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Free keywords:
Bismuth, Chemical bonding, Cluster compounds, Confined metals, Intermetallic compounds, Layered metals, Low-valent compounds, Metal-salt hybrids, Molecular wires, Multicenter bonding, One-dimensional metals, Platinum metals, Polycations, Subhalides, Topochemistry
Abstract:
Bismuth-rich compounds are a showcase for the competition between directed localized bonds and delocalized multicenter bonding, because of the diffuse character of the 6p valence orbital. This competition exists in molecular units, such as clusters or polycations, and in extended networks. By combining bismuth with electron-rich transition metals, a wide variety of subvalent halides and oxides become available, modeling the structural transition from clusters to intermetallics. These stable low-dimensional metals show extraordinary physical and chemical properties, such as coexistence of ferromagnetism and superconductivity, topological insulator behavior, topochemical ion exchange, and oxide ion conductivity at room temperature.
