Synthesis and Thermal Stability Studies of CaFe 4 As 3
Abstract CaFe 4 As 3 is a new intermetallic structure type that can be described as a framework comprising of FeAs 4 tetrahedra. The structure has similarities to the 1‐2‐2 superconducting phase in that the Fe/As network is related to the ThCr 2 Si 2 structure. In addition, this phase shows magnetic...
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Published in | European journal of inorganic chemistry Vol. 2011; no. 26; pp. 3920 - 3925 |
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Main Authors | , , , , , , |
Format | Journal Article |
Language | English |
Published |
01.09.2011
|
Online Access | Get full text |
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Summary: | Abstract
CaFe
4
As
3
is a new intermetallic structure type that can be described as a framework comprising of FeAs
4
tetrahedra. The structure has similarities to the 1‐2‐2 superconducting phase in that the Fe/As network is related to the ThCr
2
Si
2
structure. In addition, this phase shows magnetic transitions associated with spin density waves. This phase was prepared from a Sn flux, and it has recently been reported that further expansion of this structure type via chemical substitution is limited. We have developed a solid‐state synthesis route for the preparation of CaFe
4
As
3
that involves reacting a stoichiometric combination of the constituent elements. The thermal stability of this material was investigated over the 298–1473 K temperature range. An initial investigation of the Sn grown CaFe
4
As
3
crystals showed that residual Sn that was present on the surface of the crystals reacted with the crystals at temperatures above 1173 K to form new phases. A thermal stability study of Sn‐free CaFe
4
As
3
indicated that it decomposed to give CaFe
2
As
2
and Fe
2
As. The thermal behavior of CaFe
2
As
2
was also investigated and the data showed that it can also form CaFe
4
As
3
at high temperatures. The solid‐state synthesis route presented herein and additional solid solution studies may provide opportunities for the prepartion of materials with this structure type with improved electronic properties. |
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ISSN: | 1434-1948 1099-0682 |
DOI: | 10.1002/ejic.201100349 |