Anomalous diamagnetism of electride electrons in transition metal silicides
Abstract
Intermetallic silicide compounds, LaScSi and Y5Si3 , known for being hydrogen (H) storage materials, are drawing attention as candidates for electrides in which anions are substituted by unbound electrons. It is inferred from a muon spin rotation experiment that the local field at the muon site (which is the same site as that for H) in these compounds exhibits a large negative shift under an external magnetic field, which is mostly independent of temperature. Such anomalous diamagnetism signals a unique property of electride electrons associated with transition metals. Moreover, the diamagnetic shift decreases with increasing H content, suggesting that the electride electrons existing coherently in the hollow interstitial positions are adsorbed by H to form hydride ions (H−).
- Publication:
-
Physical Review B
- Pub Date:
- June 2021
- DOI:
- 10.1103/PhysRevB.103.L241101
- arXiv:
- arXiv:2106.00921
- Bibcode:
- 2021PhRvB.103x1101H
- Keywords:
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- Condensed Matter - Materials Science
- E-Print:
- 6 pages, 5 figures