Oxygen trapped by rare earth tetrahedral clusters in Nd{sub 4}FeOS{sub 6}: Crystal structure, electronic structure, and magnetic properties
Single crystals of Nd{sub 4}FeOS{sub 6} were grown from an Fe–S eutectic solution. Single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis revealed a Nd{sub 4}MnOSe{sub 6}-type structure (P6{sub 3}mc, a=9.2693(1) Å, c=6.6650(1)Å, V=495.94(1) Å{sup 3}, Z=2), featuring parallel chains of face-sharing [FeS{sub 6×1/2}]{sup 4−} trigonal antiprisms and interlinked [Nd{sub 4}OS{sub 3}]{sup 4+} cubane-like clusters. Oxygen atoms were found to be trapped by Nd{sub 4} clusters in the [Nd{sub 4}OS{sub 3}]{sup 4{sub +}} chains. Structural differences among Nd{sub 4}MnOSe{sub 6}-type Nd{sub 4}FeOS{sub 6} and the related La{sub 3}CuSiS{sub 7}− and Pr{sub 8}CoGa{sub 3}-type structures have been described. Magnetic susceptibility measurements on Nd{sub 4}FeOS{sub 6} suggested the dominance of antiferromagnetic interactions at low temperature, but no magnetic ordering down to 2 K was observed. Spin-polarized electronic structure calculations revealed magnetic frustration with dominant antiferromagnetic interactions. - Graphical abstract: Trapping of oxygen in Nd{sub 4} tetrahedral clusters results in the formation of the Nd{sub 4}MnOSe{sub 6}-type Nd{sub 4}FeOS{sub 6}, in contrast to the La{sub 3}CuSiS{sub 7}-type oxygen-free Nd{sub 4}FeS{sub 7} and related Pr{sub 8}CoGa{sub 3}-type structures. Complex magnetic frustration inhibits magnetic ordering at low temperature. - Highlights: • Single crystals of Nd{sub 4}FeOS{sub 6} were grown using self-flux method. • Oxygen was found trapped by Nd{sub 4} tetrahedral clusters. • Comparison with two closely related structural types were discussed. • Magnetic measurements revealed antiferromagnetic (AFM) interaction. • VASP calculations confirmed strong magnetic frustration in AFM model.