DOE OSTI2020
Mn7CoSb4 crystallizes in the tetragonal P-4m2 space group. The structure is three-dimensional. there are four inequivalent Mn sites. In the first Mn site, Mn is bonded to four equivalent Mn and five Sb atoms to form distorted MnMn4Sb5 square pyramids that share corners with two equivalent MnMn4Co4Sb4 cuboctahedra, corners with two equivalent CoMn8Sb4 cuboctahedra, corners with four equivalent MnMn4Sb5 square pyramids, edges with eight equivalent MnMn8Sb4 cuboctahedra, edges with four equivalent MnMn4Sb5 square pyramids, faces with four equivalent MnMn8Sb4 cuboctahedra, and faces with four equivalent MnMn4Sb5 square pyramids. All Mn–Mn bond lengths are 2.70 Å. There are one shorter (2.73 Å) and four longer (2.79 Å) Mn–Sb bond lengths. In the second Mn site, Mn is bonded in a 9-coordinate geometry to two equivalent Mn, two equivalent Co, and five Sb atoms. Both Mn–Mn bond lengths are 2.64 Å. Both Mn–Co bond lengths are 2.64 Å. There are four shorter (2.80 Å) and one longer (2.82 Å) Mn–Sb bond lengths. In the third Mn site, Mn is bonded to eight Mn and four equivalent Sb atoms to form distorted MnMn8Sb4 cuboctahedra that share corners with four equivalent MnMn8Sb4 cuboctahedra, edges with eight equivalent MnMn4Sb5 square pyramids, faces with eight equivalent MnMn8Sb4 cuboctahedra, and faces with four equivalent MnMn4Sb5 square pyramids. All Mn–Mn bond lengths are 2.79 Å. All Mn–Sb bond lengths are 2.71 Å. In the fourth Mn site, Mn is bonded to four equivalent Mn, four equivalent Co, and four equivalent Sb atoms to form MnMn4Co4Sb4 cuboctahedra that share corners with four equivalent MnMn4Co4Sb4 cuboctahedra, corners with four equivalent MnMn4Sb5 square pyramids, faces with four equivalent MnMn4Co4Sb4 cuboctahedra, and faces with four equivalent CoMn8Sb4 cuboctahedra. All Mn–Co bond lengths are 2.79 Å. All Mn–Sb bond lengths are 2.71 Å. Co is bonded to eight Mn and four equivalent Sb atoms to form CoMn8Sb4 cuboctahedra that share corners with four equivalent CoMn8Sb4 cuboctahedra, corners with four equivalent MnMn4Sb5 square pyramids, faces with four equivalent MnMn4Co4Sb4 cuboctahedra, and faces with four equivalent CoMn8Sb4 cuboctahedra. All Co–Sb bond lengths are 2.71 Å. There are two inequivalent Sb sites. In the first Sb site, Sb is bonded in a 9-coordinate geometry to seven Mn and two equivalent Co atoms. In the second Sb site, Sb is bonded in a distorted q6 geometry to nine Mn atoms.