DOE OSTI2020
V9Ga2Sn crystallizes in the orthorhombic Pmmm space group. The structure is three-dimensional. there are seven inequivalent V sites. In the first V site, V is bonded in a 6-coordinate geometry to two V, two equivalent Ga, and two equivalent Sn atoms. There are one shorter (2.32 Å) and one longer (2.57 Å) V–V bond lengths. Both V–Ga bond lengths are 2.67 Å. Both V–Sn bond lengths are 2.74 Å. In the second V site, V is bonded in a 6-coordinate geometry to two V, two equivalent Ga, and two equivalent Sn atoms. The V–V bond length is 2.32 Å. Both V–Ga bond lengths are 2.70 Å. Both V–Sn bond lengths are 2.75 Å. In the third V site, V is bonded in a 6-coordinate geometry to six V and four Ga atoms. There are one shorter (2.33 Å) and four longer (2.99 Å) V–V bond lengths. There are two shorter (2.69 Å) and two longer (2.73 Å) V–Ga bond lengths. In the fourth V site, V is bonded in a 6-coordinate geometry to ten V and four Ga atoms. There are a spread of V–V bond distances ranging from 2.31–2.84 Å. There are two shorter (2.70 Å) and two longer (2.71 Å) V–Ga bond lengths. In the fifth V site, V is bonded in a 6-coordinate geometry to two equivalent V, two Ga, and two equivalent Sn atoms. There are one shorter (2.33 Å) and one longer (2.53 Å) V–V bond lengths. There are one shorter (2.67 Å) and one longer (2.68 Å) V–Ga bond lengths. Both V–Sn bond lengths are 2.75 Å. In the sixth V site, V is bonded in a 6-coordinate geometry to four V, three Ga, and one Sn atom. There are one shorter (2.35 Å) and one longer (2.53 Å) V–V bond lengths. There are one shorter (2.64 Å) and two longer (2.70 Å) V–Ga bond lengths. The V–Sn bond length is 2.76 Å. In the seventh V site, V is bonded in a 6-coordinate geometry to two equivalent V, two equivalent Ga, and two equivalent Sn atoms. There are one shorter (2.33 Å) and one longer (2.54 Å) V–V bond lengths. Both V–Ga bond lengths are 2.69 Å. Both V–Sn bond lengths are 2.76 Å. There are three inequivalent Ga sites. In the first Ga site, Ga is bonded to twelve V atoms to form GaV12 cuboctahedra that share edges with six GaV12 cuboctahedra, faces with four equivalent GaV12 cuboctahedra, and faces with four equivalent SnV12 cuboctahedra. In the second Ga site, Ga is bonded to twelve V atoms to form GaV12 cuboctahedra that share edges with six GaV12 cuboctahedra and faces with eight equivalent SnV12 cuboctahedra. In the third Ga site, Ga is bonded to twelve V atoms to form GaV12 cuboctahedra that share edges with two equivalent SnV12 cuboctahedra, edges with four equivalent GaV12 cuboctahedra, and faces with eight equivalent GaV12 cuboctahedra. Sn is bonded to twelve V atoms to form SnV12 cuboctahedra that share an edgeedge with one GaV12 cuboctahedra, edges with five equivalent SnV12 cuboctahedra, and faces with eight GaV12 cuboctahedra.