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Conflict between the Electronic Factors and Structure-Directing Rules in the Intergrowth Structure of Ca4Ag2+xGe4-x with x = 1/2

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Author

  • Siméon Ponou
  • Sven Lidin
  • Daniel Grüner
  • Gordon J. Miller

Summary, in English

Combined experimental and theoretical efforts to conceptually understand the structure directing forces in intergrowth structures have led to the discovery of the new ternary phase Ca4Ag2+xGe4-x (x = 0.5), obtained from high-temperature reaction of the elements. It crystallizes in a new structure type according to single-crystal diffraction methods: monoclinic space group C2/m-i10 with a = 10.7516(2) Å, b = 4.5475(1) Å, c = 18.7773(4) Å, β = 93.69(2)°, V = 916.17(3) Å3, Z = 4. The compound corresponds to the n = 2 member of the homologous series Ca2+nAg2+xGe2+n-x, that are built up by linear intergrowths of slabs cut from the CaGe (CrB-type) and the CaAg1+xGe1-x (KHg2 or TiNiSi-type) structures, and may be partitioned in Ag-rich and Ag-free domains. Instead of the predicted Zr2CoSi2-type (C2/m-i5), a simultaneous doubling of the size of the two building blocks is observed with the dimerization of the (Ge2) pairs into Ag-substituted tetramers (AgxGe4-x) due to valence electron shortage. However, the Ag/Ge mixing at one atomic site with roughly one-to-one atomic ratio is therefore unexplained. The electronic band structure calculations and analysis of the chemical bonding provided evidence that the Ag/Ge mixing is rather the result of a direct conflict between the Zintl-Klemm concept and empirically established "structure-directing rules". The implications of these findings for the poorly understood ordered staging structural interfaces, typically observed in secondary Li-ion batteries during charge/discharge process, are briefly discussed.

Publishing year

2016-10-05

Language

English

Pages

5946-5953

Publication/Series

Crystal Growth and Design

Volume

16

Issue

10

Document type

Journal article

Publisher

The American Chemical Society (ACS)

Topic

  • Inorganic Chemistry

Status

Published

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 1528-7483