Sr{sub 7}Ge{sub 6}, Ba{sub 7}Ge{sub 6} and Ba{sub 3}Sn{sub 2} -Three new binary compounds containing dumbbells and four-membered chains of tetrel atoms with considerable Ge-Ge {pi}-bonding character

Journal Article · Sun Jul 15 04:00:00 EDT 2012 · Journal of Solid State Chemistry

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/J.JSSC.2012.03.008· OSTI ID:22012175

Siggelkow, Lisa; Hlukhyy, Viktor ^[1]

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1. Department Chemie, Technische Universitaet Muenchen, Lichtenbergstr. 4, D-85747 Garching (Germany)

The germanides Sr{sub 7}Ge{sub 6} and Ba{sub 7}Ge{sub 6} as well as the stannide Ba{sub 3}Sn{sub 2} were prepared by arc melting and annealing in welded tantalum ampoules using induction as well as resistance furnaces. The compounds were investigated by powder and single crystal X-ray diffraction. Sr{sub 7}Ge{sub 6} and Ba{sub 7}Ge{sub 6} crystallize in the Ca{sub 7}Sn{sub 6} structure type (space group Pmna, Z=4: a=7.777(2) A, b=23.595(4) A, c=8.563(2) A, wR{sub 2}=0.081 (all data), 2175 independent reflections, 64 variable parameters for Sr{sub 7}Ge{sub 6} and a=8.0853(6) A, b=24.545(2) A, c=8.9782(8) A, wR{sub 2}=0.085 (all data), 2307 independent reflections, 64 variable parameters for Ba{sub 7}Ge{sub 6}). Ba{sub 3}Sn{sub 2} crystallizes in an own structure type with the space group P4{sub 3}2{sub 1}2, Z=4, a=6.6854(2) A, c=17.842(2) A, wR{sub 2}=0.037 (all data), 1163 independent reflections, 25 variable parameters. In Sr{sub 7}Ge{sub 6} and Ba{sub 7}Ge{sub 6} the Ge atoms are arranged as Ge{sub 2} dumbbells and Ge{sub 4} four-membered atom chains. Their crystal structures cannot be rationalized according to the (8-N) rule. In contrast, Ba{sub 3}Sn{sub 2} presents Sn{sub 2} dumbbells as a main structural motif and thereby can be described as an electron precise Zintl phase. The chemical bonding situation in these structures is discussed on the basis of partial and total Density Of States (DOS) curves, band structures including fatbands, topological analysis of the Electron Localization Function (ELF) as well as Bader analysis of the bond critical points using the programs TB-LMTO-ASA and WIEN2K. While Ba{sub 3}Sn{sub 2} reveals semiconducting behaviour, all germanides Ae{sub 7}Ge{sub 6} (Ae=Ca, Sr, and Ba) show metallic properties and a considerable {pi}-bonding character between the Ge atoms of the four-membered chains and the dumbbells. The {pi}-bonding character of the germanides is best reflected by the resonance hybrid structures {l_brace}[Ge-Ge]{sup 6-}/[Ge-{sup ....}Ge-{sup ....}Ge-{sup ....}Ge]{sup 8-}{r_brace}{r_reversible}{l_brace}[Ge=Ge]{sup 4-}/[Ge-Ge-Ge-Ge]{sup 10-}{r_brace}. - Graphical abstract: The structure of Ba{sub 3}Sn{sub 2} contains Sn{sub 2} dumbbells as a main structural motif and thereby can be described as an electron precise Zintl phase. Ge{sub 2} dumbbells and Ge{sub 4} four-membered atom chains are the predominant features in Sr{sub 7}Ge{sub 6} and Ba{sub 7}Ge{sub 6}. Their crystal structures cannot be rationalized according to the (8-N) rule. While Ba{sub 3}Sn{sub 2} reveals semiconducting behaviour, the germanides Ae{sub 7}Ge{sub 6} (Ae=Ca, Sr, and Ba) show metallic properties and a considerable {pi}-bonding character between the Ge atoms of the four-membered chains and the dumbbells. Highlights: Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer The germanides Sr{sub 7}Ge{sub 6} and Ba{sub 7}Ge{sub 6} as well as the stannide Ba{sub 3}Sn{sub 2} have been synthesized. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer In Sr{sub 7}Ge{sub 6} and Ba{sub 7}Ge{sub 6} the Ge atoms are arranged as dumbbells and four-membered atom chains. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Ba{sub 3}Sn{sub 2} presents Sn{sub 2} dumbbells as a main structural motif. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer The chemical bonding situation within these structures is discussed.

• OSTI ID: 22012175
• Journal Information: Journal of Solid State Chemistry, Journal Name: Journal of Solid State Chemistry Vol. . 191; ISSN 0022-4596; ISSN JSSCBI
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
ALKALINE EARTH METALS
BONDING
CHEMICAL BONDS
GERMANIDES
MONOCRYSTALS
POWDERS
REFLECTION
SPACE GROUPS
TANTALUM
TETRAGONAL LATTICES
TOPOLOGY
X-RAY DIFFRACTION