Abstract

Systematic studies in the systems Cs–Na–Ga–Si, Rb–Na–Ga–Si, and Rb–Na–Zn–Si yielded the novel type-I clathrates with refined compositions Cs6Na2Ga8.25Si37.75(3), Rb6.34Na1.66(2)Ga8.02Si37.98(3), and Rb5.20Na2.80(4)Zn3.85Si42.15(2) (cubic, ), as well as the type-II clathrates with formulae Cs8Na16Ga22.7Si113.3(1), Rb8.4Na15.6(1)Ga19.6Si116.4(1), and Rb8Na16Zn8.4Si127.6(1) (cubic, ). In each system, the type-I and -II compounds are always co-crystallizing, irrespective of the reaction conditions. The structures derived from single-crystal X-ray diffraction confirm complete ordering of Cs and Na atoms, and nearly complete ordering of the Rb and Na guest atoms. The framework-building Si atoms are randomly substituted by Ga or Zn atoms on all framework sites with notable difference in the substitution patterns between the type-I and type-II structure. This, and other details of the crystal chemistry are discussed in this paper.

Highlights

  • Clathrates of the group 14 elements have already been known for five decades, being named in analogy to the gas hydrates G8(H2O)36 and G24(H2O)136 (G = Xe, Cl2, CH4, etc.) [1]

  • A24(M,Tt)136 are 24:136 or 1:5.67 compared to the ratio for type-I clathrates A8(M,Tt)46 of 8:46 or 1:5.75. The cavities of the former one have a larger difference in size; a directed synthesis should be possible with choosing different guest atoms combined with the ―right‖ M-substituted framework

  • We carried out investigations in the systems Cs–Na–Ga–Si, Rb–Na–Ga–Si, and Rb–Na–Zn–Si, and the resulting type-I and type-II clathrates are presented in this report

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Summary

Introduction

A24(M,Tt)136 are 24:136 or 1:5.67 compared to the ratio for type-I clathrates A8(M,Tt) of 8:46 or 1:5.75 The cavities of the former one have a larger difference in size; a directed synthesis should be possible with choosing different guest atoms combined with the ―right‖ M-substituted framework. Based on this hypothesis, we carried out investigations in the systems Cs–Na–Ga–Si, Rb–Na–Ga–Si, and Rb–Na–Zn–Si, and the resulting type-I and type-II clathrates are presented in this report

Synthesis
Crystal Chemistry of the Type-II Clathrates
Crystal Chemistry of the Type-I Clathrates
Single Crystal X-ray Diffraction
Powder X-ray Diffraction
EDX Analysis
Conclusions

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