Synthesis, chiral crystal structure, and magnetic properties of Ba3Ga2O5Cl2.

Abstract

A new compound, Ba₃Ga₂O₅Cl₂, isostructural with Ba₃Fe₂O₅Cl₂, was synthesized by solid-state reaction in air. Through single-crystal and powder X-ray diffraction analysis, the crystal structure was determined to be cubic with chiral space group I2₁3 and unit-cell parameter a = 9.928 (1) Å. The Ga³⁺ ions in Ba₃Ga₂O₅Cl₂ are coordinated by O atoms and form GaO₄ tetrahedra. Ten neighboring GaO₄ tetrahedra are further bridged through corner sharing and rotation along the body diagonal, producing the chiral structure. Magnetization measurements indicate temperature-independent diamagnetic behavior, which is qualitatively consistent with core diamagnetism from all the constituent elements.