mehhanismides

Mehhanides are a hypothetical class of inorganic solids described in speculative materials science as heavy-metal compounds with lanthanide- or actinide-like electronic features. The name combines meh- with the -hanide suffix used for rare-earth materials. In theoretical discussions, mehhanides are envisioned as frameworks built from trivalent metals coordinated by chalcogenide (S, Se, Te) and/or pnictide (P, As, Sb) ligands, forming three-dimensional networks or layered structures. They are not known to occur naturally.

Crystal chemistry: Mehhanides are predicted to adopt monoclinic or hexagonal polytypes, with high coordination numbers and strong metal–ligand bonds. Motifs such as edge- or face-sharing octahedra and corner-linked tetrahedra yield dense frameworks that could support varied electronic and magnetic properties. Heavy metals would enhance spin–orbit coupling, potentially enabling complex magnetic orders.

Production would be via solid-state reactions of metal precursors with chalcogenide or pnictide sources, under inert atmospheres or in flux media, and by high-temperature solvothermal routes. Growth of single crystals could use slow cooling or mineralizers.

Properties and applications: Predicted properties range from semiconducting to metallic behavior, with tunable band gaps and magnetic ordering. Potential uses include spintronics, thermoelectrics, catalysis, and energy storage. Handling would follow standard precautions for heavy-metal compounds.

Notes: Because mehhanides are hypothetical, no experimental data exist. They are discussed in theoretical contexts to explore how heavy-metal coordination chemistry might yield new functional materials.