Single-crystal X-ray diffraction coupled with TEM and SAD investigations demonstrate that Gd5Si1.5Ge2.5 exists as two distinct structural phases at room temperature: the orthorhombic Sm5Ge4-type and the monoclinic Gd5Si2Ge2-type. This phenomenon occurs from the "nanoscale zippers" involving (Si, Ge) dimers that form or break bonds between the fundamental building units.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.