysis1

Theoretical reasons for metallic behavior among diverse Zintl phases have generally not been pursued at an advanced level. Here, the electronic structure of Ca5Ge3 (Cr5B3 type), which can be formulated (Ca+2)5(Ge2-6)Ge-4 in oxidation states, has been explored comparatively by means of semiempirical and first-principles density functional methods. The FP-APW calculations show that alkaline-earth-metal and germanium orbitals, particularly the d orbitals on the cations and the p-pi orbitals of the halogen-like dimeric Ge2-6, mix considerably to form a conduction band. This covalency perfectly explains the unusual metallic properties of the nominally electron-precise Zintl phase Ca5Ge3 and its numerous relatives. Similar calculational results are obtained for Sr5Ge3, Ba5Ge3, and Ca5Sn3. Cation d orbitals appear to be a common theme among Zintl phases that are also metallic.