Preparation, crystal structure and physical properties of ternary compounds (R3N)In, R=rare-earth metal

Inverse Perovskites (RE3N)Sn with RE = La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm: Preparation, Crystal Structures and Physical Properties

“…Similar to the previous observations for the respective phases (RE 3 N)In with indium as constituent [23], the binary compounds Ce 3 Sn and Pr 3 Sn show high macroscopic hardness paired with some ductility, while introduction of nitrogen leads to brittle compounds.…”

“…The preparation of ternary compounds (RE 3 N)Sn starts from high purity or purified rare-earth metal pieces as was described elsewhere [23] (Hunan Institute of Rare Earth Materials, 99.9% metal based). For production of nitride phases (7) )Sn 2.27(1) 0.14(2) (Nd 3 N)Sn 494.70(5) not pure (Sm 3 N)Sn 488.35(9) not pure typically the binary nitride REN was fused together with appropriate amounts of the respective binary alloys RE 2 Sn in an arc-furnace.…”

(La3 Z x)Al and (Ce3 Z x)Al with Z = C, N, O: preparation, physical properties and chemical bonding of metal-rich perovskites

“…The preparation of the binary rare-earth metal nitrides RN was discussed in-depth by Brown et al [27]. Purification of La and Ce as well as production and characterization of LaN and CeN was previously described [28]. Melt beads with the total compositions La x Al and Ce x Al were synthesized from the elements (Al: 99.9999 %, Chempur) by fusion in the appropriate molar ratios in an arc-furnace.…”

“…Preparation of the ternary phases (R 3 Z)Al (R = rare-earth metal, specifically La, Ce; Z = O, N, C) can in principle be carried out as previously described for the analogous In containing phases [28]. Due to the lower eutectic temperatures in the R-rich part of the Al containing binary phase diagrams compared to the respective In systems [35], generally lower annealing temperatures were applied.…”

“…This is not compensated by a corresponding gain of competing bonding interactions. It has been discussed previously for isostructural (La 3 N)In [28] that these heteroatomic intermetallic interactions play an important role for the electronic structure of the compound since they are sizeable and numerous (each Al atom has 12 La neighbors). The electronic structures of (La 3 N)In and (La 3 N)Al are very similar and the conclusions derived for the former compound are valid for the latter as well.…”