Two non-centrosymmetric cubic seleno-germanates related to CsCl-type structure: Synthesis, structure, magnetic and optical properties

Two related non-centrosymmetric, cubic, quaternary chalcogenides, containing europium have been synthesized employing the molten flux method and by the reaction of europium halides with the ternary seleno-germanate, Na₆Ge₂Se₆. The reactions of Eu, Ge and Se were accomplished in a molten Na₂Se₂ flux at 800 °C for 150 h in an evacuated fused silica ampoule and yielded Na₂EuGeSe₄ (I). Similarly, Na_0.75Eu_1.625GeSe₄ (II), could be synthesized at slightly lower temperature (750 °C) with a different starting ratio of Eu, Ge, Se and Na₂Se₂. A reaction between EuCl₃ and Na₆Ge₂Se₆ in 1:2 ratio at 650 °C for 96 h in an evacuated fused silica ampoule yielded Na₂EuGeSe₄ (I), while the reaction between EuI₂ and Na₆Ge₂Se₆ in 1:1 ratio under similar conditions yielded Na_0.75Eu_1.625GeSe₄ (II). Crystal data for these compounds are as follows: I, cubic, space group I4¯3m (no. 217), a=7.3466(3), Z=2; II, cubic, space group I4¯3d (no. 220), a=14.7065(8), Z=16. The crystal structures of I and II are closely related and can be compared to a CsCl-type and its ordered superstructure, respectively. These compounds are semiconductors with optical band gaps around 2 eV. The temperature dependence of the magnetic susceptibility indicated that both compounds are paramagnetic with μ_eff.=7.6 and 7.73 μ_B, for I and II, respectively, close to the theoretical value of 7.94 μ_B for Eu²⁺. Raman spectroscopic characterization of the compounds is also reported.