CaAgxZn1– x: Zwischen CrB- und FeB-Strukturtyp – Eine Studie zu elektronischen Einflüssen auf die Stapelung von Zick-Zack-Ketten in polaren Erdalkalimetall-Monometalliden / CaAgxZn1−x: Between CrB and FeB Structure Type – A Study on Electronic Factors Influencing the Stacking of Zig-zag Chains in Polar Alkaline Earth Monometallides

Abstract

Depending on both electronic (valence electron numbers) and geometric (atom size ratios) characteristics of the contributing elements, the 1 : 1 compounds AIIM of the heavier alkaline earth elements A and electron-rich transition metals M form the well known CrB or FeB structure types. Both structure types exhibit M zig-zag chains, which are stacked in different orientations. In systematic studies of the pseudo-binary section CaAgxZn1−x four new ternary phases with different stacking variants between the CrB (cubic stacking, c) and the FeB (hexagonal stacking, h2) structure type have been prepared and characterized on the basis of single crystal X-ray data. Starting from CaAg (CrB type, orthorhombic, space group Cmcm, a = 405.22(7), b = 1144.7(2), c = 464.43(11) pm, Z = 4, R1 = 0.0197), up to 24% of Ag (CaAg0.76Zn0.24: a = 408.6(2), b = 1144.3(5), c = 460.7(2) pm, R1 = 0.0208) can be substituted by zinc without a change in the structure type. Close to the 1 : 1 ratio of Ag and Zn, the HT-TbNi structure type with the stacking sequence (hc2)2, i. e. 33% hexagonality (CaAg0.52Zn0.48: orthorhombic, space group Pnma, a = 2345.47(6), b = 454.370(10), c = 609.950(10) pm, Z = 12, R1 = 0.0298) is formed, followed by the SrAg type with 50% hexagonality (CaAg0.48Zn0.52: orthorhombic, space group Pnma, a = 1571.0(2), b = 451.50(7), c = 609.80(9) pm, Z = 8, R1 = 0.0733). The amount of hexagonal stacking is further increased with increasing Zn content in CaAg0.33Zn0.67 (Gd0.7Y0.3 structure type, h2c stacking, 67% hexagonality, monoclinic, space group P21/m, a = 610.39(9), b = 448.53(5), c = 1195.7(2) pm, β = 96.829(14)◦, Z = 3, R1 = 0.0221). Finally, a pure hexagonal stacking sequence, i. e. the FeB structure type (orthorhombic, space group Pnma, Z = 4) is observed from CaAg0.14Zn0.86 (a = 804.57(2), b = 443.050(10), c = 611.350(10) pm, R1 = 0.0131) to CaAg0.06Zn0.94 (a = 806.1(3), b = 441.0(2), c = 610.4(3) pm, R1 = 0.0255). Intriguingly, the series ends with the binary compound CaZn, which again crystallizes with the CrB structure type exhibiting cubic stacking of the zig-zag chains only (0% hexagonality). In an accompanying computational study, the chemical bonding in the series Ca(Ge/Ga/Zn/Ag) of isotypic binary metallides with variable valence electron numbers has been analyzed using FP-LAPW band structure methods. The electronic structures of the two border stacking variants are compared using the crystal data of CaZn (CrB type) and CaAg0.06Zn0.94 (FeB type). Geometrical and electronic criteria are used to compare and discuss the stability ranges of the different stacking variants inbetween the CrB and the FeB structure type found in polar intermetallic 1 : 1 phases.