DOE OSTI2020
Ta(CoTe)2 crystallizes in the orthorhombic Pnma space group. The structure is two-dimensional and consists of two Ta(CoTe)2 sheets oriented in the (0, 0, 1) direction. there are two inequivalent Ta sites. In the first Ta site, Ta is bonded in a 10-coordinate geometry to eight Co and two equivalent Te atoms. There are four shorter (2.56 Å) and four longer (2.84 Å) Ta–Co bond lengths. Both Ta–Te bond lengths are 2.87 Å. In the second Ta site, Ta is bonded in a 11-coordinate geometry to eight Co and three Te atoms. There are four shorter (2.64 Å) and four longer (2.71 Å) Ta–Co bond lengths. There are one shorter (2.82 Å) and two longer (3.02 Å) Ta–Te bond lengths. There are four inequivalent Co sites. In the first Co site, Co is bonded in a 10-coordinate geometry to four Ta, three Co, and three Te atoms. There are a spread of Co–Co bond distances ranging from 2.56–2.86 Å. There are a spread of Co–Te bond distances ranging from 2.54–2.62 Å. In the second Co site, Co is bonded in a 10-coordinate geometry to four Ta, three Co, and three Te atoms. There are one shorter (2.60 Å) and one longer (2.84 Å) Co–Co bond lengths. There are a spread of Co–Te bond distances ranging from 2.54–2.62 Å. In the third Co site, Co is bonded in a 10-coordinate geometry to four Ta, three Co, and three Te atoms. There are one shorter (2.56 Å) and one longer (2.60 Å) Co–Co bond lengths. There are a spread of Co–Te bond distances ranging from 2.54–2.62 Å. In the fourth Co site, Co is bonded in a 10-coordinate geometry to four Ta, three Co, and three Te atoms. There are one shorter (2.64 Å) and one longer (2.71 Å) Co–Ta bond lengths. The Co–Co bond length is 2.86 Å. There are a spread of Co–Te bond distances ranging from 2.54–2.62 Å. There are three inequivalent Te sites. In the first Te site, Te is bonded in a 5-coordinate geometry to one Ta and four Co atoms. In the second Te site, Te is bonded in a 6-coordinate geometry to two Ta, two Co, and two equivalent Te atoms. There are one shorter (3.25 Å) and one longer (3.33 Å) Te–Te bond lengths. In the third Te site, Te is bonded in a 4-coordinate geometry to four Co atoms.