La15NbxGe9: a superstructure of the Mn5Si3 structure type with interstitial Nb atoms

J. Bławat, M. Roman, Weiwei Xie, R. J. Cava, T. Klimczuk

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

2 Scopus citations

Abstract

The crystal structure and elementary properties of La15NbxGe9 are reported. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction, from a crystallite with only 0.12 Nb/formula unit, reveals that this compound, although transition metal deficient, crystallizes in a hexagonal “15-1-9”-like structure type, space group P63mc (no. 186) with lattice parameters a = b = 15.5017(2) Å, c = 6.9173(2) Å. The physical properties were examined by specific heat and resistivity measurements. La15Nb0.4Ge9 shows metallic behavior, and no superconductivity is observed above 0.4 K. The Sommerfeld coefficient (γ = 62.41(8) mJ mol−1 K−2) and the Debye temperature (θD = 267(1) K) were estimated from a fit to the low temperature heat capacity data. La15Nb0.4Ge9 is the first reported compound in the ternary La-Nb-Ge system.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)50-54
Number of pages5
JournalJournal of Solid State Chemistry
Volume265
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 2018

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
  • Ceramics and Composites
  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • Physical and Theoretical Chemistry
  • Inorganic Chemistry
  • Materials Chemistry

Keywords

  • Crystal structure determination
  • Heat capacity
  • Intermetallic compounds
  • Resistivity

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