Ba{sub 4}In{sub 8}Sb{sub 16}: Thermoelectric properties of a new layered Zintl phase with infinite zigzag Sb chains and pentagonal tubes
A new Zintl phase Ba{sub 4}In{sub 8}Sb{sub 16} was obtained from a direct element combination reaction of the elements in a sealed graphite tube at 700 C, and its structure was determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction methods. It crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group Pnma (No. 62) with a = 10.166(3) {angstrom}, b = 4.5239(14) {angstrom}, c = 19.495(6) {angstrom}, and Z = 1. Ba{sub 4}In{sub 8}Sb{sub 16} has a two-dimensional structure with thick corrugated (In{sub 8}Sb{sub 16}){sup 8{minus}} layers separated by Ba{sup 2+} ions. In the layer, InSb{sub 4} tetrahedra are connected by sharing three corners and by bridging the fourth corner in such a manner that infinite pentagonal tubes are formed. The compound is a narrow band gap ({approximately} 0.10 eV) semiconductor and satisfies the classical Zintl rule. Band structure calculations confirm that the material is a semiconductor and indicate that it has optimized In-Sb bonding interactions. Polycrystalline ingots of Ba{sub 4}In{sub 8}Sb{sub 16} show room-temperature electrical conductivity of 135 S/cm and a Seebeck coefficient of 70 {micro}V/K. The thermal conductivity of Ba{sub 4}In{sub 8}Sb{sub 16} is about 1.7 W/m{sm{underscore}bullet}K in the temperature range 150--300 K.
- Research Organization:
- Michigan State Univ., East Lansing, MI (US)
- OSTI ID:
- 20004026
- Journal Information:
- Chemistry of Materials, Vol. 11, Issue 11; Other Information: PBD: Nov 1999; ISSN 0897-4756
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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