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Abstract

The band structure of Ba₃C₆₀ has been modeled by a crystal orbital (CO) formalism of the intermediate neglect of differential overlap (INDO) type. The fulleride crystallizes in a novel A15 structure with three crystallographically non-equivalent alkaline-earth atoms in the unit cell. The symmetry of the space group is Pm3n. To define the underlying unit cell for the CO calculations, two formula units are necessary. A finite band gap is predicted for the fulleride system, a theoretical result which is in line with the resistivity maximum observed in alkaline-earth fullerides with three donor atoms per C₆₀ soccerball. The alkaline-earth atoms are essentially monovalent and hybridize strongly with the π-type functions of the C₆₀ network. The Ba-to-C₆₀ charge transfer (CT) is responsible for an almost perfect alignment between formal CC “double” and “single” bonds. The nature of the Ba-C interaction is discussed on the basis of covalent and ionic two-center energies.