Intermediate-Valence Ytterbium Compound Yb₄Ga₂₄Pt₉: Synthesis, Crystal Structure, and Physical Properties

The title compound was synthesized by a reaction of the elemental educts in a corundum crucible at 1200 °C under an Ar atmosphere. The excess of Ga used in the initial mixture served as a flux for the subsequent crystal growth at 600 °C. The crystal structure of Yb₄Ga₂₄Pt₉ was determined from single-crystal X-ray diffraction data: new prototype of crystal structure, space group C2/m, Pearson symbol mS74, a = 7.4809(1) Å, b = 12.9546(2) Å, c = 13.2479(2) Å, β = 100.879(1)°, V = 1260.82(6) ų, R_F = 0.039 for 1781 observed reflections and 107 variable parameters. The structure is described as an ABABB stacking of two slabs with trigonal symmetry and compositions Yb₄Ga₆ (A) and Ga₁₂Pt₆ (B). The hard X-ray photoelectron spectrum (HAXPES) of Yb₄Ga₂₄Pt₉ shows both Yb²⁺ and Yb³⁺ contributions as evidence of an intermediate valence state of ytterbium. The evaluated Yb valence of ∼2.5 is in good agreement with the results obtained from the magnetic susceptibility measurements. The compound is a bad metallic conductor.