Metal Flux Growth, Structural Relations, and Physical Properties of EuCu2Ge2and Eu3T2In9(T = Cu and Ag).
Single crystals (SCs) of the compounds Eu3Ag2In9and EuCu2Ge2were synthesized through the reactions run in liquid indium. Eu3Ag2In9crystallizes in the La3Al11structure type [orthorhombic space group (SG) Immm] with the lattice parameters: a = 4.8370(1) Å, b = 10.6078(3) Å, and c = 13.9195(4) Å. EuCu2Ge2crystallizes in the tetragonal ThCr2Si2structure type (SG I4/mmm) with the lattice parameters: a = b = 4.2218(1) Å, and c = 10.3394(5) Å. The crystal structure of Eu3Ag2In9is comprised of edge-shared hexagonal rings consisting of indium. The one-dimensional chains of In6rings are shared through the edges, which are further interconnected with other six-membered rings forming a three-dimensional (3D) stable crystal structure along the bc plane. The crystal structure of EuCu2Ge2can be explained as the complex [CuGe](2+δ)-polyanionic network embedded with Eu ions. These polyanionic networks present in the crystal structure of EuCu2Ge2are shared through the edges of the 011 plane containing Cu and Ge atoms, resulting in a 3D network. The structural relationship between Eu3T2In9and EuCu2Ge2has been discussed in detail, and we conclude that Eu3T2In9is the metal deficient variant of EuCu2Ge2. The magnetic susceptibilities of Eu3T2In9(T = Cu and Ag) and EuCu2Ge2were measured between 2 and 300 K. In all cases, magnetic susceptibility data followed Curie-Weiss law above 150 K. Magnetic moment values obtained from the measurements indicate the probable mixed/intermediate valent behavior of the europium atoms, which was further confirmed by X-ray absorption studies and bond distances around the Eu atoms. Electrical resistivity measurements suggest that Eu3T2In9and EuCu2Ge2are metallic in nature.
New Chemistry Unit, Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research , Jakkur, Bangalore 560064, India.
Udumula
U
Subbarao
New Chemistry Unit, Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research , Jakkur, Bangalore 560064, India.
Soumyabrata
S
Roy
New Chemistry Unit, Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research , Jakkur, Bangalore 560064, India.
Saurav Ch
SC
Sarma
New Chemistry Unit, Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research , Jakkur, Bangalore 560064, India.
Sumanta
S
Sarkar
New Chemistry Unit, Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research , Jakkur, Bangalore 560064, India.
Vidyanshu
V
Mishra
New Chemistry Unit, Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research , Jakkur, Bangalore 560064, India.
Yatish
Y
Khulbe
New Chemistry Unit, Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research , Jakkur, Bangalore 560064, India.
Sebastian C
SC
Peter