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Z. Naturforsch. 2013, 68b, 1191 – 1197
doi:10.5560/ZNB.2013-3199
From REZnSn to REZnSnH1.5 (RE = Pr, Nd) – Inducing Ferromagnetism through Hydrogenation
Bastian Reker1, Bernard Chevalier2, Oliver Niehaus1, Ute Ch. Rodewald1, and Rainer Pöttgen1
1 Institut für Anorganische und Analytische Chemie, Universität Münster, Corrensstrasse 30, 48149 Münster, Germany
2 CNRS, Université de Bordeaux, ICMCB, 87 Avenue Dr. A. Schweitzer, F-33608 Pessac-Cedex, France
Reprint requests to R. Pöttgen. E-mail: pottgen@uni-muenster.de
Received July 23, 2013 / published online November 4, 2013
The ternary stannides PrZnSn and NdZnSn were synthesized by induction-melting of the elements in sealed tantalum tubes. They were characterized by powder and single-crystal X-ray diffraction: YPtAs-type structure, P63/mmc, a = 455.4(1) and c = 1650.3(2) pm, wR2 = 0.0266, 297 F2 for PrZnSn and a = 453.7(1) and c = 1637.0(4) pm, wR2 = 0.1558, 234 F2 for NdZnSn with 12 variables per refinement. PrZnSn and NdZnSn are AlB2 superstructures with slightly puckered and ordered [Zn3Sn3] hexagons in AA′BB′ stacking sequence along the crystallographic c axis. Hydrogenation results in the new hexagonal hydrides PrZnSnH1.5 (a = 447.98(8) and c = 1707.5(5) pm) and NdZnSnH1.5 (a = 448.28(8) and c = 1689.8(2) pm). Filling of RE3Zn tetrahedra by hydrogen leads to anisotropic changes of the lattice parameters and a drastic flattening of the [Zn3Sn3] layers. Temperature-dependent magnetic susceptibility measurements show Curie-Weiss behavior for PrZnSn and NdZnSn with experimental magnetic moments close to the free-ion values of RE3+. Magnetic ordering is detected at 4.7 (PrZnSn) and 6.5 K (NdZnSn). Hydrogenation induces ferromagnetism with increased ordering temperatures of 12.0 (PrZnSnH1.5) and 14.5 K (NdZnSnH1.5).
Key words: Stannides, Hydrogenation, Magnetic Properties
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