Flux Crystal Growth of the Ternary Polygermanide LaPtGe₂, a p‐Type Metal

Abstract

Large plate crystals of LaPtGe2 have been grown by using an inert indium metal flux. This compound crystallizes in the CeNiSi2‐type structure (orthorhombic space group Cmcm) with lattice parameters a = 4.3770(9) Å, b = 17.186(3) Å, and c = 4.3942(9) Å. The structure of LaPtGe2 is a three‐dimensional framework with alternating PbO‐type layers of PtGe and infinite Ge chains, separated by La atoms. Electrical resistivity and Hall effect measurements characterize LaPtGe2 as a metal with holes that act as the charge carriers. Strong temperature dependence of the Hall coefficient and a violation of Kohler's rule (from magnetoresistance data) both indicate possible multiband effects. The electronic structure calculations suggest the metallic nature of LaPtGe2 and show that the strongest bonding exists between Pt and Ge within the PbO‐type layers.

Superconductivity in Y4RuGe8 with a Vacancy-Ordered CeNiSi2-Type Superstructure

“…Certain ground states in CeNiSi 2 -type RTM 2 are also tunable by external fields or pressures where one ground state can be suppressed to induce another state. , CeNiSi 2 -type RTM 2 have an orthorhombic Cmcm space group (no. 63) consisting of two alternating layered motifs: AlB 2 -type [RM] and PbO-type [TM]. The PbO-type block in RTM 2 has a plane of M atoms, with transition metal atoms T located above and below the plane, which is very similar to the active anti-PbO-type FeAs­(Se) layer in high-temperature iron-based superconductors where Fe atoms form a plane with As­(Se) located on both sides of the plane.…”

Prediction of superconductivity in metallic boron–carbon compounds from 0 to 100 GPa by high-throughput screening

“…The prototype structure LiB 3 C was predicted to be a superconductor with a T c of 22 K at 100 GPa, which has two PbO-type 39 layers of B 3 C. Two B 3 C layers are connected to form B–C cages with eight four-sided faces and four six-sided faces (4 8 6 4 ), as shown in Fig. 1(a).…”

Royal Society of Chemistry Prizes 2015

“…Kanatzidis is featured in an Author Profile in this issue 8a. He has reported in the European Journal of Inorganic Chemistry on the flux crystal growth of LaPtGe 2 8b…”