DOE OSTI2020
Er2OsB6 crystallizes in the orthorhombic Pbam space group. The structure is three-dimensional. there are two inequivalent Er3+ sites. In the first Er3+ site, Er3+ is bonded in a 12-coordinate geometry to fourteen B2- atoms. There are a spread of Er–B bond distances ranging from 2.71–2.80 Å. In the second Er3+ site, Er3+ is bonded to twelve B2- atoms to form a mixture of edge and face-sharing ErB12 cuboctahedra. There are a spread of Er–B bond distances ranging from 2.59–2.61 Å. Os6+ is bonded in a 10-coordinate geometry to ten B2- atoms. There are a spread of Os–B bond distances ranging from 2.33–2.40 Å. There are six inequivalent B2- sites. In the first B2- site, B2- is bonded in a 9-coordinate geometry to four equivalent Er3+, two equivalent Os6+, and three B2- atoms. There are a spread of B–B bond distances ranging from 1.78–1.82 Å. In the second B2- site, B2- is bonded in a 9-coordinate geometry to four Er3+, two equivalent Os6+, and three B2- atoms. There is one shorter (1.80 Å) and one longer (1.81 Å) B–B bond length. In the third B2- site, B2- is bonded in a 9-coordinate geometry to four Er3+, two equivalent Os6+, and three B2- atoms. There is one shorter (1.73 Å) and one longer (1.85 Å) B–B bond length. In the fourth B2- site, B2- is bonded in a 9-coordinate geometry to four Er3+, two equivalent Os6+, and three B2- atoms. Both B–B bond lengths are 1.79 Å. In the fifth B2- site, B2- is bonded in a 9-coordinate geometry to four Er3+, two equivalent Os6+, and three B2- atoms. In the sixth B2- site, B2- is bonded in a 9-coordinate geometry to six Er3+ and three B2- atoms. The B–B bond length is 2.12 Å.