DOE OSTI2020
Eu2Sb3 is Magnesium tetraboride-like structured and crystallizes in the monoclinic P2_1/c space group. The structure is three-dimensional. there are four inequivalent Eu3+ sites. In the first Eu3+ site, Eu3+ is bonded in a 8-coordinate geometry to nine Sb2- atoms. There are a spread of Eu–Sb bond distances ranging from 3.31–4.01 Å. In the second Eu3+ site, Eu3+ is bonded in a 8-coordinate geometry to nine Sb2- atoms. There are a spread of Eu–Sb bond distances ranging from 3.30–3.98 Å. In the third Eu3+ site, Eu3+ is bonded in a 8-coordinate geometry to eight Sb2- atoms. There are a spread of Eu–Sb bond distances ranging from 3.28–3.48 Å. In the fourth Eu3+ site, Eu3+ is bonded in a 8-coordinate geometry to eight Sb2- atoms. There are a spread of Eu–Sb bond distances ranging from 3.26–3.50 Å. There are six inequivalent Sb2- sites. In the first Sb2- site, Sb2- is bonded in a 4-coordinate geometry to six Eu3+ and three Sb2- atoms. There are a spread of Sb–Sb bond distances ranging from 2.96–3.43 Å. In the second Sb2- site, Sb2- is bonded in a 6-coordinate geometry to six Eu3+ and two Sb2- atoms. The Sb–Sb bond length is 3.30 Å. In the third Sb2- site, Sb2- is bonded in a 6-coordinate geometry to six Eu3+ and two Sb2- atoms. There are one shorter (3.08 Å) and one longer (3.32 Å) Sb–Sb bond lengths. In the fourth Sb2- site, Sb2- is bonded in a 9-coordinate geometry to six Eu3+ and three Sb2- atoms. The Sb–Sb bond length is 2.96 Å. In the fifth Sb2- site, Sb2- is bonded in a 4-coordinate geometry to five Eu3+ and three Sb2- atoms. The Sb–Sb bond length is 3.11 Å. In the sixth Sb2- site, Sb2- is bonded in a 4-coordinate geometry to five Eu3+ and three Sb2- atoms.