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    The Weak 3D Topological Insulator Bi12Rh3Sn3I9
    (Weinheim : Wiley-VCH, 2020) Lê Anh, Mai; Kaiser, Martin; Ghimire, Madhav Prasad; Richter, Manuel; Koepernik, Klaus; Gruschwitz, Markus; Tegenkamp, Christoph; Doert, Thomas; Ruck, Michael
    Topological insulators (TIs) gained high interest due to their protected electronic surface states that allow dissipation-free electron and information transport. In consequence, TIs are recommended as materials for spintronics and quantum computing. Yet, the number of well-characterized TIs is rather limited. To contribute to this field of research, we focused on new bismuth-based subiodides and recently succeeded in synthesizing a new compound Bi12Rh3Sn3I9, which is structurally closely related to Bi14Rh3I9 – a stable, layered material. In fact, Bi14Rh3I9 is the first experimentally supported weak 3D TI. Both structures are composed of well-defined intermetallic layers of ∞2[(Bi4Rh)3I]2+ with topologically protected electronic edge-states. The fundamental difference between Bi14Rh3I9 and Bi12Rh3Sn3I9 lies in the composition and the arrangement of the anionic spacer. While the intermetallic 2D TI layers in Bi14Rh3I9 are isolated by ∞1[Bi2I8]2− chains, the isoelectronic substitution of bismuth(III) with tin(II) leads to ∞2[Sn3I8]2− layers as anionic spacers. First transport experiments support the 2D character of this material class and revealed metallic conductivity. © 2020 The Authors. Published by Wiley-VCH GmbH
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    Discovery, Crystal Growth, and Characterization of Garnet Eu2PbSb2Zn3O12
    (Weinheim : Wiley-VCH, 2020) Morrow, Ryan; Sturza, Mihai I.; Ray, Rajyavardhan; Himcinschi, Cameliu; Kern, Jonas; Schlender, Philipp; Richter, Manuel; Wurmehl, Sabine; Büchner, Bernd
    Single crystal specimens of previously unknown garnet Eu2PbSb2Zn3O12 were grown in a reactive PbO:PbF2 flux medium. The crystals were characterized by a combination of X-ray crystallography, magnetization measurements, and the optical techniques of Raman, photoluminescence, and UV/Vis spectroscopy. The material exhibits Van Vleck paramagnetism associated with the J = 0 state of Eu3+, which was possible to accurately fit to a theoretical model. Band structure calculations were performed and compared to the experimental band gap of 1.98 eV. The crystals demonstrate photoluminescence associated with the 4f 6 configuration of the Eu3+ ions sitting at the distorted 8-coordinate garnet A site. The title compound represents a unique quinary contribution to a relatively unexplored area of rare earth bearing garnet crystal chemistry. © 2020 The Authors. Published by Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA.