Synthesis and Crystal and Band Structures of YbCu_6In_6 with 3D Framework

A new intermetallic compound,YbCu6In6,has been synthesized by solid-state reaction of the corresponding pure elements in a welded tantalum tube at high temperature.Its crystal structure was established by single-crystal X-ray diffraction.YbCu6In6 crystallizes in tetragonal space group I4/mmm with a = 9.2283(5),c = 5.4015(4),V = 460.00(5) 3,Z = 2,Mr = 1243.20,Dc = 8.976 g/cm3,μ = 38.243 mm-1,F(000) = 1076,and the final R = 0.0258 and wR = 0.0602 for 173 observed reflections with I > 2σ(I).The structure of YbCu6In6 belongs to the ThMn12 type.It is isostructural with RECu6In6(RE = Y,Ce,Pr,Nd,Gd,Tb,Dy),containing one-dimensional(1D) Cu10In6] cluster chain along the c axis,which is interconnected via sharing the Cu(1) atoms to form a three-dimensional(3D) Cu6In6] framework with Yb atoms encapsulated in the 1D tunnels along the c axis.Band structure calculations based on Density Functional Theory(DFT) method indicate that YbCu6In6 is metallic.