Source of materialThe samples Ba 6-xEuxGe25 (x = 0.1, 0.2, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.8, 2.0) were prepared by melting the elements in an open glassy carbon crucible (HF furnace, argon atmosphere) and annealing at 923 K (52 d). The materials are silvery metallic, brittle, and stable in air and moisture. The ICP-AES chemical analysis of the alloy with x = 0.6 resulted in the composition Ba 5.48(5)Eu0.57(2)Ge24.9(2).
Experimental detailsThe lattice parameters of Ba 5.4Eu0.6Ge25 were determined from the least-squares refinement of the 2q values of 140 reflections (powder data, 18°< 2q < 100°, l(CuK a1) = 1.540598 Å; LaB6 standard, a = 4.15695(6) Å). The rather large elongation of the displacement ellipsoid for the M2 site (Table 3) is typical for all members of the Ba 6In4Ge21 family [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10]. For Ba 5.4Eu0.6Ge25, the electron density distribution around the M2 position was additionally modelled using two split sites (M2¢ and M2², Table 2). The lattice constant of Ba 6-xEuxGe25 alloys (x = 0.1 to 2.0) depends on the composition and a phase range could be proven with the maximum solubility corresponding to x = 0.6 [11].
Discussion). Thus, the title compound is a Zintl phase with few conduction electrons. This is confirmed by the electrical resistivity data, showing metall-like behavior above 230 K. The transport properties of Ba 6-xEuxGe25 alloys are modified by europium insertion, and in comparison with Ba 6Ge25, the two-step first-order phase transition at T S1,S2 » 180 K, 220 K is quickly suppressed with increasing Eu content [11,12]. Ba/Eu1 Ba/Eu1