Clathrate compound

The word clathrate is derived from the Latin clathratus (clatratus), meaning 'with bars, latticed'.

"[3] The term refers to many molecular hosts, including calixarenes and cyclodextrins and even some inorganic polymers such as zeolites.

Therefore, partial substitution of guest atoms follow Zintl rules so that the charge of the overall compound is conserved.

Most inorganic clathrates have full occupancy of its framework cages by a guest atom to be in stable phase.

Low thermal conductivity is attributed to the ability of the guest atom to "rattle" within the host framework.

Clathrate cavities. For example, 5 12 (dodecahedral) and 5 12 6 2 (tetrakaidecahedral) make up a Type I (sI) structure. [ 4 ]
Crystal structure of Na 8 Si 46 . Example of a Type I clathrate consisting of dodecahedral (orange) and tetrakaidecahedral (yellow) silicon cavities containing sodium atoms. [ 4 ]
Portion of the lattice of the clathrate xenon-paraquinol. [ 5 ]
Cd(CN) 2 ·CCl 4 : Cadmium cyanide clathrate framework (in blue) containing carbon tetrachloride (C atoms in gray and disordered Cl positions in green) as guest .
MOF-5 , an example of a metal organic framework : the yellow sphere represents the guest cavity.