Issue 8, 2017

Synthesis, crystal and electronic structures, physical properties and 121Sb and 151Eu Mössbauer spectroscopy of the alumo-antimonide Zintl-phase Eu5Al2Sb6

Abstract

Eu5Al2Sb6 was synthesized from the elements in niobium ampoules. It crystallizes in the orthorhombic crystal system (a = 1027.55(7), b = 1200.28(6), c = 1324.22(7) pm) with space group Pnma (no. 62), isostructural to Sr5Al2Sb6, and can be described as a Zintl phase. The Al atoms are tetrahedrally surrounded by Sb atoms, forming branched strands. Besides Sb3− anions, antimony Sb24− dumbbells can also be found in the crystal structure. Eu5Al2Sb6 [≡(Eu2+)5(Al3+)2(Sb3−)4(Sb24−)] exhibits three magnetic ordering phenomena at T1 = 12.3(1), T2 = 10.6(1) and T3 = 3.0(1) K, obtained by heat capacity measurements. While T3 is of antiferromagnetic nature, T1 and T2 correspond to canted antiferromagnetic transitions. Resistivity investigations indicate that the title compound is a semiconductor, in line with the band structure calculations. Spin exchange parameters, calculated using mapping analysis, confirm that the magnetic phase transition at TN = 3.5(1) is associated with the ordering of Eu1 atoms. The divalent character has been confirmed by 151Eu Mössbauer spectroscopic studies. Measurements conducted at 5 K show a hyperfine field splitting for two of the three Eu sites, underlining the magnetic data. Additionally, 121Sb Mössbauer spectroscopic studies have been conducted on Eu5Al2Sb6 and isostructural Sr5Al2Sb6.

Graphical abstract: Synthesis, crystal and electronic structures, physical properties and 121Sb and 151Eu Mössbauer spectroscopy of the alumo-antimonide Zintl-phase Eu5Al2Sb6

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Research Article
Submitted
07 Feb 2017
Accepted
08 Mar 2017
First published
16 Mar 2017

Mater. Chem. Front., 2017,1, 1563-1572

Synthesis, crystal and electronic structures, physical properties and 121Sb and 151Eu Mössbauer spectroscopy of the alumo-antimonide Zintl-phase Eu5Al2Sb6

M. Radzieowski, T. Block, T. Fickenscher, Y. Zhang, B. P. T. Fokwa and O. Janka, Mater. Chem. Front., 2017, 1, 1563 DOI: 10.1039/C7QM00057J

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements