Complex Magnetic Ordering in Eu₃InP₃: A New Rare Earth Metal Zintl Compound

Abstract

Eu3InP3 has been prepared as large single crystals with an indium flux reaction. The structure of the new compound is isotypic to Sr3InP3 and crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group Pnma with unit cell dimensions of a = 12.6517(15) Å, b = 4.2683(5) Å, and c = 13.5643(14) Å (Z = 4, T = 140 K, R1 = 0.0404, wR2 = 0.0971 for all data). The structure consists of one-dimensional chains of corner-shared distorted [InP2P2/2]6- tetrahedra separated by rows of Eu2+ ions. Two of the three crystallographically distinct europium sites have a short Eu(1)-Eu(2) distance of 3.5954(7) Å, which yields Eu-Eu dimers. The Eu-P bond distances range from 2.974(2) to 3.166(2) Å. The temperature dependence of the conductivity indicates that Eu3InP3 is a small band gap semiconductor. Both magnetization and Eu-151 Mössbauer spectral measurements indicate that the europium in Eu3InP3 is divalent and that at least two magnetic transitions occur. Magnetization studies reveal magnetic transitions at 14, 10.4, and ~5 K. These transitions are also observed in heat capacity studies of Eu3InP3. The Mössbauer spectra indicate that the two europium sites are ordered at 12 K and that all three europium sites are ordered at 8 K.

Department(s)

Chemistry

Sponsor(s)

National Science Foundation of Belgium
National Science Foundation of Belgium
National Science Foundation (U.S.)

Keywords and Phrases

Europium; Indium; Lanthanide; Phosphorus; Unclassified Drug; Zintl Compound; Anisotropy; Chemical Bond; Conductance; Crystal Structure; Magnetism; Mössbauer Spectroscopy; Semiconductor; Temperature Dependence; X Ray Powder Diffraction

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

0020-1669

Document Type

Article - Journal

Document Version

Citation

File Type

text

Language(s)

English

Rights

© 2005 American Chemical Society (ACS), All rights reserved.

Publication Date

01 Apr 2005

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