New Co–Pd–Zn γ‑Brasses with Dilute Ferrimagnetism and Co₂Zn₁₁ Revisited: Establishing the Synergism between Theory and Experiment

A synergism between electronic structure theory and the targeted synthesis of new ternary γ-brass compounds is demonstrated in the Co–Zn system. Co₂Zn₁₁, which adopts a cubic γ-brass structure, is shown to be at the Zn-rich end of a homogeneity range that varies from 15.4 to 22.1 atom % Co. Four samples were examined by single-crystal diffraction, all of which crystallize in space group <i>I</i>4̅3<i>m</i> with the lattice parameter ranging from 8.9851(1) to 8.8809(1) Å as the Co content increases. In the 26-atom γ-brass clusters, Co atoms preferentially occupy the outer tetrahedron (OT) sites and then replace Zn atoms at the octahedron (OH) sites at higher Co concentrations. In addition, a small fraction of vacancies occurs on the inner tetrahedron (IT) sites. The electronic structure of Co₂Zn₁₁ shows two distinct pseudogaps near the Fermi level: one at 292 valence electrons per primitive unit cell and the other at 302–304 valence electrons per primitive unit cell. Using molecular orbital arguments applied to the body-centered cubic packing of the 26-atom Co₄Zn₂₂ γ-brass cluster, these pseudogaps arise from (i) splitting among the valence s and p orbitals, which gives rise to the Hume–Rothery electron counting rule, and (ii) splitting within the manifold of Co 3d orbitals via Co–Zn orbital interactions. Co₂Zn₁₁ is Pauli paramagnetic, although the density of states at the Fermi level is large, whereas Curie–Weiss behavior emerges for higher Co concentrations. Because Pd has a size and an electronegativity similar to those of Zn, and inspired by the pseudogaps in the electronic density of states curve of Co₂Zn₁₁, Pd-doped γ-brass compounds were designed and two new γ-brass compounds were obtained: Co_0.92(2)Pd_1.08Zn₁₁ and Co_2.50(1)Pd_2.50Zn₈. In these, the site preferences for Co and Pd can be rationalized by electronic structure calculations. The densities of states indicate that Co 3d states are the major contributors near their Fermi levels, with the Pd 4d band lying ∼2–3 eV below this. The magnetic properties of the Co–Pd–Zn γ-brasses are quite different from those of Co₂Zn₁₁: a giant magnetic moment on the Co atom is induced by the Pd atom, and Co_2.50(1)Pd_2.50Zn₈ shows magnetization consistent with a dilute ferrimagnet. The results of first-principles calculations on two different models of the 26-atom γ-brass clusters indicate that intracluster Co–Co exchange is ferromagnetic, whereas intercluster Co–Co exchange is antiferromagnetic. These different magnetic exchange interactions provide rationalization for the high-temperature magnetization behavior of Co_2.50(1)Pd_2.50Zn<sub>8