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The results of the structural determination, magnetic characterization, and theoretical calculations of a new ruthenium-oxo complex, Li 4 [Ru 2 OCl 10 ]·10H 2 O, are presented. Single crystals were grown using solvent methods and the crystal structure was characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction. Li 4 [Ru 2 OCl 10 ]·10H 2 O crystallizes into a low-symmetry triclinic structure ( P 1 ) due to the much smaller Li + cation compared to K + cation in the tetragonal complex K 4 [Ru 2 OCl 10 ]·H 2 O. The X-ray photoelectron spectra confirm only the single valent Ru 4+ in Li 4 [Ru 2 OCl 10 ]·10H 2 O even though two distinct Ru sites exist in the crystal structure. Magnetic measurements reveal the diamagnetic property of Li 4 [Ru 2 OCl 10 ]·10H 2 O with unpaired electrons existing on Ru 4+ . Furthermore, the molecular orbital analysis matches well with the observed UV and magnetic measurements. 

A novel antiferromagnetic semiconductor, Eu 3 Sn 2 P 4 , has been discovered. Single crystals of Eu 3 Sn 2 P 4 were prepared using the Sn self-flux method. The crystal structure determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction shows that Eu 3 Sn 2 P 4 crystallizes in the orthorhombic structure with the space group Cmca (Pearson Symbol, oP 216). Six Sn–Sn dimers connected by P atoms form a Sn 12 P 24 crown-shaped cluster with a Eu atom located in the center. Magnetization measurements indicate that the system orders antiferromagnetically below a T N ∼14 K at a low field and undergoes a metamagnetic transition at a high field when T < T N . The effective magnetic moment is 7.41(3) μ B per Eu, corresponding to Eu 2+ . The electric resistivity reveals a non-monotonic temperature dependence with non-metallic behavior below ∼60 K, consistent with the band structure calculations. By fitting the data using the thermally activated resistivity formula, we estimate the energy gap to be ∼0.14 eV. Below T N , the resistivity tends to saturate, suggesting the reduction of charge-spin scattering. 

We present the combined results of single crystal X-ray diffraction, physical properties characterization, and theoretical assessment of EuSnP under high pressure. Single crystals of EuSnP prepared using Sn self-flux crystallize in the tetragonal NbCrN-type crystal structure (S.G. P 4/ nmm ) at ambient pressure. Previous studies have shown that for Eu ions, seven unpaired electrons impart a 2+ oxidation state. Assuming the oxidation states of Eu to be +2 and P to be −3, each Sn will donate one electron, with one p valence electron left for forming a weak Sn–Sn bond. According to the high-pressure single crystal X-ray diffraction measurements, no structural phase transition was observed up to ∼6.2 GPa. Temperature-dependent resistivity measurements up to 2.15 GPa on single crystals indicate that the phase-transition temperature occurring at the Néel temperature ( T N ) is significantly enhanced under high pressure. The robust crystallography and enhanced antiferromagnetic transition temperatures can be rationalized by the electronic structure calculations and chemical bonding analysis. The increasing Eu–P bonding interaction is consistent with the lattice parameter changing and enhanced T N . Moreover, the molecular orbital diagram shows that the weak Sn–Sn bond can be squeezed under pressure, acting as a compression buffer to stabilize the structure.