The structure and bonding of Ni3Sn

• The electronic structure of Ni3Sn was calculated at ab initio levels for the crystal structure of the low-temperature modification of Ni3Sn refined upon data of single-crystal X-ray diffractometry (P6(3)/mmc, a=5.2950(7), c=4.247(1) Angstrom R=0.0288). The calculations were made with the use of fixed Gaussian (CRYSTAL98 software) and energy-dependent (Stuttgart TB-LMTO-ASA software) basis sets. Difference electron charge density maps were analysed and compared with that of a hypothetical hcp Ni in order to understand bonding in Ni3Sn. It was found that bonding in Ni3Sn has multicentre character with Ni-Sn interaction stronger than Ni-Ni one.

Keyword

transition metal compound

crystal structure

electronic band structure

X-ray diffraction

electronic-structure

elements

pseudopotentials

intermetallics

space

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)