More of the “Fullercages”

Abstract

Abstract. All complex intermetallic phases have been searched for their structural building principles, in particular for the occurrence of fullercages, i.e., fullerene-like cluster shells. The diversity of intermetallics featuring compounds of this kind is discussed as well as the geometrical building principles characteristic for their endohedral constituting clusters. Typically, the core cluster corresponds to a polyhedron of the Frank-Kasper (FK) type, which is surrounded by a fullerene-like shell dual to it. The next cluster shell is again a FK polyhedron

Flux growth synthesis, single crystal and electronic structure of the new intermetallic compound Pt2Ga17Ta3

“…The absence of significant variation in the stoichiometry when scanning across their surface proved the good homogeneity of the samples. Pt:Ga:Ta were detected in the respective atomic percentages 8.5(2):77.2(2):14.3 (2), which is in very good agreement with Pt 2 Ga 17 Ta 3 , the formula established by the X-ray structural determination.…”

“…Among the solid materials, one of the most important classes is that of intermetallic compounds characterized by a great diversity both in terms of their structural chemistry with arrangements most often resulting from 3D compaction and their physical properties ranging from metal to semiconductor due to the complexity of chemical bonding, which mixes metallic and covalent bonds [1][2][3]. Many devices are made up of metal interfaces and among them, the high frequency or high power semiconductor devices are known to dissipate large amounts of heat causing them to operate at temperatures exceeding sometimes 300 °C.…”

Structurally Complex Frank–Kasper Phases and Quasicrystal Approximants: Electronic Origin of Stability

“…Crystal structures of very complex intermetallics are built with successive shells of atoms, including polyhedra, like icosahedrons, dodecahedrons, rhombic triacontahedrons, and truncated icosahedrons (soccer ball or "fullercage" [8]). These atomic arrangements are called "Russian doll" ("matryoshka") clusters [9].…”

On the Functionality of Complex Intermetallics: Frustration, Chemical Pressure Relief, and Potential Rattling Atoms in Y11Ni60C6

“…As early as the 1920s, Linus Pauling noted that structures can arise in intermetallic compounds whose complexity is highly incongruent with the simple sphere packings of most elemental metals . Since Pauling’s original diffraction experiments on NaCd 2 crystals, a series of phases with giant unit cells containing >1000 atoms has emerged, including not only NaCd 2 ( cF 1,192), but also β-Al 3 Mg 2 ( cF 1,168), , Cu 4 Cd 3 ( cF 1,124), Sm 117 Co 56 Sn 116 ( cF 1,154), Ta 39.5 Cu 3.9 Al 56.5 ( cF 5,908), , and Ta 39.1 Cu 5.4 Al 55.4 ( cF 23,134). , Such compounds are rivaled only by quasicrystals − in their complexity among inorganic materials, and have inspired numerous researchers to seek out regularities in their atomic arrangements. − Diverse geometrical schemes have arisen from these efforts, including the extensive classification of structures based on the nesting of concentric polyhedra , or recurring cluster units, ,, and projections from higher-dimensional polytopes. , Beyond the systematic classification of these structures, however, two major issues remain largely unresolved: what driving forces shape the specific features of these structures, and do their unique structures underlie similarly unique properties?…”

“…7,8 Such compounds are rivaled only by quasicrystals 9−11 in their complexity among inorganic materials, and have inspired numerous researchers to seek out regularities in their atomic arrangements. 12−21 Diverse geometrical schemes have arisen from these efforts, including the extensive classification of structures based on the nesting of concentric polyhedra 18,21 or recurring cluster units, 16,17,19 and projections from higher-dimensional polytopes. 15,20 Beyond the systematic classification of these structures, however, two major issues remain largely unresolved: what driving forces shape the specific features of these structures, and do their unique structures underlie similarly unique properties?…”