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The R23Cu7Mg4 (R = Ca, Eu) intermetallics, studied by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, were found to be isostructural with the Yb23Cu7Mg4 prototype (hP68, k4h2fca, space group P63/mmc), forming a small group inside the bigger 23:7:4 family, otherwise adopting the hP68-Pr23Ir7Mg4 crystal structure. The observed structural peculiarity is connected with the divalent character of the R component and with a noticeable volume contraction, resulting in the clear clustering of title compounds inside the whole 23:7:4 family. The occurrence of fragments typical of similar compounds, particularly Cu-centered trigonal prisms and Mg-centered core–shell polyicosahedral clusters with R at vertices, induced the search of significant structural relationships. In this work, a description of the hexagonal crystal structure of the studied compounds is proposed as a linear intergrowth along the c-direction of the two types of slabs, R10CuMg3 (parent type: hP28-kh2ca, SG 194) and R13Cu6Mg (parent type: hR60-b6a2, SG 160). The ratio of these slabs in the studied structure is 2:2 per unit cell, corresponding to the simple equation, 2 × R10CuMg3 + 2 × R13Cu6Mg = 2 × R23Cu7Mg4. This description assimilates the studied compounds to the {Ca, Eu, Yb}4CuMg ones, where the same slabs (of p3m1 layer symmetry) are stacked in a different way/ratio and constitutes a further step towards a structural generalization of R-rich ternary intermetallics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Application of chemical bonding analysis in position-space techniques based on combined topological analysis of the electron density and electron-localizability indicator distributions has recently led to the formulation of a polarity-extended 8 − Neff rule for consistent inclusion of quantum chemically obtained polar-covalent bonding data into the classical 8 − N scheme for main-group compounds. Previous application of this scheme to semiconducting main-group compounds of the cubic MgAgAs type of structure with 8 valence electrons per formula unit (8 ve per f.u.) has shown a covalent bonding tendency preferring one zinc blende type partial structure over the other one, which seems to corroborate the classical Lewis picture of maximally four covalent bonds per main-group element. In contrast to the MgAgAs type, the orthorhombic TiNiSi type of structure displays a much higher geometrical flexibility to incorporate different kinds of metal atoms. The analysis of polar-covalent bonding in semiconducting 8 ve per f.u. containing main-group compounds AA′E of this structure type reveals a transition to non-Lewis type bonding scenarios of species E with up to ten polar-covalently bonded metal atoms. This kind of situation is consistently included into the extended 8 − Neff type bonding scheme. A systematic increase of partially covalent bonding from chalcogenides E16 to the tetrelides E14 is found, summing up to as much as 2 covalent bonds E14–A and E14–A′, and correspondingly remaining 4 lone pair type electrons on species E14. The familiar notion of this structure type consisting of a '[NiSi]'-type framework with 'Ti'-type atoms filling the voids cannot be supported for the compounds investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The chemical bonding, structural and magnetic properties of EuPdSn2 have been investigated by DFT, synchrotron X-ray and neutron powder diffraction and 151Eu Mössbauer spectroscopy. As a result, no structural transition is observed in the thermal range of 5–290 K, whereas ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic orderings are found to coexist below 12 K and compete in the ground state. This magnetic phase separation is likely triggered by the minimization of the global energy resulting from the coexistence of the different magnetic configurations. Chemical bonding analysis in position space reveals the presence of heteroatomic 4a- and 5a-bonds, involving each species, and two-atomic Eu–Pd polar covalent interactions building up graphite-like distorted honeycomb layers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The R2PdGe6 series (R = rare earth metal) was structurally characterized, and the results achieved were extended for a comprehensive study on R2MGe6 (M = another metal) compounds, employing symmetry-based structural rationalization and energy calculations. Directly synthesized R2PdGe6 exists for almost all R-components (R = Y, La–Nd, Sm and Gd–Lu) and even if with La is probably metastable. Several single crystal X-ray analyses (R = Y, Ce, Pr, Nd, Er and Lu) indicated oS72-Ce2(Ga0.1Ge0.9)7 as the correct structure. The alternative In-flux method, once optimized, produced three good quality R2PdGe6 single crystals: La2PdGe6 and Pr2PdGe6 turned out to be mS36-La2AlGe6-type non-merohedrally twinned crystals and Yb2PdGe6 is of oS72-Ce2(Ga0.1Ge0.9)7-type. The vacancy ordering phenomenon was considered as a possible cause of the symmetry reduction relations connecting the most frequently reported 2 : 1 : 6 structural models (oS18, oS72 and mS36) with the oS20-SmNiGe3 aristotype. The detected twin formation is consistent with the symmetry relations, which are discussed even considering the validity of the different structural models. DFT total energy calculations were performed for R2PdGe6 (R = Y and La) in the three abovementioned structural models, and for La2MGe6 (M = Pt, Cu, Ag and Au) in the oS18 and oS72 modifications. The results indicate that the oS18-Ce2CuGe6 structure, prevalently proposed in the literature, is associated with the highest energy and thus it is not likely to be realized in these series. The oS72 and mS36 polytypes are energetically equivalent, and small changes in the synthetic conditions could easily stabilize any of them, in agreement with experimental results obtained by direct and flux syntheses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The compound Na 2 B 6 Si 2 was synthesized under high-pressure, high-temperature conditions at pressures ranging from 6 to 9.5 GPa and temperatures from 1070 to 1270 K before quenching to room temperature followed by slow decompression. The crystal structure was determined from microcrystals using precession-assisted electron diffraction tomography, validated by dynamical refinement and full-profile refinements using optimized coordinates from quantum chemical calculations (space group R 3̅ m , Pearson symbol hR 30, a = 5.0735(1) Å and c = 16.0004(7) Å). The atomic arrangement consists of a unique framework formed by electron-precise octahedral closo (B 6 ) 2- clusters connected via ethane-like (Si 2 ) 0 dumbbells. The Na + cations occupy cavities in the hierarchical variation of a Heusler-type framework. The balance (Na + ) 2 ([B 6 ] 2- )(Si 0 ) 2 reveals an electron precise Zintl-Wade phase, which is in line with electronic band structure calculations predicting semiconducting behavior.

Application of chemical bonding analysis in position-space techniques based on combined topological analysis of the electron density and electron-localizability indicator distributions has recently led to the formulation of a polarity-extended 8 - N eff rule for consistent inclusion of quantum chemically obtained polar-covalent bonding data into the classical 8 - N scheme for main-group compounds. Previous application of this scheme to semiconducting main-group compounds of the cubic MgAgAs type of structure with 8 valence electrons per formula unit (8 ve per f.u.) has shown a covalent bonding tendency preferring one zinc blende type partial structure over the other one, which seems to corroborate the classical Lewis picture of maximally four covalent bonds per main-group element. In contrast to the MgAgAs type, the orthorhombic TiNiSi type of structure displays a much higher geometrical flexibility to incorporate different kinds of metal atoms. The analysis of polar-covalent bonding in semiconducting 8 ve per f.u. containing main-group compounds AA ' E of this structure type reveals a transition to non-Lewis type bonding scenarios of species E with up to ten polar-covalently bonded metal atoms. This kind of situation is consistently included into the extended 8 - N eff type bonding scheme. A systematic increase of partially covalent bonding from chalcogenides E 16 to the tetrelides E 14 is found, summing up to as much as 2 covalent bonds E 14 -A and E 14 - A ', and correspondingly remaining 4 lone pair type electrons on species E 14 . The familiar notion of this structure type consisting of a '[NiSi]'-type framework with 'Ti'-type atoms filling the voids cannot be supported for the compounds investigated.

The complete structure revision of the RE 2 PdGe 3 ( RE = rare-earth metal) series revealed that Yb 2 PdGe 3 is the only AlB 2 ordered superstructure. Good-quality single crystals of this compound were successfully grown from molten indium flux, enabling accurate single-crystal investigations. Yb 2 PdGe 3 crystallizes with the Ce 2 CoSi 3 -type structure in the hexagonal space group P 6/ mmm (no. 191) with lattice parameters a = 8.468(1) Å and c = 4.0747(7) Å. This structure is a four-order derivative of AlB 2 , composed of planar ∞ 2 [PdGe 3 ] honeycomb layers spaced by Yb species, located at the center of Ge 6 and Ge 4 Pd 2 hexagons. A superconducting transition is observed below the critical temperature of 4 K. A divalent state of Yb is deduced from magnetic susceptibility measurements below room temperature, which indicate an almost nonmagnetic behavior. A charge transfer from Yb to Pd and Ge was evidenced by the Quantum Theory of Atoms in Molecules (QTAIM) effective charges; polar four-atomic Ge-Pd/Yb and two-atomic Pd-Yb bonds were observed from the ELI-D (electron localizability indicator), partial ELI-D, and ELI-D/QTAIM intersections. The bonding interactions between Ge atoms within regular Ge 6 hexagons are found to be intermediate between single bonds, as in elemental Ge, and higher-order bonds in the hypothetic Ge 6 H 6 and Ge 6 6- aromatic molecules.

The Sc 2 Ru compound, obtained by high-temperature synthesis, was found to crystallize in a new trigonal hP 45 structure type [space group P 3̅ m 1; a = 9.3583(9) Å and c = 11.285(1) Å]: Ru@Sc 8 cubes, Ru@Sc 12 icosahedra, and uncommon Ru@Sc 10 sphenocoronae are the building blocks of a unique motif tiling the whole crystal space. According to density functional theory studies, Sc 2 Ru is a metallic compound characterized by multicenter interactions: a significant charge transfer occurs from Sc to Ru, indicating an unexpectedly strong ionic character of the interactions between the two transition metals. Energy calculations support our experimental results in terms of stability of this compound, contributing to the recurrent discussion on the limits of the high-throughput first-principles calculations for metallic materials design.

The monogermanide LuGe is obtained via high-pressure high-temperature synthesis (5-15 GPa, 1023-1423 K). The crystal structure is solved from single-crystal X-ray diffraction data (structure type FeB, space group Pnma, a=7.660(2) Å, b=3.875(1) Å, and c=5.715(2) Å, R F =0.036 for 206 symmetry independent reflections). The analysis of chemical bonding applying quantum-chemical techniques in position space was performed. It revealed-beside the expected 2c-Ge-Ge bonds in the germanium polyanion-rather unexpected four-atomic bonds between lutetium atoms indicating the formation of a polycation by the excess electrons in the system Lu 3+ (2b)Ge 2- ×1 e - . Despite the reduced VEC of 3.5, lutetium monogermanide is following the extended 8-N rule with the trend to form lutetium-lutetium bonds utilizing the electrons left after satisfying the bonding needs in the anionic Ge-Ge zigzag chain., (© 2020 The Authors. Angewandte Chemie International Edition published by Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

The two La 2 Pd 3 Ge 5 and Nd 2 Pd 3 Ge 5 compounds, crystallizing in the oI 40-U 2 Co 3 Ge 5 crystal structure, were targeted for analysis of their chemical bonding and physical properties. The compounds of interest were obtained by arc melting and characterized by differential thermal analysis, scanning electron microscopy, and X-ray diffraction both on powder and on a single crystal (for the La analogue), to ensure the high quality of the samples and accurate crystallographic data. Chemical bonding was studied by analyzing the electronic structure and effective QTAIM charges of La 2 Pd 3 Ge 5 . A significant charge transfer mainly occurs from La to Pd so that Ge species assume tiny negative charges. This result, together with the -(I)COHP analysis, suggests that, in addition to the expected homopolar Ge bonds within zigzag chains, heteropolar interactions between Ge and the surrounding La and Pd occur with multicenter character. Covalent La-Pd interactions increase the complexity of chemical bonding, which could not be adequately described by the simplified, formally obeyed, Zintl-Klemm scheme. Electric resistivity, specific heat, magnetization, and magnetic susceptibility as a function of temperature indicate for both compounds a metallic-like behavior. For Nd 2 Pd 3 Ge 5 , two low-temperature phase transitions are detected, leading to an antiferromagnetic ground state.

A comparative chemical bonding analysis for the germanides La 2 MGe 6 (M=Li, Mg, Al, Zn, Cu, Ag, Pd) and Y 2 PdGe 6 is presented, together with the crystal structure determination for M=Li, Mg, Cu, Ag. The studied compounds adopt the two closely related structure types oS72-Ce 2 (Ga 0.1 Ge 0.9 ) 7 and mS36-La 2 AlGe 6 , containing zigzag chains and corrugated layers of Ge atoms bridged by M species, with La/Y atoms located in the biggest cavities. Chemical bonding was studied by means of the quantum chemical position-space techniques QTAIM (quantum theory of atoms in molecules), ELI-D (electron localizability indicator), and their basin intersections. The new penultimate shell correction (PSC0) method was introduced to adapt the ELI-D valence electron count to that expected from the periodic table of the elements. It plays a decisive role to balance the Ge-La polar-covalent interactions against the Ge-M ones. In spite of covalently bonded Ge partial structures formally obeying the Zintl electron count for M=Mg 2+ , Zn 2+ , all the compounds reveal noticeable deviations from the conceptual 8-N picture due to significant polar-covalent interactions of Ge with La and M ≠ Li, Mg atoms. For M=Li, Mg a formulation as a germanolanthanate M[La 2 Ge 6 ] is appropriate. Moreover, the relative Laplacian of ELI-D was discovered to reveal a chemically useful fine structure of the ELI-D distribution being related to polyatomic bonding features. With the aid of this new tool, a consistent picture of La/Y-M interactions for the title compounds was extracted., (© 2019 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

The R 2 PdGe 6 series (R = rare earth metal) was structurally characterized, and the results achieved were extended for a comprehensive study on R 2 MGe 6 (M = another metal) compounds, employing symmetry-based structural rationalization and energy calculations. Directly synthesized R 2 PdGe 6 exists for almost all R-components (R = Y, La-Nd, Sm and Gd-Lu) and even if with La is probably metastable. Several single crystal X-ray analyses (R = Y, Ce, Pr, Nd, Er and Lu) indicated oS72-Ce 2 (Ga 0.1 Ge 0.9 ) 7 as the correct structure. The alternative In-flux method, once optimized, produced three good quality R 2 PdGe 6 single crystals: La 2 PdGe 6 and Pr 2 PdGe 6 turned out to be mS36-La 2 AlGe 6 -type non-merohedrally twinned crystals and Yb 2 PdGe 6 is of oS72-Ce 2 (Ga 0.1 Ge 0.9 ) 7 -type. The vacancy ordering phenomenon was considered as a possible cause of the symmetry reduction relations connecting the most frequently reported 2 : 1 : 6 structural models (oS18, oS72 and mS36) with the oS20-SmNiGe 3 aristotype. The detected twin formation is consistent with the symmetry relations, which are discussed even considering the validity of the different structural models. DFT total energy calculations were performed for R 2 PdGe 6 (R = Y and La) in the three abovementioned structural models, and for La 2 MGe 6 (M = Pt, Cu, Ag and Au) in the oS18 and oS72 modifications. The results indicate that the oS18-Ce 2 CuGe 6 structure, prevalently proposed in the literature, is associated with the highest energy and thus it is not likely to be realized in these series. The oS72 and mS36 polytypes are energetically equivalent, and small changes in the synthetic conditions could easily stabilize any of them, in agreement with experimental results obtained by direct and flux syntheses.