DOE OSTI2011
New ternary rare-earth metal boride carbides RE{sub 25}B{sub 14}C{sub 26} (RE=Pr, Nd) and Nd{sub 25}B{sub 12}C{sub 28} were synthesized by co-melting the elements. Nd{sub 25}B{sub 12}C{sub 28} is stable up to 1440 K. RE{sub 25}B{sub 14}C{sub 26} (RE=Pr, Nd) exist above 1270 K. The crystal structures were investigated by means of single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Nd{sub 25}B{sub 12}C{sub 28}: space group P1-bar, a=8.3209(7) A, b=8.3231(6) A, c=29.888(2) A, {alpha}=83.730(9){sup o}, {beta}=83.294(9){sup o}, {gamma}=89.764(9){sup o}. Pr{sub 25}B{sub 14}C{sub 26}: space group P2{sub 1}/c, a=8.4243(5) A, b=8.4095(6) A, c=30.828(1) A, {beta}=105.879(4){sup o}, V=2100.6(2) A{sup 3}, (R1=0.048 (wR2=0.088) from 2961 reflections with I{sub o}>2{sigma}(I{sub o})); for Nd{sub 25}B{sub 14}C{sub 26} space group P2{sub 1}/c, Z=2, a=8.3404(6) A, b=8.3096(6) A, c=30.599(2) A, {beta}=106.065(1){sup o}. Their structures consist of a three-dimensional framework of rare-earth metal atoms resulting from the stacking of slightly corrugated and distorted square nets, leading to cavities filled with cumulene-like molecules [B{sub 2}C{sub 4}]{sup 6-} and [B{sub 3}C{sub 3}]{sup 7-}, nearly linear [BC{sub 2}]{sup 5-} and bent [BC{sub 2}]{sup 7-} units and isolated carbon atoms. Structural and theoretical analysis suggests the ionic formulation for RE{sub 25}B{sub 14}C{sub 26}: (RE{sup 3+}){sub 25}[B{sub 2}C{sub 4}]{sup 6-}([B{sub 3}C{sub 3}]{sup 7-}){sub 2}([BC{sub 2}]{sup 5-}){sub 4}([BC{sub 2}]{sup 7-}){sub 2}(C{sup 4-}){sub 4}.5e{sup -} and for Nd{sub 25}B{sub 12}C{sub 28}: (Nd{sup 3+}){sub 25}([B{sub 2}C{sub 4}]{sup 6-}){sub 3}([BC{sub 2}]{sup 5-}){sub 4}([BC{sub 2}]{sup 7-}){sub 2}(C{sup 4-}){sub 4}.7e{sup -}. Accordingly, extended Hueckel tight-binding calculations indicate that the compounds are metallic in character. - Graphical Abstract: New ternary rare-earth metal boride carbides RE{sub 25}B{sub 14}C{sub 26} (RE=Pr, Nd) and Nd{sub 25}B{sub 12}C{sub 28} were synthesized by co-melting the elements. Nd{sub 25}B{sub 12}C{sub 28} is stable up to 1440 K. RE{sub 25}B{sub 14}C{sub 26} (RE=Pr, Nd) exist above 1270 K. The crystal structures were investigated by means of single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Their structures consist of a three-dimensional framework of rare-earth metal atoms resulting from the stacking of slightly corrugated and distorted square nets, leading to cavities filled with cumulene-like molecules [B{sub 2}C{sub 4}]{sup 6-} and [B{sub 3}C{sub 3}]{sup 7-}, nearly linear [BC{sub 2}]{sup 5-} and bent [BC{sub 2}]{sup 7-} units and isolated carbon atoms, respectively. Structural and theoretical analysis suggests the ionic formulation for RE{sub 25}B{sub 14}C{sub 26}: (RE{sup 3+}){sub 25}[B{sub 2}C{sub 4}]{sup 6-}([B{sub 3}C{sub 3}]{sup 7-}){sub 2}([BC{sub 2}]{sup 5-}){sub 4}([BC{sub 2}]{sup 7-}){sub 2}(C{sup 4-}){sub 4}.5e{sup -} and for Nd{sub 25}B{sub 12}C{sub 28}: (Nd{sup 3+}){sub 25}([B{sub 2}C{sub 4}]{sup 6-}){sub 3}([BC{sub 2}]{sup 5-}){sub 4}([BC{sub 2}]{sup 7-}){sub 2}(C{sup 4-}){sub 4}.7e{sup -}. Highlights: > New rare-earth metal boride carbides RE{sub 25}B{sub 14}C{sub 26} (RE=Pr, Nd) and Nd{sub 25}B{sub 12}C{sub 28}. > Structures contain 1-D finite B{sub 3}C{sub 3}, B{sub 2}C{sub 4}, BC{sub 2} units as well as isolated C atoms. > B/C distribution in the crystal structures was approved by EH-TB calculations.
37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗