Structure and Properties of Sr2Au3In4 and Eu2Au3In4

Abstract

Sr2Au3In4 was synthesized by reacting the elements in glassy carbon crucibles under an argon atmosphere in a high-frequency furnace. Eu2Au3In4 was obtained in the same way but starting with EuAuIn as a precursor and admixing indium and gold. Both compounds were investigated by X-ray diffraction on powders and single crystals: anti-Hf2Co4P3 type, P62m, a=1501.6(9) pm, c=457.9(2) pm, wR2=0.0734, 1030 F2 values, 45 variables for Sr2Au2.85In4.15 and a=1489.7(3) pm, c= 454.90(7) pm, wR2=0.1222, 1051 F2 values, 45 variables for Eu2Au3In4. One gold site in the strontium compound shows a mixed occupancy with indium atoms indicating a small homogeneity range according to Sr2Au3−xIn4+x. Striking structural motifs of Sr2Au3In4 and Eu2Au3In4 are gold-centered trigonal prisms formed by the strontium (europium) and indium atoms. All gold atoms have coordination number 9 in the form of tricapped trigonal prisms. The indium atoms in Sr2Au3In4 and Eu2Au3In4 occupy the cobalt positions of the Hf2Co4P3 type and the more electronegative gold atoms take the phosphorus positions, indicating that Sr2Au3In4 and Eu2Au3In4 may be considered as ternary aurides. The gold and indium atoms form three-dimensional [Au3In4]4− polyanions in which the divalent strontium and europium atoms occupy distorted hexagonal tubes. Magnetic susceptibility measurements of Eu2Au3In4 show paramagnetic behavior above 50 K with an experimental magnetic moment of 7.88(5) μB/Eu indicating Eu2+. Antiferromagnetic ordering is detected at 9.5(5) K at low external fields. A metamagnetic transition is observed at 2 K at a critical field of 0.5(2) T. The experimental saturation moment at 2 K and 5.5 T is 5.95(5) μB/Eu. Electrical conductivity investigations exhibit metallic behavior with a room temperature value of 75±10 μΩcm for the specific resistivity. 151Eu Mössbauer spectroscopic measurements show a broadened line with an isomer shift of −10.5(5) mm/s at 78 K in accordance with several sites of divalent europium. Below 10 K magnetic hyperfine field splitting is observed.