Stabilization of the New Antimonide Zr2V6Sb9 by V—V and Sb—Sb Bonding.

TLDR: The metal-rich antimonide Zr2V6Sb9 has been prepared by arcmelting of stoichiometric mixtures of Zr, V, and VSb2 as discussed by the authors.

Abstract: The metal-rich antimonide Zr2V6Sb9 has been prepared by arc-melting of stoichiometric mixtures of Zr, V, and VSb2. Zr2V6Sb9 is the first example of a ternary ordered (filled) variant of the unusual V15Sb18 structure type. In addition to strong metal–antimony bonding, the crystal structure is significantly stabilized by bonding V–V and Sb–Sb interactions, whereas the Zr atoms do not form short metal–metal bonds. Band structure calculations using the Extended Huckel approximation reveal Zr2V6Sb9 being metallic, in agreement with the Pauli paramagnetism experimentally observed.