Synthesis, structure and properties of a new intermetallic compound, Ca7Ni4Sn13

Abstract

Crystals of a new intermetallic compound, Ca₇Ni₄Sn₁₃, have been prepared. The refined structure was solved in the P4/m space group, Z = 1 with lattice constants $\text{a = 11.200(1)}\text{A}\text{̊}$ and $\text{c = 4.594(1)}\text{A}\text{̊}$, R = 2.8% and R_w = 2.4%. This new structure type consists of an Sn-Ni network forming channels parallel to the c axis which are filled with calcium atoms. Temperature-dependent magnetic and conductivity studies show Ca₇Ni₄Sn₁₃ to be Pauli paramagnetic with simple metallic behavior.