Synthesis, Structure, and Bonding of Sc₄Mg<i>_x</i>Cu₁₅_-<i>_x</i>Ga_∼_7.5 (<i>x</i> = 0, 0.5). Two Incommensurately Modulated Scandium Substitution Derivatives of Cubic Mg₂Cu₆Ga₅

The substitution of scandium for magnesium in Mg2Cu6Ga5 (Mg2Zn11-type) yields an irrational superstructure phase that includes the refined compositions, Sc4Mg0.50(2)Cu14.50(2)Ga7.61(2) and Sc4Cu14.76(2)Ga7.51(2). These crystallize in Cmmm, a = ∼8.31 Å, b = ∼21.72 Å, c = ∼8.30 Å. The structures feature Sc2 dimers, Cu6 octahedra, a 3D CuGa (Cu12Ga2) framework, and arachno gallium-centered Cu4Ga6 icosahedra that are condensed into zigzag chains. The arrangement of these building blocks exhibits a topologic relationship to Mg2Cu6Ga5. Further studies reveal that the quaternary compound exhibits incommensurate modulations along a, with q = (0.694, 0, 0). Structure refinements with superspace group Xmmm(a00)000 led to saw-tooth modulations for two fractional or mixed sites that avoid short Cu−Ga distances. Band structure analyses reveal that the Fermi surface and bonding are sensitive to the incommensurately modulated atoms.