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Published on: January 30, 2015
NaSn5 : An Intermetallic Compound with Covalent α-Tin and Metallic β-Tin Structure Motifs
Thomas F Fässler1, Christian Kronseder1
1Laboratorium für Anorganische Chemie der, Eidgenössischen Technischen Hochschule Zürich, Universitätstrasse 6, CH-8092 Zürich (Switzerland), Fax: (+41) 1-632-1149.
Abstract:
A novel and unusual three-dimensional network of tin atoms is present in NaSn5 , in which metallic layers analogous to those in β-Sn alternate with tetravalent units analogous to α-Sn. The compound shows the emergence of pentagonal-dodecahedral units from the metallic β-Sn modification (see structure on the right; all unlabeled spheres are Sn atoms). Quantum-mechanical investigations indicate the simultaneous presence of structural regions with localized and delocalized bonds.
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