Indications of flat bands driving the to volume collapse of plutonium.

On cooling from the melt, plutonium (Pu) undergoes a series of structural transformations accompanied by a ≈ 28% reduction in volume from its phase to its phase at low temperatures. While Pu's partially filled 5-electron shells are known to be involved, their precise role in the transformations has remained unclear. By using calorimetry measurements on -Pu and gallium-stabilized -Pu combined with resonant ultrasound and X-ray scattering data to account for the anomalously large softening of the lattice with temperature, we show here that the difference in electronic entropy between the and phases dominates over the difference in phonon entropy.

Synthesis, structural characterization, and physical properties of the early rare-earth metal digermanides REGe(2-x) (x ≈ 1/4) [RE = La-Nd, Sm]. A case study of commensurately and incommensurately modulated structures.

Rare-earth metal germanides with the general formula RE(4)Ge(7) (RE = La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm) have been synthesized using the In-flux technique. Their structures have been established from single-crystal and powder X-ray diffraction, and the structural elucidation has been aided by electron diffraction. These compounds represent superstructures of the α-ThSi(2) structure type through the long- and/or short-range vacancy ordering.

Single crystal study of the heavy-fermion antiferromagnet CePt₂In₇.

We report the synthesis, structure, and physical properties of single crystals of CePt(2)In(7). Single crystal x-ray diffraction analysis confirms the tetragonal I4/mmm structure of CePt(2)In(7) with unit cell parameters a = 4.5886(6) Å, c = 21.

Nanorod Self-Assembly in High J YBa₂Cu₃O₇ Films with Ru-Based Double Perovskites.

Many second phase additions to YBa₂Cu₃O (YBCO) films, in particular those that self-assemble into aligned nanorod and nanoparticle structures, enhance performance in self and applied fields. Of particular interest for additions are Ba-containing perovskites that are compatible with YBCO. In this report, we discuss the addition of Ba₂YRuO₆ to bulk and thick-film YBCO.

Mixed cations and structural complexity in (Eu(1-x)Ca(x))(4)In(3)Ge(4) and (Eu(1-x)Ca(x))(3)In(2)Ge(3)--the first two members of the homologous series A(2[n+m])In(2n+m)Ge(2[n+m]) (n, m = 1, 2, ...infinity; A = Ca, Sr, Ba, Eu, or Yb).

Reported are the synthesis and the structural characterization of two members of a new homologous series of polar intermetallic compounds, which exist only with mixed alkaline-earth and rare-earth metal cations. Crystals of (Eu(1-x)Ca(x))(4)In(3)Ge(4) (0.35(1) View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Magnesium substitutions in rare-earth metal germanides with the orthorhombic Gd5Si4-type structure. Synthesis, crystal chemistry, and magnetic properties of RE(5-x)Mg(x)Ge4 (RE = Gd-Tm, Lu, and Y).

A series of magnesium-substituted rare-earth metal germanides with a general formula RE(5-x)Mg(x)Ge(4) (x approximately = 1.0-2.3; RE = Gd-Tm, Lu, Y) have been synthesized by high-temperature reactions and structurally characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction.

Structure and properties of Gd3Ge4: the orthorhombic RE3Ge4 structures revisited (RE = Y, Tb-Tm).

The new binary compound Gd(3)Ge(4) has been synthesized and its structure has been determined from single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Gd(3)Ge(4) crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group Cmcm (No. 63) with unit cell parameters a = 4.

Vacancy ordering in SmGe2-x and GdGe2-x (x = 0.33): structure and properties of two Sm3Ge5 polymorphs and of Gd3Ge5.

The crystal structures and the magnetic properties of three new binary rare-earth intermetallic phases are reported. alpha-Sm3Ge5 and beta-Sm3Ge5 and Gd3Ge5 have been prepared from the corresponding elements through high-temperature reactions using the flux-growth method. The structures of the three compounds have been established using single-crystal X-ray diffraction: alpha-Sm3Ge5 crystallizes with its own type in the hexagonal space group P2c (No.

Structure and bonding in Yb4MgGe4: Yb2+/Yb3+ mixed-valency and charge separation.

Reported are the synthesis and the structural characterization of a new derivative of the RE5Tt4 family (RE = Rare-earth; Tt = Tetrel, = Si, Ge, i.e., group 14 element), Yb5-xMgxGe4 (x approximately 1).