Physical properties of non-centrosymmetric Ni2Zn11

Abstract X-ray single crystal data for Ni 2 Zn 11 confirm an ordered atom arrangement with Ni-atoms in the tetrahedral site 8c of space group I 4 ¯ 3 m ( a  = 0.89110(8) nm; R F  = 0.018) as an ordered variant of the non-centrosymmetric γ -brass phases (Cu 5 Zn 8 -type). Ultrasonic experiments, a study of the electrical resistivity as well as of the heat capacity of binary Ni 2 Zn 11 reveal a rather brittle metallic compound, with a bulk modulus matching typical intermetallics. The absence of both superconductivity as well as of long range magnetic order in the temperature range from 350 mK to room temperature is considered to be a consequence of the rather low electronic density of states right at the Fermi energy.