Manganese germanide (MnGe) is an intermetallic compound, a germanide of manganese. Its crystals have a cubic symmetry with no inversion center, they are therefore helical, with right-hand and left-handed chiralities.[1]

Manganese germanide

Structures of left-handed and right-handed MnGe crystals (3 presentations, with different numbers of atoms per unit cell; orange atoms are Ge)
Names
IUPAC name
Manganese germanide
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
  • InChI=1S/Mn.Ge
    Key: WWFYEXUJLWHZEX-UHFFFAOYSA-N
  • [Mn].[Ge]
Properties
MnGe
Molar mass 127.57 g/mol
2.17×10−6 emu/g[1]
Structure
Cubic[1]
P213 (No. 198), cP8
a = 0.4795 nm
4
Hazards
Flash point Non-flammable
Related compounds
Other anions
Manganese silicide
Other cations
Iron germanide
Cobalt germanide
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
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Magnetism

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Experimental phase diagram of MnSi1−xGex alloys, revealing magnetic skyrmion, tetrahedral and cubic hedgehog spin arrangements at different compositions x.

At low temperatures, MnGe and its relative MnSi exhibit unusual spatial arrangements of electron spin, which were named magnetic skyrmion, tetrahedral and cubic hedgehog lattices. Their structure can be controlled not only by the Si/Ge ratio, but also by temperature and magnetic field. This property has potential application in ultrahigh-density magnetic storage devices.[2]

Synthesis

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MnGe crystals can be produced by processing a mixture of Mn and Ge powders at a pressure of 4–5 GPa and a temperature of 600–1000 °C for 1–3 hours. They are metastable and decompose into Mn11Ge8 and Ge upon subsequent heating to 600 °C at ambient pressure.[1]

Structure

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Manganese germanide is a non-stoichiometric compound where the Ge:Mn ratio often deviates from 1. The Mn3Ge5 compound is a Nowotny phase exhibiting a chimney ladder structure. It is either a semimetal or a narrow-gap semiconductor.[3]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Takizawa, H.; Sato, T.; Endo, T.; Shimada, M. (1988). "High-pressure synthesis and electrical and magnetic properties of MnGe and CoGe with the cubic B20 structure". Journal of Solid State Chemistry. 73 (1): 40–46. Bibcode:1988JSSCh..73...40T. doi:10.1016/0022-4596(88)90051-5.
  2. ^ Nagaosa, Naoto; Tokura, Yoshinori (2013). "Topological properties and dynamics of magnetic skyrmions". Nature Nanotechnology. 8 (12): 899–911. Bibcode:2013NatNa...8..899N. doi:10.1038/nnano.2013.243. PMID 24302027.
  3. ^ Takizawa, H.; Sato, T.; Endo, T.; Shimada, M. (1987). "High-pressure synthesis and electrical properties of Mn3Ge5 with Mn11Si19-type structure". Journal of Solid State Chemistry. 68 (2): 234–238. Bibcode:1987JSSCh..68..234T. doi:10.1016/0022-4596(87)90308-2.