NaGe6As6: Insertion of sodium into the layered semiconductor germanium arsenide GeAs

Abstract

Abstract NaGe6As6 is a ternary arsenide prepared by reaction of the elements at 650 °C. It crystallizes in a new monoclinic structure type [space group C2/m, Z = 2, a = 22.063(2), b = 3.8032(4), c = 7.2020(8) Å, β = 92.7437(15)°] that can be considered to be derived by inserting guest Na atoms between [Ge6As6] layers identical to those found in the layered binary arsenide GeAs. An unusual feature in both structures is the presence of ethane-like Ge2As6 units in staggered conformation, with Ge–Ge dumbbells oriented either parallel or perpendicular to the layers. Electronic band structure calculations have shown that the electron excess in NaGe6As6 is accommodated by raising the Fermi level across a 0.6 eV band gap in semiconducting GeAs so that it cuts the bottom of the conduction band, resulting in an n-doped semiconductor.