Crystal structure and chemical bonding of the intermetallic Zintl phase Yb[subscript 11]AlSb[subscript 9]
- Aarhus
High resolution single crystal synchrotron X-ray diffraction data measured at 15(2) K were used to solve the structure of the complex intermetallic Zintl phase, Yb{sub 11}AlSb{sub 9} (space group Iba2), made up of Yb cations and polyanions along with isolated Sb anions. The 15(2) K cell parameters are a = 11.7383(4) {angstrom}, b = 12.3600(4) {angstrom}, c = 16.6796(6) {angstrom}. The temperature dependence of the structure was investigated through high resolution synchrotron powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) data measured from 90 K to 1000 K. Rietveld refinements of the crystal structure revealed near linear thermal expansion of Yb{sub 11}AlSb{sub 9} with expansion coefficients of 1.49(2) x 10{sup -5} K{sup -1}, 1.71(3) x 10{sup -5} K{sup -1}, 1.13(1) x 10{sup -5} K{sup -1} for a, b and c, respectively. The chemical bonding in Yb{sub 11}AlSb{sub 9} was analyzed using atomic Hirshfeld surfaces, and the analysis supports the presence of the structural elements of Yb cations, [AlSb{sub 4}]{sup 9-} tetrahedra, [Sb{sub 2}]{sup 4-} dimers and isolated Sb{sup 3-} anions. However, indications of interatomic interactions between the Zintl anions and the Yb cations were also observed.
- Research Organization:
- Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States). Advanced Photon Source (APS)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- FOREIGN
- OSTI ID:
- 1050074
- Journal Information:
- Dalton T., Vol. 41, Issue (34) ; 2012
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- ENGLISH
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