Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 10, 2026

Sputter Growth and Characterization of Metamagnetic B2-ordered FeRh Epilayers
Published on: October 5, 2013
A ferrimagnetic Zintl phase Pr4MnSb9: synthesis, structure, and physical properties
Xiong Chen1, Jin-Ni Shen, Li-Ming Wu
1Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Materials Chemistry and Physics, Fujian Institute of Research on the Structure of Matter, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Fuzhou, Fujian 350002, People's Republic of China.
Abstract:
A new valence precise Zintl phase, Pr4MnSb9, has been successfully synthesized by solid-state reaction at high temperature. The single-crystal X-ray diffraction data reveal its monoclinic symmetry in the space group C2/m (No. 12) with a = 24.12(2) Å, b = 4.203(3) Å, c = 15.67(2) Å, β = 98.05(1)°, and Z = 4. The structure is characterized by the covalent three-dimensional network constructed by two types of five-atom-wide Sb5(7-) ribbons that are joined by 6-fold coordinated Mn(3+) cations, through which the narrower three-atom-wide Sb3(5-) ribbons are attached as a tag, and interstitial Pr(3+) cations and single Sb(3-) anions locate within the tunnels. Its magnetic susceptibility and isothermal hysteresis suggest ferrimagnetic behavior. The electrical conductivity and Seebeck coefficient of the cold-pressed pellet suggest a semimetal feature that agrees with the spin-polarized calculation results using the tight-binding linear muffin-tin orbital (TB-LMTO) method.
Related Concept Videos
Ferromagnetism
Valence Bond Theory
Colors and Magnetism
When atoms or molecules absorb light at the proper frequency, their electrons are excited to higher-energy orbitals. For many main group atoms and molecules, the absorbed photons are in the ultraviolet range of the electromagnetic spectrum, which cannot be detected by the human eye. For coordination compounds, the energy difference between the d orbitals often allows photons in the visible range to be absorbed and emitted, which is seen as colors by the human eye.
Metallic Solids
All metallic solids exhibit high thermal and electrical conductivity, metallic luster, and malleability. Many...
Diamagnetism
Diamagnetism was discovered by Anton Brugmans in 1778 when he observed that bismuth gets repelled by magnetic fields, thus theorizing that diamagnets get repelled by magnets.
Phase Diagram

