We report on investigations of type I clathrate Si and Ge compounds with Ba
partially substituted by rare earth atoms. Novel compounds from framework-deficient
solid solutions Ba8 Alx Si42−3/4x □4−1/4x
and Ba8 Gax Si42−3/4x □4−1/4x (x = 8, 12, 16;
□, open
square...
lattice defect) have been prepared and characterized. All x-ray intensity data are consistent
with the standardized clathrate I-Ba8Al16Ge30 type structure (space group Pm3̄n).
In rare earth substituted clathrates, Eu2Ba6MxSi46−x (M = Cu,
Al, Ga), rare earth atoms completely occupy the
2a
position and thus form a new quaternary ordered version of the Ba8Al16Ge30
structure type. From a geometrical analysis of clathrate crystal structures, a
systematic scheme for all known clathrate compounds is proposed. All clathrates
studied are metals with low electrical conductivity. The highest Seebeck coefficient
in the present series is deduced for Ba8In16Ge30, S = −75μV K−1,
indicating transport processes dominated by electrons as carriers. The Eu-based
clathrates investigated exhibit long-range magnetic order as high as 32 K for
Eu2Ba6Al8Si36 of presumably ferromagnetic type. Magnetic susceptibility
indicates in all cases a 2+ ground state for the Eu ions, in fine agreement with LIII
absorption edge spectra.