DOE OSTI2020
Mn3(Co2Ge3)2 crystallizes in the orthorhombic Cmm2 space group. The structure is three-dimensional. there are two inequivalent Mn sites. In the first Mn site, Mn is bonded to eight Ge atoms to form distorted edge-sharing MnGe8 hexagonal bipyramids. There are a spread of Mn–Ge bond distances ranging from 2.60–2.93 Å. In the second Mn site, Mn is bonded in a 10-coordinate geometry to two equivalent Co and six Ge atoms. Both Mn–Co bond lengths are 2.53 Å. There are a spread of Mn–Ge bond distances ranging from 2.49–2.61 Å. There are three inequivalent Co sites. In the first Co site, Co is bonded in a 12-coordinate geometry to four equivalent Mn and six Ge atoms. There are a spread of Co–Ge bond distances ranging from 2.48–2.63 Å. In the second Co site, Co is bonded in a 12-coordinate geometry to six Ge atoms. There are four shorter (2.41 Å) and two longer (2.61 Å) Co–Ge bond lengths. In the third Co site, Co is bonded in a 12-coordinate geometry to six Ge atoms. There are four shorter (2.39 Å) and two longer (2.62 Å) Co–Ge bond lengths. There are four inequivalent Ge sites. In the first Ge site, Ge is bonded in a 12-coordinate geometry to five Mn and four Co atoms. In the second Ge site, Ge is bonded in a 8-coordinate geometry to five Mn, two equivalent Co, and one Ge atom. The Ge–Ge bond length is 2.64 Å. In the third Ge site, Ge is bonded in a 8-coordinate geometry to one Mn, six Co, and one Ge atom. In the fourth Ge site, Ge is bonded in a 6-coordinate geometry to two equivalent Mn and four Co atoms.