DOE OSTI2020
LaCu5Sn crystallizes in the orthorhombic Pnma space group. The structure is three-dimensional. La is bonded in a 6-coordinate geometry to fifteen Cu and four equivalent Sn atoms. There are a spread of La–Cu bond distances ranging from 2.96–3.41 Å. There are a spread of La–Sn bond distances ranging from 3.33–3.43 Å. There are four inequivalent Cu sites. In the first Cu site, Cu is bonded to three equivalent La, seven Cu, and two equivalent Sn atoms to form a mixture of edge, face, and corner-sharing CuLa3Cu7Sn2 cuboctahedra. There are a spread of Cu–Cu bond distances ranging from 2.52–2.61 Å. Both Cu–Sn bond lengths are 2.85 Å. In the second Cu site, Cu is bonded to three equivalent La, seven Cu, and two equivalent Sn atoms to form a mixture of edge, face, and corner-sharing CuLa3Cu7Sn2 cuboctahedra. There are a spread of Cu–Cu bond distances ranging from 2.53–2.56 Å. There are one shorter (2.82 Å) and one longer (2.85 Å) Cu–Sn bond lengths. In the third Cu site, Cu is bonded in a 12-coordinate geometry to three equivalent La, six Cu, and one Sn atom. The Cu–Cu bond length is 3.12 Å. The Cu–Sn bond length is 2.82 Å. In the fourth Cu site, Cu is bonded in a 11-coordinate geometry to three equivalent La, five Cu, and three equivalent Sn atoms. There are one shorter (2.70 Å) and two longer (3.08 Å) Cu–Sn bond lengths. Sn is bonded in a 1-coordinate geometry to four equivalent La and ten Cu atoms.