Unconventional Formation of a Zintl Compound in Nanowire Form

Nanowires consisting of Eu
3
In
2
As
4
were grown by MBE using an unconventional method. Eu
3
In
2
P
4
and Eu
3
InEu
3
were suggested to be an example of material with new magnetic Zintl phases already 20 years ago [1]. Recently, a vast selection of newly emerging compounds, in particular compounds based on InAs with the addition of strontium, barium or europium, such as Eu
3
In
2
As
4
have been included into the Zintl family of materials and widely studied [2]. Extensively conducted research showed a large variety of unique magnetic, electronic, and topological properties both in bulk and layers of Zintl materials. Here we present the formation of a Zintl phase obtained for the first time in nanowires. The properties of these nanowires, including their composition, crystal structure and magnetic order, were thoroughly characterized. The experimental study was supported by theoretical simulations related on one hand to the unique formation process of the Zintl phase and its electronic structure on the other hand.