DOE OSTI2020
Nb2(CrSi)3 crystallizes in the orthorhombic Amm2 space group. The structure is three-dimensional. there are three inequivalent Nb2+ sites. In the first Nb2+ site, Nb2+ is bonded to five Si4- atoms to form NbSi5 trigonal bipyramids that share corners with two equivalent NbSi5 trigonal bipyramids, corners with six equivalent CrSi5 trigonal bipyramids, and edges with six NbSi5 trigonal bipyramids. There are a spread of Nb–Si bond distances ranging from 2.62–2.74 Å. In the second Nb2+ site, Nb2+ is bonded to five Si4- atoms to form distorted NbSi5 trigonal bipyramids that share corners with eight NbSi5 trigonal bipyramids, edges with two equivalent NbSi5 trigonal bipyramids, and edges with four equivalent CrSi5 trigonal bipyramids. There are a spread of Nb–Si bond distances ranging from 2.54–2.72 Å. In the third Nb2+ site, Nb2+ is bonded to five Si4- atoms to form NbSi5 trigonal bipyramids that share corners with eight NbSi5 trigonal bipyramids, edges with two equivalent NbSi5 trigonal bipyramids, and edges with four equivalent CrSi5 trigonal bipyramids. There are a spread of Nb–Si bond distances ranging from 2.58–2.71 Å. There are two inequivalent Cr+2.67+ sites. In the first Cr+2.67+ site, Cr+2.67+ is bonded in a 8-coordinate geometry to two equivalent Cr+2.67+ and six Si4- atoms. There are one shorter (2.41 Å) and one longer (2.45 Å) Cr–Cr bond lengths. There are a spread of Cr–Si bond distances ranging from 2.48–2.54 Å. In the second Cr+2.67+ site, Cr+2.67+ is bonded to five Si4- atoms to form distorted CrSi5 trigonal bipyramids that share corners with three equivalent NbSi5 trigonal bipyramids, corners with five equivalent CrSi5 trigonal bipyramids, and edges with six NbSi5 trigonal bipyramids. There are a spread of Cr–Si bond distances ranging from 2.47–2.68 Å. There are four inequivalent Si4- sites. In the first Si4- site, Si4- is bonded in a 9-coordinate geometry to three Nb2+ and six Cr+2.67+ atoms. In the second Si4- site, Si4- is bonded in a 9-coordinate geometry to three Nb2+ and six Cr+2.67+ atoms. In the third Si4- site, Si4- is bonded in a 9-coordinate geometry to three Nb2+ and six Cr+2.67+ atoms. In the fourth Si4- site, Si4- is bonded in a 9-coordinate geometry to five Nb2+ and four equivalent Cr+2.67+ atoms.