Syntheses and Structures of Sc₂Nb_4–xSn₅, YNb₆Sn₆, and ErNb₆Sn₅: Exploratory Studies in Ternary Rare-Earth Niobium Stannides

Abstract

Three new rare-earth (RE) niobium stannides, namely, Sc(2)Nb(4-x)Sn(5) (x = 0.37, 0.52), YNb(6)Sn(6), and ErNb(6)Sn(5), have been obtained by reacting the mixture of corresponding pure elements at high temperature and structurally characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies. Sc(2)Nb(4-x)Sn(5) crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group Ibam (No. 72) and belongs to the V(6)Si(5) type. Its structure features a three-dimensional (3D) network composed of two-dimensionally (2D) corrugated [Nb(2)Sn(2)] and [Nb(2)Sn(3)] layers interconnected via Nb-Sn bonds, forming one type of one-dimensional (1D) narrow tunnels along the c axis occupied by Sc atoms. YNb(6)Sn(6) crystallizes in the hexagonal space group P6/mmm (No. 191) and adopts the HfFe(6)Ge(6) type, and ErNb(6)Sn(5) crystallizes in the trigonal space group R3m (No. 166) and belongs to the LiFe(6)Ge(5) type. Their structures both feature 3D networks based on 2D [Nb(3)Sn], [Sn(2)], and [RESn(2)] layers (RE = Y, Er). In YNb(6)Sn(6), one type of [Nb(3)Sn] layer is interconnected by [Sn(2)] and [YSn(2)] layers via Nb-Sn bonds to form a 3D network. However, in ErNb(6)Sn(5), two types of [Nb(3)Sn] layers are interlinked by [Sn(2)] and [ErSn(2)] layers via Nb-Sn bonds into a 3D framework. Electronic structure calculations and magnetic property measurements for "Sc(2)Nb(4)Sn(5)" and YNb(6)Sn(6) indicate that both compounds show semimetallic and temperature-independent diamagnetic behavior.