Ca3Ag1+xGe3-x (x=1/3): New Transition Metal Zintl Phase with Intergrowth Structure and Alloying with Aluminum Metal
Author
Summary, in English
The ternary Zintl phase Ca3Ag1+xGe3x (x = 1/3) was synthesized by the high-temperature solid-state technique and its crystal structure was refined from single-crystal diffraction data. The compound Ca3Ag1.32Ge2.68(1) adopts the Sc3NiSi3 type structure, crystal data: space group C2/m, a = 10.813(1) angstrom, b = 4.5346(4) angstrom, c = 14.3391(7) angstrom, beta = 110.05(1)degrees and V = 660.48(10) angstrom 3 for Z = 4. Its structure can be interpreted as an intergrowth of fragments cut from the CaGe (CrB-type) and the CaAg1+xGe1x (TiNiSi-type) structures, and it therefore represents an alkaline-earth member of the structure series with the general formula R2+nT2X2+n with n = 4. Unlike the rare-earth homologues that are fully ordered phases, one seventh of the atomic sites in the unit cell of the title compound are mixed occupied (roughly 2/3Ge and 1/3Ag), and this can be explained by the Zintl concept. The alloying of this phase using aluminum metal yielded the isotypic solid solution Ca3(Ag/Al)1+xGe3x, in which the aluminum for silver substitution is strictly localized in the TiNiSi substructure, revealing the very different functionality of the two building blocks.
Department/s
Publishing year
2013
Language
English
Pages
35-40
Publication/Series
Zeitschrift für Anorganische und Allgemeine Chemie
Volume
639
Issue
1
Document type
Journal article
Publisher
Wiley-Blackwell
Topic
- Chemical Sciences
Keywords
- Intergrowth structure
- Zintl phases
- Silver
- Germanide
Status
Published
ISBN/ISSN/Other
- ISSN: 0044-2313