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ZAAC is an international scientific journal which publishes original papers on new relevant research results from all areas of inorganic chemistry, solid state chemistry, and co‐ordination chemistry.The contributions reflect the latest findings in these research areas and serve the development of new materials, such as super‐hard materials, electrical superconductors, or intermetallic compounds. Up‐to‐date physical methods for the characterization of new chemical compounds and materials are also described... [Extracted from the article]

ZAAC is an international scientific journal which publishes original papers on new relevant research results from all areas of inorganic chemistry, solid state chemistry, and co‐ordination chemistry.The contributions reflect the latest findings in these research areas and serve the development of new materials, such as super‐hard materials, electrical superconductors, or intermetallic compounds. Up‐to‐date physical methods for the characterization of new chemical compounds and materials are also described... [Extracted from the article]

ZAAC is an international scientific journal which publishes original papers on new relevant research results from all areas of inorganic chemistry, solid state chemistry, and co‐ordination chemistry.The contributions reflect the latest findings in these research areas and serve the development of new materials, such as super‐hard materials, electrical superconductors, or intermetallic compounds. Up‐to‐date physical methods for the characterization of new chemical compounds and materials are also described... [Extracted from the article]

ZAAC is an international scientific journal which publishes original papers on new relevant research results from all areas of inorganic chemistry, solid state chemistry, and co‐ordination chemistry. The contributions reflect the latest findings in these research areas and serve the development of new materials, such as super‐hard materials, electrical superconductors, or intermetallic compounds. Up‐to‐date physical methods for the characterization of new chemical compounds and materials are also described. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ZAAC is an international scientific journal which publishes original papers on new relevant research results from all areas of inorganic chemistry, solid state chemistry, and co‐ordination chemistry.The contributions reflect the latest findings in these research areas and serve the development of new materials, such as super‐hard materials, electrical superconductors, or intermetallic compounds. Up‐to‐date physical methods for the characterization of new chemical compounds and materials are also described... [Extracted from the article]

ZAAC is an international scientific journal which publishes original papers on new relevant research results from all areas of inorganic chemistry, solid state chemistry, and co‐ordination chemistry.The contributions reflect the latest findings in these research areas and serve the development of new materials, such as super‐hard materials, electrical superconductors, or intermetallic compounds. Up‐to‐date physical methods for the characterization of new chemical compounds and materials are also described... [Extracted from the article]

The equiatomic ternary BaTX (T=Pd, Pt, Au; X=Mg, Zn, Cd) phases were obtained by reaction of the elements in sealed tantalum ampoules. The compounds were characterized through their X‐ray powder patterns. BaAuMg and BaTCd (T=Pd, Pt, Au) crystallize with the TiNiSi type structure, while the compounds BaTZn (T=Pd, Pt) adopt the ZrBeSi type. The structures of BaAuMg and BaPdZn were refined from single crystal X‐ray diffractometer data: Pnma, a=801.34(5), b=467.71(8), c=924.07(10) pm, wR2=0.0955, 736 F2 values, 20 variables for BaAuMg and P63/mmc, a=449.68(2), c=901.62(4) pm, wR2=0.1172, 145 F2 values, 8 variables for BaPdZn. The structures derive from the aristotype AlB2. The gold and magnesium atoms form puckered Au3Mg3 hexagons with 284–328 pm Au−Mg while the Pd3Zn3 hexagons in BaPdZn are planar (260 pm Pd−Zn). Comparison of all known BaTX phases shows a range of the valence electron count (VEC) from 13 (BaMnGe) to 18 (BaAuP). The BaTX phases crystallize with seven different structure types and there is no obvious correlation with VEC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The intermetallic phases APd2Zn3 (A=Ca, Sr, Eu) were synthesized from the elements in sealed niobium ampules in an induction furnace. The phase purity of the samples was checked by powder X‐ray diffraction (Guinier technique). The structures were refined from single crystal X‐ray diffractometer data: YNi2Al3 type (CaCu5 superstructure), P6/mmm, a=936.97(4), c=420.75(2) pm, wR2=0.0206, 259 F2 values, 17 variables for CaPd2Zn3, a=953.63(6), c=425.38(3) pm, wR2=0.0185, 230 F2 values, 17 variables for SrPd2Zn3 and a=948.20(7), c=423.20(3) pm, wR2=0.0209, 228 F2 values, 18 variables for EuPd2.12(1)Zn2.88(1). The europium‐based crystal showed a small homogeneity range through Pd/Zn mixing. The striking structural motifs of the APd2Zn3 phases are Kagome networks formed by the palladium and zinc atoms. The superstructure formation (discussed on the basis of a Bärnighausen tree) results from a different Pd/Zn coloring and a shift of one A position by c/2. The divalent character of europium in EuPd2Zn3 was substantiated by magnetic susceptibility and 151Eu Mössbauer spectroscopic measurements. EuPd2Zn3 orders ferrimagnetically at TC=17.5(5) K. The magnetization behavior at 3 K (two‐step magnetization) confirms the existence of two crystallographically independent europium sites. The 151Eu Mössbauer spectrum at 5 K shows full magnetic hyperfine field splitting (δ=−8.99(4) mm s−1 and BHf=27.7(1) T). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The intermetallic compounds RE4Ni2Mg3 with RE=Y, Tb−Tm and Lu were synthesized from the elements in sealed tantalum ampules in a high‐frequency furnace and characterized by powder X‐ray diffraction. The RE4Ni2Mg3 phases crystallize with a site occupancy variant of the tetragonal Ru4B2Al3 type structure, space group P4/mmm. The structures of Tm4.21(1)Ni2Mg2.79(1), Lu4.28(1)Ni2Mg2.72(1) and Lu4.41(1)Ni2Mg2.59(1) were refined from single crystal X‐ray diffractometer data. Refinements of the occupancy parameters indicated different degrees of RE/Mg mixing on several Wyckoff positions. The RE4Ni2Mg3 structures are simple intergrowth variants of CsCl and AlB2 related slabs with distorted Ni@RE6 trigonal prisms and Mg@RE8 distorted cubes. Temperature dependent magnetic susceptibility studies reveal Pauli paramagnetism for Y4Ni2Mg3 and Lu4Ni2Mg3. The compounds with RE=Dy, Ho, Er and Tm are Curie‐Weiss paramagnets that order antiferromagnetically between 17.1(1) (RE=Dy) and 6.0(1) K (RE=Tm). The antiferromagnetic ground states are substantiated by metamagnetic transitions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Compounds containing both refractory and volatile elements present a unique challenge for crystal growth, given the conflicting realities of high melting temperatures and high vapor pressures. Nevertheless, the discovery of superconductivity in FeAs and FeSe based materials and a Weyl semimetal state in TaP are motivations to explore compounds containing such pairs. Here, we discuss use of the low‐melting single phase liquid regions above deep M‐X eutectics (M=transition metal, X=P, S) as the basis for high temperature solutions for growing intermetallic compounds containing volatile‐refractory pairs. We show that Ni‐P, Pd‐P, Pt‐P, and Pd‐S compositions form single phase melts at moderate temperatures below 1000 °C and with minimal vapor pressure. We first present the simple case of growing Ni2P from Ni‐P and next discuss the more complicated growth of RPd3S4 (R=La, Ce, Nd, Eu) from a Pd‐S melt. We show how frit‐disc alumina crucible sets allow for contamination‐free capture of decanted liquid and its reuse in subsequent experiments, demonstrating a fractionation of the CePd3S4 growth to determine the optimal conditions for crystal growth. We conclude by using the single phase liquid regions above the Pt‐P and Pd‐P eutectics to grow single crystals of MPt5P (M=Mn, Fe) and MnPd5P. As these materials have primarily been studied in polycrystalline form, we give an overview of the magnetic and transport properties of our single crystals. The examples outlined here illustrate the utility of using the single phase liquid above deep metal‐X eutectics for solution growth and materials discovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The lutetium‐rich intermetallic compounds Lu21T14–xInx (T=Rh, Pd, Pt) with x values ranging from 1.57 to 4.70 were synthesized from the elements in sealed tantalum ampules in an induction furnace with a special annealing sequence. Two samples from each solid solution were studied by powder X‐ray diffraction and the structures of Lu21Rh10.36In3.55, Lu21Rh12.43In1.57, Lu21Pd9.74In4.26, Lu21Pd10.19In3.81, Lu21Pt9.26In4.70 and Lu21Pt9.93In4.07 were refined from single crystal X‐ray diffractometer data. All phases crystallize with coloring variants of the Y3Rh2 type structure, space group I4/mcm (No. 140). The Lu21T14–xInx phases are built up from a tetragonal rod packing of columns that consist of a condensation of square prisms and square antiprisms of the lutetium atoms that are centered by the indium and transition metal atoms. These columns condense with the substructure of coordination number 9 and 11 polyhedra around the Pt2 and In1/Pt5 atoms. The striking features of the ternary samples concern small defects on the transition metal 16 l sites and T/In mixing on the sites 16 l and 4c. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The lutetium‐rich intermetallic compounds Lu20Ir5In3 and Lu20Pt5In3 were synthesized from the elements in sealed tantalum ampules in an induction furnace. The phase purity of the samples was checked by powder X‐ray diffraction. The structures of Lu20Ir5In3 and Lu20Pt5In3 were refined from single crystal X‐ray diffractometer data: P6‾ 2m, a=1618.53(4), c=919.36(4) pm, wR2=0.0588, 2665 F2 values, 88 variables for Lu20Ir5In3 and a=1630.58(4), c=920.43(4) pm, wR2=0.0836, 3024 F2 values, 89 variables for Lu19.92Pt5In3. The platinum compound showed small amounts of defects on one lutetium site. Lu20Ir5In3 and Lu20Pt5In3 are non‐centrosymmetric superstructures (through coloring and distortions) that derive from the aristotype Al5Co2 via two steps of symmetry reduction (P63/mmc→P63/mcm→P6‾ 2m). The structures are discussed together with the coloring variants Y10RuCd3 and Y9CoMg4 on the basis of a group subgroup scheme. Striking features of the Lu20Ir5In3 structure are short Ir−Lu contacts and the structural segregation of In3 triangles (300 and 315 pm In−In) that are solely coordinated by lutetium atoms. Temperature dependent magnetic susceptibility studies of the Lu20Ir5In3 and Lu20Pt5In3 samples indicate Pauli paramagnetism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The intermetallic compounds GdAuMg and YAuMg form a continuous solid solution Gd1–xYxAuMg. Samples in x=0.1 steps were synthesized from the elements in sealed tantalum ampoules in an induction furnace. Phase purity of the samples was checked by powder X‐ray diffraction. The structures of two members of the solid solution were refined from single crystal X‐ray diffractometer data: ZrNiAl type, P6‾ 2m, a=756.16(6), c=413.06(4) pm, wR2=0.0402, 328 F2 values, 16 variables for Gd0.80(2)Y0.20(2)AuMg and a=754.82(7), c=411.24(4) pm, wR2=0.0292, 325 F2 values, 16 variables for Gd0.37(1)Y0.63(1)AuMg. Temperature dependent magnetic susceptibility studies show a continuous decrease of the Néel temperature from TN=81.1(1) K (GdAuMg) to 3.5(1) K (Gd0.1Y0.9AuMg). With increasing x in Gd1–xYxAuMg the saturation magnetization increases, with a maximal value of 6.44(1) μB Gd atom−1 for Gd0.1Y0.9AuMg at 3 K. The dilution of the gadolinium substructure with yttrium pushes the magnetization isotherms close to Brillouin type behavior (free Gd3+). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The intermetallic compound ZnSb is a (II‐V) narrow gap semiconductor with interesting thermoelectric properties. Electrical resistivity, Hall coefficient, thermopower and thermal conductivity were measured up to 400 K on Ag‐doped samples with concentrations 0.2, 0.5, 1, 2, and 3 at.%, which were consolidated to densities in excess of 99.5 % by spark plasma sintering. The work confirms a huge improvement of the thermoelectric Figure‐of‐merit, ZT, upon Ag doping. The optimum doping level is near 0.5 at.% Ag and results in ZT values around 1.05 at 390 K. The improvement stems from a largely decreased resistivity, which in turn relates to an increase of the hole charge carrier concentration by two orders of magnitude. It is argued that Ag can replace minute concentrations of Zn (on the order of 0.2 at.%) in the crystal structure which enhances the intrinsic impurity band of ZnSb. Excess Ag was found to segregate in grain boundaries. So the best performing material may be considered as a composite Zn~0.998Ag~0.002Sb/Ag~0.003. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In many cases, idealized crystal structure models cannot rationalize the actual properties of intermetallic compounds. For a realistic approach in materials research, microstructures and defects need to be taken into account. In case of clathrate compounds, particularly the intrinsic framework vacancies (denoted as Zintl defects) demand consideration. Consequently, clathrate research produces evidence that modern‐day structure chemistry involves the utilization of advanced X‐ray diffraction methods combined with elaborated bulk phase analyses, the investigation of phase relations, and the study of mutual interrelations in the triangle chemical bonding–structure–properties. Herein, we review some fundamental contributions to the specific defect chemistry of intermetallic clathrates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Al45Cr7 compound is considered to exhibit an approximant structure of the icosahedral Al4Cr phase. Its (010) surface has been investigated in detail using density functional calculations. Surface energy calculations show that the stable terminations result from a cleavage of the crystal between adjacent atomic planes, in agreement with the layered structure of the compound. The integrity of the icosahedral atomic arrangements (icosahedral clusters) found in the bulk structure, is predicted to be removed at the surface. This result is in contrast to what has been previously concluded for the (010) surface of the Al13Fe4 quasicrystal approximant. Our findings are discussed in relation to the bonding network in the compound, calculated using the Crystal Orbital Hamiltonian Population approach, as possible reasons for such contrasted behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The indium‐rich intermetallic compound SrIrIn6 was synthesized from the elements in a sealed tantalum ampoule at 1173 K, followed by slow cooling for crystal growth. SrIrIn6 crystallizes with a new structure type which was characterized by X‐ray powder and single crystal diffraction: Pmma, a = 852.34(2), b = 434.54(5), c = 1059.18(6) pm, wR2 = 0.0178, 884 F2 values, and 32 variables. The SrIrIn6 structure shows two basic building units: (i) Ir@In9 tricapped trigonal prisms (261–292 pm Ir–In) and (ii) distorted bcc In@In8 cubes (301 to 329 pm In–In). The strontium cations fill cages within the complex three‐dimensional [IrIn6] network and have coordination number 13 (Sr@In13) in form of a tricapped pentagonal prism. The SrIrIn6 structure can be described as a simple intergrowth variant of SrIrIn4 (LaCoAl4 type) with indium slabs. The crystal chemical similarities with the structures of SrIrIn4, SrIr2In8 and Eu3Ir2In15 are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Single crystals of SrIr9In18 were obtained by induction melting of the elements in a glassy carbon crucible followed by annealing at 1070 K. SrIr9In18 was structurally characterized by X‐ray powder and single crystal diffraction: P4m2, a = 811.21(5), c = 854.49(5) pm, wR2 = 0.0511, 1223 F2 values, and 46 variables. The structure is of a new type. The basic building units are Ir@In8 (distorted square‐prismatic, square anti‐prismatic and bicapped trigonal prismatic coordination) and Ir@In9 (distorted trigonal prismatic coordination) polyhedra, which condense to a three‐dimensional network, which leaves large cavities for the strontium cations, which are coordinated to four iridium and twelve indium atoms. The [Ir9In18]2– polyanionic network is stabilized through Ir–In (267–290 pm) and In–In (302–354 pm) bonding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intermetallic compounds SrNi2Si and BaNi2Si were prepared by arc‐melting of stoichiometric mixture of the elements and subsequent annealing in welded niobium ampoules. Both compounds were investigated by X‐ray diffraction on powder as well as single crystal methods. The title compounds both crystallize in the BaNi2Ge structure type (space group Pmmn, Z = 2), a ternary ordered variant of TiCu3: a = 4.0296(9) Å, b = 6.5121(14) Å, c = 5.6839(21) Å, R1 = 0.040 for SrNi2Si and a = 4.0681(9) Å, b = 6.580(4) Å, c = 5.976(5) Å, R1 = 0.031 for BaNi2Si. The structure contains corrugated polyanionic [Ni2Si]2– layers, stacked according to the primitive sequence AA along the c axis. Six‐membered Ni rings adopt a boat conformation, silicon atoms are in the plane with nickel, and the alkaline earth cations sit between the layers. These two compounds extend the family AeNi2X (Ae = Ca, Sr, Ba; X = Si, Ge), where up to date CaNi2Si, SrNi2Ge, and BaNi2Ge are known. LMTO band structure calculations, including DOS, COHP, and ELF were performed to gain more insight into the electronic situation of SrNi2Si and BaNi2Si. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The equiatomic intermetallic phases CaAgIn [a = 482.75(7), b = 750.0(1), c = 835.5(1) pm], SrAgIn [a = 495.86(5), b = 794.71(9), c = 851.89(9) pm], LaAgIn [a = 489.99(5), b = 767.93(9), c = 837.53(9) pm], and EuAgIn [a = 493.02(7), b = 781.6(1), c = 844.2(1) pm] were synthesized from the elements in sealed niobum containers. They crystallize with the EuAuGe type structure, space group Imm2. The four structures were refined from single-crystal Xray data. The silver and indium atoms build up orthorhombically dis torted, puckered Ag3In3 hexagons, which are stacked in AA' sequence, leading to direct Ag-Ag and In--In interlayer bonding (e.g. 303 and 304 pm in CaAgIn). Temperature dependent magnetic susceptibility measurements show a magnetic moment of 7.40(1) μB per europium atom. EuAgIn orders antiferromagnetically at 5.7(5) K. The divalent nature of europium is also evident from 151Eu Mössbauer spectra: δ = -10.50(1) mm·s-1 at 78 K. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new compounds with Co-centered Sn9 clusters were obtained by the extraction directly from the intermetallic precursor K4.79Co0.79Sn9 in ethylenediamine with addition of cryptand [2.2.2]. The anions [Co0.68@Sn9]4- in K[K([2.2.2]crypt)]3[Co0.68@Sn9] ( 1) consisting of overlaying [Co@Sn9]4- and [Sn9]4- cluster anions are connected by K atoms to form infinite $\rm^{1}_{\infty}$K[Co0.68@Sn9] chains. The anions [Co2@Sn17]5- in [K([2.2.2]crypt)]5[Co2@Sn17] ·en ·tol ( 2) are built from two [Co@Sn9] sharing one common Sn atom, with the same composition but a different conformation as in the previously reported [K([2.2.2]crypt)]5[Co2@Sn17]. Quantum chemical calculations for the different conformers of [Co2@Sn17]5- reveal that both conformers are rather close in energy and that the short intercluster Sn-Sn distance in 2 does not originate from attractive interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]