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An extended series of rare‐earth metal calcium germanides have been synthesized and structurally characterized. The compounds have the general formulaRE_5−xCa_xGe₄(1.5<x<3.6;RE=rare‐earth metal; Ce, Nd, Sm, Tb−Lu) and their structures have been established from single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction methods. They crystallize with the Gd₅Si₄‐type in the orthorhombic space groupPnma(No. 62;Z=4; Pearson symboloP36), where the germanium atoms are interconnected into two kinds of Ge₂‐dimers, formally [Ge₂]⁶⁻. These studies show that Ca can be successfully incorporated into the hostRE₅Ge₄structure, whereby trivalent rare‐earth metal atoms can be substituted by divalent calcium atoms. Rare‐earth metal and calcium atoms are arranged in distorted trigonal prisms and cubes, centered by either Ge or Ca atoms. On one of the metal sites, the substitution is preferential and in 9 out of the 10 refined structures, the Wyckoff site 4cis found almost exclusively occupied by Ca. On the other two metal sites the substitution patterns appear to be governed by the mismatch between the size of theRE³⁺and Ca²⁺ions. This work further demonstrates the ability for the Gd₅Si₄structure type to accommodate the substitution of a non‐magnetic element while maintaining the global structural integrity.

 

Clathrates of Tetrel elements (Si, Ge, Sn) have attracted interest for their potential use in batteries and other applications. Sodium-filled silicon clathrates are conventionally synthesized through thermal decomposition of the Zintl precursor Na₄Si₄, but phase selectivity of the product is often difficult to achieve. Herein, we report the selective formation of the type I clathrate Na₈Si₄₆using electrochemical oxidation at 450 °C and 550 °C. A two-electrode cell design inspired by high-temperature sodium-sulfur batteries is employed, using Na₄Si₄as working electrode, Naβ″-alumina solid electrolyte, and counter electrode consisting of molten Na or Sn. Galvanostatic intermittent titration is implemented to observe the oxidation characteristics and reveals a relatively constant cell potential under quasi-equilibrium conditions, indicating a two-phase reaction between Na₄Si₄and Na₈Si₄₆. We further demonstrate that the product selection and morphology can be altered by tuning the reaction temperature and Na vapor pressure. Room temperature lithiation of the synthesized Na₈Si₄₆is evaluated for the first time, showing similar electrochemical characteristics to those in the type II clathrate Na₂₄Si₁₃₆. The results show that solid-state electrochemical oxidation of Zintl phases at high temperatures can lead to opportunities for more controlled crystal growth and a deeper understanding of the formation processes of intermetallic clathrates.

 

A ternary derivative of Li 3 Bi with the composition Li 3– x – y In x Bi ( x  ≃ 0.14, y  ≃ 0.29) was produced by a mixed In+Bi flux approach. The crystal structure adopts the space group Fd \overline{3} m (No. 227), with a = 13.337 (4) Å, and can be viewed as a 2 × 2 × 2 superstructure of the parent Li 3 Bi phase, resulting from a partial ordering of Li and In in the tetrahedral voids of the Bi fcc packing. In addition to the Li/In substitutional disorder, partial occupation of some Li sites is observed. The Li deficiency develops to reduce the total electron count in the system, counteracting thereby the electron doping introduced by the In substitution. First-principles calculations confirm the electronic rationale of the observed disorder. 

The crystal structure of the ternary germanide Li₂MnGe has been re‐evaluated from single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction data. This compound crystallizes in a non‐centrosymmetric superstructure of the ZrCuSiAs type (space groupP4bm, Pearson codetP16), with the lattice parametersa= 6.088(4) Å,c= 6.323(4) Å. First‐principle calculations for the idealized structure predict antiferromagnetic exchange in the square Mn nets and semimetallic ground state. In addition, a new ternary phase with the composition Li_2–xMn_4+xGe₅(x≈ 1.2) was discovered. It adopts the V₆Si₅structure type (space groupIbam, Pearson codeoI44), with the lattice parametersa= 7.570(2) Å,b= 16.323(3) Å,c= 5.057(1) Å. DSC/TG measurements show that this compound is thermally stable below 995 K.

 

Four novel ternary phases have been prepared in the system Ca–Li–Sn using both the metal flux method and conventional high-temperature synthesis. Each of the obtained compositions represents its own (new) structure type, and the structures feature distinct polyanionic Sn units. Ca 4 LiSn 6 (space group Pbcm , Pearson symbol oP 44) accommodates infinite chains, made up of cyclopentane-like [Sn 5 ]-rings, which are bridged by Sn atoms. The Sn atoms in this structure are two- and three-bonded. The anionic substructure of Ca 9 Li 6+x Sn 13–x ( x ≈ 0.28, space group C 2/ m , Pearson symbol mS 56) displays extensive mixing of Li and Sn and combination of single-bonded and hypervalent interactions between the Sn atoms. Hypervalent bonding is also pronounced in the structure of the third compound, Ca 2 LiSn 3 (space group Pmm 2, Pearson symbol oP 18) with quasi-two-dimensional polyanionic subunits and a variety of coordination environments of the Sn atoms. One-dimensional [Sn 10 ]-chains with an intricate topology of cis - and trans -Sn–Sn bonds exist in the structure of Ca 9–x Li 2 Sn 10 ( x ≈ 0.16, space group C 2/ m , Pearson symbol mS 42), and the Sn–Sn bonding in this case demonstrates the characteristics of an intermediate between single- and double- bond-order. The peculiarities of the bonding are discussed in the context of the Zintl approach, which captures the essence of the main chemical interactions. The electronic structures of all four compounds have also been analyzed in full detail using first-principles calculations.