A new topological semimetal candidate: SmMnBi2

Abstract

The new compound SmMnBi2 has been synthesized by the self-flux method and shown to crystallize in space group I4/mmm with a = 4.5054(4)Å, c = 20.5914(19)Å and Z = 4. Its structure comprises two-dimensional square Mn-nets layers, puckered rock-salt-like SmBi slabs and two-dimensional square Bi-nets layers, alternating along the c axis in an...Mn-net-SmBi slab-Bi-net-SmBi slab-Mn-net... sequence. Surprisingly, the atomic arrangement differs from its neighboring compound EuMnBi2 which has similar layers but with a different stacking arrangement. This gives rise to edge-shared square planar MnBi4 polyhedral layers in SmMnBi2 while EuMnBi2 has edge-shared MnBi4 tetrahedral layers. The MMnX 2 (M = alkaline earth/rare earth metals, X = Sb/Bi) family has emerged as topological Dirac or Weyl semimetal candidates, all of them sharing similar structural features. Although SmMnBi2 has a different stacking arrangement to EuMnBi2, its layer structure still makes it a topological Dirac or Weyl semimetal candidate.

Department(s)

Physics, Astronomy, and Materials Science

Document Type

Article

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1107/S2052520621005849

Keywords

Dirac or Weyl semimetals, single crystal growth, SmMnBi 2, topological materials

Publication Date

8-1-2021

Journal Title

Acta Crystallographica Section B: Structural Science, Crystal Engineering and Materials

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