Electronic structure,magnetic properties,and mixed valence character of Ce2Ni3Si5 from first principles calculations

Cerium intermetallic compounds exhibit anomalous physical properties such as heavy fermion and Kondo behaviors. Here, an ab initio study of the electronic structure, magnetic properties, and mixed valence character of Ce₂Ni₃Si₅ using density functional theory (DFT) is presented. Two theoretical methods, including pure Perdew–Burke–Ernzerhof (PBE) and PBE + U , are used. In this study, Ce³⁺ and Ce⁴⁺ are considered as two different constituents in the unit cell. The formation energy calculations on the DFT level propose that Ce is in a stable mixed valence of 3.379 at 0 K. The calculated electronic structure shows that Ce₂Ni₃Si₅ is a metallic compound with a contribution at the Fermi level from Ce 4f and Ni 3d states. With the inclusion of the effective Hubbard parameter (U _eff), the five valence electrons of 5 Ce³⁺ ions are distributed only on Ce³⁺ 4f orbitals. Therefore, the occupied Ce³⁺ 4f band is located in the valence band (VB) while Ce⁴⁺ 4f orbitals are empty and Located at the Fermi level. The calculated magnetic moment in Ce₂Ni₃Si₅ is only due to cerium (Ce³⁺) in good agreement with the experimental results. The U _eff value of 5.4 eV provides a reasonable magnetic moment of 0.981 for the unpaired electron per Ce³⁺ ion. These results may serve as a guide for studying present mixed valence cerium‐based compounds. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

High resolution NMR studies of allylic derivatives of group IVB elements

The high resolution NMR spectra of certain Group IVB allyl compounds, FC₃M(CH₂)_nCHCH₂R′ (where R = Me, Et, Ph; R′ = H, Ph; M = Sn, Si, Ge; n = 1 or 2), have been studied in an attempt to detect manifestations of ground state p_πd_π overlap. Analyses, using sub-spectral techniques for ABMX₂ and ABX₂ systems, were confirmed using computer iteration methods. The emphasis has been placed here on the sensitivity of the coupling constants of the allyl group towards anticipated steric and electronic perturbation or towards the interaction between the Group IVB atom d orbitals and the olefinic p_π orbitals. Some ¹¹⁹Sn chemical shifts have also been recorded. The conclusions reached do not support the existence of ground state d_πp_π overlap in these compounds.     

Theoretical studies on cerium nickel aluminides: polar intermetallics with heavy fermion behavior

The electronic structures of Ce₄Ni₆Al₂₃, CeNiAl₄, CeNi₂Al₅, CeNiAl and CeNi₄Al have been calculated using the TB-LMTO-ASA (tight-binding, linear muffin-tin orbital, atomic-spheres approximation) approach to probe relationships between chemical bonding and physical properties in this series of intermetallic compounds. Analysis from crystal orbital Hamilton populations (COHP) reveal that the Al-rich compounds may be considered as “polar intermetallic” because the Fermi level coincides to the separation of bonding and antibonding states of the Ni-Al framework. On the other hand, although the densities of states (DOS) of CeNiAl suggest “polar intermetallic” behavior, the bonding is more complex. Finally, the Ni-rich example, CeNi₄Al, has significant Ni-3d character at the Fermi level. The results of these calculations are also discussed in connection with heavy fermion or possible valence fluctuation behavior observed for some of these intermetallic compounds: those showing exceptional properties also exhibit significant “lattice covalency” between Ce and the Ni-Al nets.     

Relativistic effects on the shielding of SnH2XY and PbH2XY (X, Y?=?F, Cl, Br and I) heavy atom�Ccontaining molecules

The relativistic polarization propagator approach is one of the most reliable methods available today for the calculation of NMR spectroscopic parameters on heavy atom?Ccontaining molecules, though its implementation is still at RPA or FOPPA (first-order) level of approach. Two-component methods like the LR-ESC method make possible the analysis of the electronic origin of relativistic effects due to its splitting in several mechanisms which are (or not) sensitive to the molecular structure or the nature of the chemical environment of the atom under study. In this article we present the study of some nuclear magnetic shieldings on the heavy atom for the following systems: SnXH₃ (X?=?H, F, Cl, Br, I), SnXYH₂ (X,?Y = F, Cl, Br, I) and PbXH₃ (X?=?H, F, Br, I). Total LR-ESC calculations are confronted to benchmark RPA calculations and then analyzed in order to get the main trends and discuss the electronic origin of the shielding of two kinds of atoms involved in such systems: central and substituent atoms. The electronic origin of the heavy atom effects on vicinal heavy atoms (HAVHA), recently proposed, is analyzed. It is shown that the passive third-order Spin orbit mechanism does not explain the total pattern though is still the most important. There are two other mechanisms involved: the so called here PSO-OZ and the L-PSO-K. Both mechanisms do contain the PSO perturbative Hamiltonian (which also include kinetic energy correcting terms). In the case of $\hbox{SnH}_2\hbox{I}_2$ , the HAVHA effect on ??(Sn) is of the order of 16%. When the central atom is as heavy as Sn, the active SO contribution on the shielding of such atom becomes larger than the passive SO, which is small in this case. This would mean that the HALA-type effect is strongly diminished when applied on a vicinal heavy atom. Quite a similar pattern though with larger relativistic effects is observed for the central lead atom.     

[SnBi3]5− —A Carbonate Analogue Comprising Exclusively Metal Atoms

The new [SnBi₃]⁵⁻ polyanion is obtained by the reaction of K₃Bi₂ with K₄Sn₉ or K₁₂Sn₁₇ in liquid ammonia. The anion is iso(valence)electronic with and structurally analogous to the carbonate ion. Despite the high negative charge of the anion, the Sn−Bi bond lengths range between single and double bonds. Quantum‐chemical calculations at a DFT‐PBE0/def2‐TZVPP/COSMO level of theory reveal that the partial double bond character between the heavy main‐group atoms Bi and Sn originates from a delocalized π‐electronic system. The structure of the anion is determined by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction analyses of the compounds K₅[SnBi₃] 9 NH₃ ( 1 ) and K₉[K(18‐crown‐6)][SnBi₃]₂⋅15 NH₃ ( 2 ). The [SnBi₃]⁵⁻ unit is the first example of a carbonate‐like anion obtained from solution, and it consists exclusively of metal atoms and completes the series of metal analogues of CO and CO₂.     

Phenomenological trends for heavy fermi liquids and narrow-band metals II: Practical estimates of electronic heat capacity and magnetic susceptibility

Quantitative techniques for evaluating magnetic and calorimetric parameters of narrow-band and heavy fermion metals are discussed. The behavior of the electronic heat capacity at temperatures near a transition to magnetic order is emphasized. The discussion illustrates the methods used in establishing a previously published correlation between the electronic heat capacity and magnetic susceptibility of heavy Fermi liquids and their low temperature ground states.     

Optical properties of the heavy fermion superconductor UBe13

We report on the optical properties of the heavy fermion superconductor UBe₁₃ from 0.050 to 2eV. The reflectance shows sharp structure at low frequencies superimposed on a smooth decrease down to 50% at 1.6eV. The ThBe₁₃ compound is shown for comparison as a non-heavy fermion system. Kramers-Kronig analysis of reflectance measurements yields sharp interband structure in UBe₁₃ in the 0.1 eV region. In the far IR, above 100 K, the material shows normal Drude behavior: the optical conductivity agrees well with the d.c. conductivity.     

Structural investigations of zirconium tetra-acetate and the group IVB tetra-acetates

Solid-state i.r., Raman, ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectra are reported for solid zirconium tetra-acetate and for the group IVB tetra-acetates (M  Si, Ge, Sn or Pb). The types of acetate co-ordination have been identified: Zr(OAc)₄ has a polymeric eight-co-ordinate structure and contains both bridging and bidentate acetate groups; Si(OAc)₄ and Ge(OAc)₄ contain only unidentate acetates to give four-co-ordinate structures while Sn(OAc)₄ and Pb(OAc)₄ contain only bidentate acetate groups to give eight-co-ordinate monomeric structures. The solid-state Raman and ¹³C NMR spectra are reported for the first time.     

Single crystal growth and structure of La4Cu3MoO12

We report the synthesis and structure determination of single crystals of La₄Cu₃MoO₁₂ grown from a CuO/KCl flux. This material, whose structure had previously been reported based solely on polycrystalline diffraction data, shows frustrated magnetic behavior and an anti-ferromagnetic ordering of spin-1/2 triangles at low temperatures. The structural and atomic parameters determined from the single crystal data are in very good agreement with those reported previously. However, HREM data showed evidence for disorder in the stacking of the Cu₃MoO₄ planes, and thus a twinned structural refinement in space group P2₁/m was replaced by an equivalent disordered structural model in space group Pm. This development of a synthetic route to single crystals of La₄Cu₃MoO₁₂ will allow a more detailed investigation of its complex electronic and magnetic properties.     

Coordination characteristics of trivalent lanthanides and actinides in molten hydrate salts of Ca(NO<Subscript>3</Subscript>)<Subscript>2</Subscript> and CaCl<Subscript>2</Subscript>

Distribution behavior of Ce(III), Am(III), and Cm(III) between tri-n-butyl phosphate solution and molten calcium nitrate hydrate Ca(NO₃)₂·RH₂O or molten calcium chloride hydrate CaCl₂·RH₂O was studied radiochemically. In Ca(NO₃)₂·RH₂O systems, maximum separation factors of Ce and Cm to Am were observed to be 12 (Ce/Am) and 1.7 (Cm/Am). The distribution ratios of these elements increased with the decrease of water activity in the hydrates, and the extractabilities at the water deficient region was less sensitive compared to those at the water abundant region. This trend was similar to the coordination circumstance change observed in electronic absorption spectra of Nd(III) in the hydrates.     

Inverse Perovskites (Eu3O)E with E = Sn,In – Preparation,Crystal Structures and Physical Properties

The cubic inverse Perovskites (Eu₃O)In and (Eu₃O)Sn were prepared from the metals and Eu₂O₃ or SnO₂, respectively. For (Eu₃O)In the crystal structure analysis was performed on single crystal X‐ray diffraction data (space group , a = 512.79(3) pm, Z = 1, R_gt(F) = 0.022, wR(F²) = 0.044). The data indicated full occupancy on all sites and a fully ordered structure. According to magnetic susceptibility measurements and X‐ray absorption spectroscopic data at the Eu L_III edge both compounds contain europium in the 4f⁷ (Eu²⁺) electronic state. (Eu₃O)In orders ferromagnetically at 185(5) K, (Eu₃O)Sn shows antiferromagnetic order at 31.4(2) K. Both compounds behave as metallic conductors in electrical resistivity measurements. However, (Eu₃O)In may be classified a metal, while (Eu₃O)Sn is more likely a heavily doped degenerated semiconductor or semimetal according to the absolute values of the resistivity.     

Reactions with a Metalloid Tin Cluster {Sn10[Si(SiMe3)3]4}2−: Ligand Elimination versus Coordination Chemistry

Chemistry that uses metalloid tin clusters as a starting material is of fundamental interest towards understanding the reactivity of such compounds. Since we identified {Sn₁₀[Si(SiMe₃)₃]₄}^2? 7 as an ideal candidate for such reactions, we present a further step in the understanding of metalloid tin cluster chemistry. In contrast to germanium chemistry, ligand elimination seems to be a major reaction channel, which leads to the more open metalloid cluster {Sn₁₀[Si(SiMe₃)₃]₃}^? 9 , in which the Sn core is only shielded by three Si(SiMe₃)₃ ligands. Compound 9 is obtained through different routes and is crystallised together with two different countercations. Besides the structural characterisation of this novel metalloid tin cluster, the electronic structure is analysed by ¹¹⁹Sn Mössbauer spectroscopy. Additionally, possible reaction pathways are discussed. The presented first step into the chemistry of metalloid tin clusters thus indicates that, with respect to metalloid germanium clusters, more reaction channels are accessible, thereby leading to a more complex reaction system.     

Magnetic and thermoelectric properties of REMoN3 (RE = La,Ce, Pr,Nd, and Sm): A first-principles study

We investigated the magnetic and thermoelectric properties of REMoN₃ (RE = La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm) perovskites using the full potential linearized augmented plane wave (FP-LAPW) method. To overcome the problem of underestimation of electronic interaction, we employed the DFT + U approach to accurately map the electronic structure of these compounds. Our study shows an increasing trend in the magnetic moments with the increasing number of unpaired electrons in RE. Among these compounds, SmMoN₃ possesses a large magnetic moment, which is suitable for applications such as memory devices and sensors. Interestingly, all these perovskites display ferromagnetic behavior except CeMoN₃, which exhibits an antiferromagnetic nature. Furthermore, our analysis indicates n-type thermoelectric behavior in all these materials. The compound, namely PrMoN₃, exhibits a high figure of merit among REMoN₃, which can be improved by modifying the lattice sites.     

Spin adducts of group IVB organometallic radicals with Thioketones. an esr study

The radical adducts resulting from the reaction between group IVB organometallic radicals MR₃ (M = Si, Ge, Sn; R = alkyl or aryl) and a number of thioketones of the chromone and flavone series have been investigated by ESR spectroscopy. The spectral parameters obtained for these species have been compared with those of similar adducts of the corresponding ketones. Both classes of radicals adopt an orthogonal conformation, and the differences between the former and the latter paramagnetic species can be accounted for by the different electronegativity of oxygen and sulphur. the effects of substitution of the heterocyclic oxygen with a sulphur or selenium atom on the spin density distribution are likewise explained. INDO calculations have been carried out on the model systems CH₂XSiH₃ (X = O, S).     

Chemical bonding in equiatomic cerium intermetallics – The case of CeMgSn,CePdSn, and CeMgPb

The electronic and magnetic structures and the properties of chemical bonding in isopointal CeMgSn and CePdSn (both phases belong to the family of TiNiSi related intermetallics, space group Pnma) and CeMgPb belonging to the family of CeScSi intermetallics, space group I4/mmm, have been investigated within the density functional theory (DFT). The charge analyses indicate negatively charged tin and lead leading to assign the compounds as stannides and plumbides, as also illustrated by the mapping of the electron localization function ELF. Calculations within spin-degenerate non-magnetic spin-polarized ferro- (SP-F) and SP-antiferromagnetic configurations led to assign a major role of Ce 4f states in the onset of ordered moments within SP-AF ground states from energy differences. Chemical bonding analyses from crystal orbital overlap populations revealed the strongest interactions for Ce–Sn in CeMgSn, Ce–Pb in CeMgPb, and Ce–Pd in CePdSn.     

Derives β-alcenyles des metaux de la colonne IVB : II. Action des halogenures organometalliques,de type R3MX,sur le magnesien du bromure de crotyle

The main Group IVB organometallic halides, R₃MX (M = Si, Ge, Sn, Pb; R = CH₃, C₆H₅) react with crotylmagnesium bromide in ether and THF, to give the corresponding organometallic allylic compounds. Generally, mixtures of the two primary (Z + E) and the secondary isomers are obtained.     

Electron correlations and transport effective mass in narrow-band systems and the Hubbard model

The Hubbard model is rederived from a tight-binding band calculation, showing that, as long as parameters are properly chosen, the model is justified for calculating electronic properties of narrow-band systems. The treatment is extended by including correlations and it was found that bound solutions called dimers exist. The concept of dimers is found to be very powerful for understanding the unusual properties of heavy fermion systems. However, a Mott-Hubbard-like model may be required to calculate properties of high T_c cuprates. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

QR‐SCMEH‐MO calculations on the complex [Pt (SnCl3)5]3−: Electronic structure,UV–visible spectrum,magnetic properties,and bond energy

A molecular orbital study via the QR‐SCMEH‐MO (quasi‐relativistic self consistent modified extended H?ckel molecular orbital) method has been carried out on the unusual Pt 5‐ coordinated complex Pt (SnCl₃). The computed UV–Visible spectral data and NMR parameters are found to be in good agreement with the reported experimental values. In addition, the magnetic susceptibility and Pt? Sn bond energy have been calculated, although there are no reported experimental data with which to compare these results. Pt? Sn bond energies of other Pt‐SnX₃ (X = Cl, Br) systems and are compared with proposed bond energy trends based on NMR and observed bond distances. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.