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A new compound NaCd₄Sb₃(Rm,a=4.7013(1) Å,c=35.325(1), Å, Z=3,T=100 K) featuring the RbCd₄As₃structure type has been discovered in the Na−Cd−Sb system, in addition to the previously reported NaCdSb phase. NaCd₄Sb₃and NaCdSb were herein synthesized using sodium hydride as the source of sodium. The hydride method allows for targeted sample composition, improved precursor mixing, and an overall quicker synthesis time when compared to traditional methods using Na metal as a precursor. The NaCd₄Sb₃structure was determined from single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction and contained the splitting of a Cd site not seen in previous isostructural phases. NaCd₄Sb₃decomposes into NaCdSb plus melt at 766 K, as determined viain‐situhigh‐temperature PXRD. The electronic structure calculations predict the NaCd₄Sb₃phase to be semi‐metallic, which compliments the measured thermoelectric property data, indicative of ap‐type semi‐metallic material. The crystal structure, elemental analysis, thermal properties, and electronic structure are herein discussed in further detail.

 

Here, the combination of theoretical computations followed by rapid experimental screening and in situ diffraction studies is demonstrated as a powerful strategy for novel compounds discovery. When applied for the previously “empty” Na−Zn−Bi system, such an approach led to four novel phases. The compositional space of this system was rapidly screened via the hydride route method and the theoretically predicted NaZnBi (PbClF type,P4/nmm) and Na₁₁Zn₂Bi₅(Na₁₁Cd₂Sb₅type,P) phases were successfully synthesized, while other computationally generated compounds on the list were rejected. In addition, single crystal X‐ray diffraction studies of NaZnBi indicate minor deviations from the stoichiometric 1 : 1 : 1 molar ratio. As a result, two isostructural (PbClF type,P4/nmm) Zn‐deficient phases with similar compositions, but distinctly different unit cell parameters were discovered. The vacancies on Zn sites and unit cell expansion were rationalized from bonding analysis using electronic structure calculations on stoichiometric “NaZnBi”.In‐situsynchrotron powder X‐ray diffraction studies shed light on complex equilibria in the Na−Zn−Bi system at elevated temperatures. In particular, the high‐temperature polymorphHT‐Na₃Bi (BiF₃type,Fmm) was obtained as a product of Na₁₁Zn₂Bi₅decomposition above 611 K.HT‐Na₃Bi cannot be stabilized at room temperature by quenching, and this type of structure was earlier observed in the high‐pressure polymorphHP‐Na₃Bi above 0.5 GPa. The aforementioned approach of predictive synthesis can be extended to other multinary systems.

 

The compositional screening of K‐Zn‐Sb ternary system aided by machine learning, rapid exploratory synthesis using KH salt‐like precursor and in situ powder X‐ray diffraction yielded a novel clathrate type XI K₅₈Zn₁₂₂Sb₂₀₇. This clathrate consists of a 3D Zn‐Sb framework hosting K⁺ions inside polyhedral cages, some of which are reminiscent of known clathrate types while others are unique to this structure type. The complex non‐centrosymmetric structure in the tetragonal space groupwas solved by means of single crystal X‐ray diffraction as a 6‐component twin due to pseudocubic symmetry and further confirmed by high‐resolution synchrotron powder X‐ray diffraction and state‐of‐the‐art scanning transmission electron microscopy. The electron‐precise composition of this clathrate yields narrow‐gapp‐type semiconductor with extraordinarily low thermal conductivity due to displacement or “rattling” of K cations inside oversized cages and as well as to twinning, stacking faults and antiphase boundary defects.

 

Doping, or incremental substitution of one element for another, is an effective way to tailor a compound’s structure as well as its physical and chemical properties. Herein, we replaced up to 30% of Ni with Co in members of the family of layered LiNiB compounds, stabilizing the high-temperature polymorph of LiNiB while the room-temperature polymorph does not form. By studying this layered boride with in situ high-temperature powder diffraction, we obtained a distorted variant of LiNi0.7Co0.3B featuring a perfect interlayer placement of [Ni0.7Co0.3B] layers on top of each other─a structural motif not seen before in other borides. Because of the Co doping, LiNi0.7Co0.3B can undergo a nearly complete topochemical Li deintercalation under ambient conditions, resulting in a metastable boride with the formula Li0.04Ni0.7Co0.3B. Heating of Li0.04Ni0.7Co0.3B in anaerobic conditions led to yet another metastable boride, Li0.01Ni0.7Co0.3B, with a CoB-type crystal structure that cannot be obtained by simple annealing of Ni, Co, and B. No significant alterations of magnetic properties were detected upon Co-doping in the temperature-independent paramagnet LiNi0.7Co0.3B or its Li-deintercalated counterparts. Finally, Li0.01Ni0.7Co0.3B stands out as an exceptional catalyst for the selective hydrogenation of the vinyl C═C bond in 3-nitrostyrene, even in the presence of other competing functional groups. This research showcases an innovative approach to heterogeneous catalyst design by meticulously synthesizing metastable compounds. 

Combined experimental and density functional theory (DFT) study of Pr0.75Gd0.25ScGe and its hydride (Pr0.75Gd0.25ScGeH) reveals intricacies of composition-structure-property relationships in those distinctly layered compounds. Hydrogenation of the intermetallic parent, crystalizing in a tetragonal CeScSi-type structure, leads to an anisotropic volume expansion, that is, a(=b) lattice parameter decreases while the lattice expands along the c direction, yielding a net increase of cell volume. DFT calculations predict an antiparallel coupling of localized Gd and Pr magnetic moments in both materials at the ground state. While experiments corroborate this for the parent compound, there is no conclusive experimental proof for the hydride, where Pr moments do not order down to 3 K. DFT results also reveal that rare-earth – hydrogen interactions reduce spin-polarization of the Pr and Gd 5d and Sc 3d states at the Fermi energy, disrupt indirect exchange interactions mediated by conduction electrons, dramatically reduce the magnetic ordering temperature, and open a pseudo-gap in the majority-spin channel. Both experiments and theory show evidence of Kondo-like behavior in the hydride in the absence of an applied magnetic field, whereas increasing the field promotes magnetic ordering and suppresses Kondo-like behavior. 

Kagome compounds have garnered attention in the past few years for their intriguing magnetic properties arising from spin frustration dictated by the geometry of the Kagome sublattice. In this paper, we highlight the success of the unconventional hydride route for the fast and easy synthesis of the Kagome compound KV6Sb6. High-temperature in situ powder x-ray diffraction (PXRD) studies proved to be useful in hinting at the existence of KV6Sb6, identifying its synthesis conditions, and understanding the reaction mechanism. The crystal structure for KV6Sb6 was determined from high-resolution PXRD data. The compound has a layered structure [R¯3m,a=5.5318(9)Å, c=34.23(3)Å, V=907.0(8)Å3, Z=3 at room temperature] and features a Kagome bilayer of V atoms. KV6Sb6 is isostructural to the previously reported RbV6Sb6 and CsV6Sb6 compounds. KV6Sb6 is thermally stable in vacuum up to 1173 K, as evident from the high-temperature in situ PXRD and differential scanning calorimetric analysis. Investigation of magnetic properties for KV6Sb6 between 2 and 300 K reveals temperature-independent paramagnetism and an absence of superconductivity, like the Rb and Cs analogs. Furthermore, we compare the magnetic properties of KV3Sb5, another ternary Kagome compound, synthesized via two different methods: the hydride route and the traditional route from elements. Low-temperature transport property measurements of KV6Sb6 indicate metallic behavior and an intrinsically low thermal conductivity of 1.0WK−1m−1 at 300 K. The layered structure of KV6Sb6 makes it an attractive candidate for deintercalation and doping studies to tune both magnetic and transport properties, laying a foundation for further studies. 

The intermetallic compound LiMnBi was synthesized by the two-step solid-state reaction from the elements. A synthesis temperature of 850 K was selected based on in situ high-temperature powder X-ray diffraction data. LiMnBi crystalizes in the layered-like PbClF structure type (a = 4.3131(7) Å, c = 7.096(1) Å at 100 K, P4/nmm space group, Z = 2). The LiMnBi structure is built of alternating [MnBi] and Li layers, as determined from single-crystal X-ray diffraction data. Magnetic property measurements and solid-state 7Li nuclear magnetic resonance data collected for polycrystalline LiMnBi samples indicate the long-range antiferromagnetic ordering of the Mn sublattice at ∼340 K, with no superconductivity detected down to 5 K. LiMnBi is air- and water-sensitive. Under aerobic conditions, Li can be extracted from the LiMnBi structure to form Li2O/LiOH and MnBi (NiAs structure type, P63/mmc). The obtained MnBi polymorph was previously reported to be one of the strongest rare-earth-free ferromagnets, yet its bulk synthesis in powder form is cumbersome. The proposed magneto-structural transformation from ternary LiMnBi to ferromagnetic MnBi involves condensation of the MnBi4 tetrahedra upon Li deintercalation and is exclusive to LiMnBi. In contrast, ferromagnetic MnBi cannot be obtained from either isostructural NaMnBi and KMnBi or from the structurally related CaMn2Bi2. Such a distinctive transformation in the case of LiMnBi is presumed to be due to its fitting reactivity to yield MnBi and a favorable interlayer distance between [MnBi] layers, while the interlayer distance in NaMnBi and KMnBi structural analogues is unfavorably long. The studies of delithiation from layered-like LiMnBi under different chemical environments indicate that the yield of MnBi depends on the type of solvent used and the kinetics of the reaction. A slow rate and mild reaction media lead to a high fraction of the MnBi product. The saturation magnetization of the “as-prepared” MnBi is ∼50% of the expected value of 81.3 emu/g. Overall, this study adds a missing member to the family of ternary pnictides and illustrates how soft-chemistry methods can be used to obtain “difficult-to-synthesize” compounds.