Strontium disilicide


Strontium disilicide is a binary inorganic compound of strontium and silicon with the chemical formula.

Synthesis

Synthesis of strontium disilicide can be by fusion of strontium oxide or strontium carbonate with silicon, or silicon oxide and with coal:

Physical properties

Strontium disilicide forms silver-gray crystals of the cubic system, space group P4132. The unit cell parameters are a = 6.540 Å. The density is measured at 3.40 kg/l but based on the unit cell size, it should be 3.43 kg/l. The silicon atoms form a three-dimensional lattice with the smallest Si-Si distance being 2.41 Å which is slightly more than in solid silicon. Si-Si-Si angles ∠ are 113.03°. Each silicon atom connects to three other silicon atoms. Eight silicon atoms surround each strontium atom, six at 3.21 Å and two at 3.43 Å.

Chemical properties

Water decomposes the compound:
Also, the compound reacts with mineral acids.

Uses

is reported to be a narrow-gap semiconductor or even a Weyl semimetal, with holes as the dominant charge carriers. The potential applications include thermoelectric devices and other applications where its unique properties can be utilized.