Three NiAs-Ni2In Type Structures in the Mn-Sn System

Abstract

TheB8-type structure field of the Mn-Sn system has been investigated. Two high temperature phases (HTP1 and HTP2) and one low temperature phase (Mn3Sn2) were found. They all crystallize with the NiAs structure type with part of the trigonal bipyramidal interstices filled by manganese atoms in an ordered manner. The ordering as well as the manganese content is different for the three phases, giving rise to three different orthorhombic superstructures. Mn3Sn2seems to have the lowest manganese content, since the corresponding basal unit cell is smaller than for HTP1-2. Structural models of the phases are based on selected area electron diffraction, X-ray powder diffraction, and preliminary single crystal X-ray measurements. The ideal cell parameters found are (a=7ahex,b=3ahex,c=chex), (a=5ahex,b=3ahex,c=chex), and (a=2ahex,b=3ahex,c=chex) for HTP1, HTP2, and Mn3Sn2, respectively. The crystal structure of Mn3Sn2has been refined by means of the Rietveld method from X-ray powder diffraction data. Mn3Sn2is orthorhombic,Pnma,a=7.5547(2),b=5.4994(2),c=8.5842(2) Å,Z=4. (Pbnmin the setting above.) The compound is isostructural with Ni3Sn2andγ′-Co3Sn2(H. Fjellvåg and A. Kjekshus,Acta Chem. Scand.A40, 23-30 (1986)). FinalRp=8.97%,Rwp=11.44%, GOF=2.86, andRBragg=4.11% using 43 parameters and 5701 observations and 330 Bragg reflections. Show more