Synthesis of the Candidate Topological Compound Ni3Pb2

Abstract

Spin-orbit coupling enables the realization of topologically nontrivial ground states. As spin-orbit coupling increases with increasing atomic number, compounds featuring heavy elements, such as lead, offer a pathway toward creating new topologically nontrivial materials. By employing a high-pressure flux synthesis method, we synthesized single crystals of Ni₃Pb₂, the first structurally characterized bulk binary phase in the Ni-Pb system. Combining experimental and theoretical techniques, we examined structure and bonding in Ni₃Pb₂, revealing the impact of chemical substitutions on electronic structure features of importance for controlling topological behavior. From these results, we determined that Ni₃Pb₂ completes a series of structurally related transition-metal-heavy main group intermetallic materials that exhibit diverse electronic structures, opening a platform for synthetically tunable topologically nontrivial materials.