THORIUM SILICIDE

Hoffmann et al. published a theoretical communication of a C allotrope model based upon the anionic silicon sub-lattice of thorium silicide. It is comprised of parallel polyacetylene-like chains, in layers, that are joined to neighboring layers, in an orthogonal fashion, by staggered 3-3 bonds, to generate the full 3-dimensional C lattice. The network is perhaps favorable based upon the precedent of chemically stablilized polyacetylene-like substructures from which the lattice is generated. The only drawback to the model is the staggered 3-3 bonds...the p orbitals of which, nonetheless, participate in electronic delocalization, and stabilization, along their respective tetragonal lattice a-axis and b-axis, oriented, polyacetylene-like substructure directions. It remains an important target for synthesis from graphite, or perhaps separation or isolation from natural C sources such as coal or petroleum. The layers of conjugated p orbitals, pointing in alternating layers in one orthogonal direction, and then the other direction, confer a metallic status to the material as a novel, 3D conjugated, organic lattice...There is metal more attractive.