Synthesis, Structural Characterization and Chemical Bonding of Sr₇Li₆Sn₁₂and its Quaternary Derivatives with Eu and Alkaline Earth Metal (Mg, Ca, Ba) Substitutions. A Tale of Seven Li‐Containing Stannides and Two Complex Crystal Structures

Abstract

In this paper, we discuss the synthesis and the structural characterization of the new ternary compound Sr 7 Li 6 Sn 12 and its six quaternary derivatives, where alkaline earth metals (Ca, Mg, Ba) and the rare earth metal Eu are substituted, yielding crystalline phases of monoclinic or orthorhombic symmetry. The title compounds were synthesized via high-temperature solid-state reactions of the corresponding elements. The crystal structures were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction methods. The (Sr,Ca) 7 Li 6 Sn 12 and Eu 7 (Mg,Li) 6 Sn 12 phases repre- [a] Dr. out for selected model compounds, and discussed in terms of the crystal structure and atomic charges of the composing elements.