Introducing a Magnetic Guest to a Tetrel-Free Clathrate: Synthesis, Structure, and Properties of Eu x Ba8–x Cu16P30 (0 ≤ x ≤ 1.5)

The europium-containing clathrate-I Eu x Ba8–x Cu16P30 was synthesized from the elements. Powder X-ray diffraction in combination with energy dispersive X-ray absorption spectroscopy (EDXS) and metallographic studies showed the homogeneity range with x ≤ 1.5. Determination of the crystal structure c...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Inorganic chemistry 2011-10, Vol.50 (20), p.10387-10396
Main Authors: Kovnir, Kirill, Stockert, Ulrike, Budnyk, Sergij, Prots, Yurii, Baitinger, Michael, Paschen, Silke, Shevelkov, Andrei V, Grin, Yuri
Format: Article
Language:English
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:The europium-containing clathrate-I Eu x Ba8–x Cu16P30 was synthesized from the elements. Powder X-ray diffraction in combination with energy dispersive X-ray absorption spectroscopy (EDXS) and metallographic studies showed the homogeneity range with x ≤ 1.5. Determination of the crystal structure confirmed the presence of an orthorhombic superstructure of clathrate-I and revealed that Eu atoms exclusively resided in small pentagonal-dodecahedral cages. Magnetic measurements together with X-ray absorption spectroscopy are consistent with a 4f7 (Eu2+) ground state for Eu x Ba8–x Cu16P30. Below 3 K the Eu moments order antiferromagnetically. Resistivity measurements revealed metallic behavior of the investigated clathrate, in line with the composition deviating from the Zintl counting scheme. Local vibrations of the guest atoms inside the cages are analyzed with the help of specific heat investigations.
ISSN:0020-1669
1520-510X
DOI:10.1021/ic201474h