The layered antimonides RELi{sub 3}Sb{sub 2} (RE=Ce–Nd, Sm, Gd–Ho). Filled derivatives of the CaAl{sub 2}Si{sub 2} structure type

Journal Article · Sat Feb 15 04:00:00 EST 2014 · Journal of Solid State Chemistry

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/J.JSSC.2013.11.002· OSTI ID:22274198

Schäfer, Marion C.; Suen, Nian-Tzu; Raglione, Michaella; Bobev, Svilen

Reported are the synthesis and the structural characterization of an extended family of rare-earth metal–lithium–antimonides with the formula RELi{sub 3}Sb{sub 2} (RE=Ce–Nd, Sm, Gd–Ho). They crystallize in the trigonal space group P3{sup ¯}m1 (No. 164, Pearson symbol hP6) with a structure, best viewed as a filled derivative of the common CaAl{sub 2}Si{sub 2} structure type (ternary variant of α-La{sub 2}O{sub 3}). Across the series, the lattice parameters monotonically decrease, following the lanthanide contraction. Temperature-dependent magnetic susceptibility measurements for CeLi{sub 3}Sb{sub 2}, PrLi{sub 3}Sb{sub 2} and TbLi{sub 3}Sb{sub 2} reveal paramagnetic behavior in the high temperature range, and the obtained effective moments are consistent with the expected ones for the free-ion RE{sup 3+} ground state. Possible ferromagnetic ordering for PrLi{sub 3}Sb{sub 2} and antiferromagnetic ordering for TbLi{sub 3}Sb{sub 2} are observed in the low temperature range (below 20 K). Tight-binding muffin-tin orbital electronic band structure calculations for LaLi{sub 3}Sb{sub 2} are presented and discussed as well. - Graphical abstract: The large family of rare-earth metal–lithium–antimonides with the formula RELi{sub 3}Sb{sub 2} (RE=Ce–Nd, Sm, Gd–Ho) crystallize in the trigonal space group P3{sup ¯}m1 (No. 164, Pearson symbol hP6) with a structure that is a filled derivative of the CaAl{sub 2}Si{sub 2} structure type (ternary variant of α-La{sub 2}O{sub 3}). Display Omitted - Highlights: • RELi{sub 3}Sb{sub 2} (RE=Ce–Nd, Sm, Gd–Ho) constitute an extended family of rare-earth metal–lithium–antimonides. • The layered structure is a filled derivative of the common CaAl{sub 2}Si{sub 2} structure type. • The valence electron count follows the Zintl–Klemm rules. • Electronic band structure calculations for LaLi{sub 3}Sb{sub 2} indicate small band-gap semiconducting behavior.

• OSTI ID: 22274198
• Journal Information: Journal of Solid State Chemistry, Journal Name: Journal of Solid State Chemistry Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 210; ISSN 0022-4596; ISSN JSSCBI
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
ANTIFERROMAGNETISM
ANTIMONIDES
ANTIMONY
CRYSTAL STRUCTURE
ELECTRONIC STRUCTURE
GROUND STATES
LANTHANUM OXIDES
LATTICE PARAMETERS
LITHIUM
MAGNETIC SUSCEPTIBILITY
MONOCRYSTALS
MUFFIN-TIN POTENTIAL
PARAMAGNETISM
RARE EARTHS
RHENIUM IONS
SPACE GROUPS
SYNTHESIS
TEMPERATURE DEPENDENCE
X-RAY DIFFRACTION