RMX compounds formed by alkaline earths, europium and ytterbium II: Ternary phases with M ≡ Zn, Cd and X ≡ Si, Ge, Sn, Pb

The new series of RZnGe compounds (R=rare earth element) with the YPtAs structure type

“…After thermal annealing, the alloys resulted single or nearly single phase; in all cases the Guinier patterns were easily indexed on the basis of the hexagonal YPtAs-type, the fourlayers superstructure derivative of the AlB 2 type. It is worthy to recall that the already known EuZnGe compound, formed by the divalent europium [5], crystallizes with the two-layers AlB 2 derivative, ZrBeSi-type [4,5]. In some samples, besides the strong reflections of the YPtAs-type compound, few extra peaks of lower intensity were observed, and ascribed to the occurrence of impurity phases (mainly a germanium-rich R(Zn,Ge) 2 phase with the ThSi 2 structure type).…”

“…For all the other systems, no information on the ternary phase diagram is available; however, the existence and the crystal structure of some ternary compounds have been reported. In particular, the following phases are known: EuZnGe and YbZnGe (ZrBeSi and CeCu 2 type, respectively) [4,5]; YbZn 2 Ge 2 (BaAl 4 type) [6]; EuZn 2 Ge 2 , reported with both the CaBe 2 Ge 2 structure [7] and the ThCr 2 Si 2 type [8]; R 2 Zn 6 Ge 3 with R ¼ La, Ce, Pr, Sm, Gd (Ce 2 Zn 6 Ge 3 type) [9]; R 4 Zn 5 Ge 6 with R ¼ Gd, Tm and Lu [10] and Tb 4 Zn 5 Ge 6 [11] (Gd 4 Zn 5 Ge 6 type), R 4 Zn 8 Ge w10 with R ¼ Ce, Nd, Gd (Ce 4 Zn 8 Ge 11Àx type) [12]; R 2 Zn 15 Ge 2 with R ¼ Ce, Nd (Th 2 Zn 17 type) [13,14]; RZn 1.5 Ge 0.5 (R ¼ La-Sm), belonging to the AlB 2 type (or some AlB 2 derivative) [15], La 5 ZnGe 3 (La 5 CrGe 3 type) [16]. More recently, the crystal structure of the novel ytterbium zinc germanide (Yb 2 Zn 3 Ge 3.1 ) [17] and of the Re 2 Zn 3 Ge 6 compounds (Re ¼ La, Ce, Pr, Nd [18]) have been also elucidated.…”

EuZn2Si2 and EuZn2Ge2 Grown from Zn or Ga(ln)/Zn Flux

“…Secondly, only few ternary silicides and germanides were reported so far with europium and zinc: hitherto only EuZnSi and EuZnGe, both with a ZrBeSi-type structure, are known as ternary compounds in the systems Eu}Zn}+Si, Ge, (8), and no further characterization of their physical properties has been reported. In a later stage of the project we also explored mixed #ux systems such as Ga/Zn or In/Zn.…”

Crystal structure of the new ternary germanide Tb4Zn5Ge6

“…Literature reports contain only data about Eu-Zn-Ge, Yb-Zn-Ge and Ce-Zn-Ge systems. The following ternary compounds were found: EuGeZn (Ni 2 In structure type, P6 3 /mmc, Z = 2, a = 4.357Å and c = 8.621Å) [1], EuGeZn (KAuTe structure type, P6 3 /mmc, Z = 2, a = 4.372Å and c = 8.604Å) [2], YbZnGe (CeCu 2 structure type, Imma, Z = 4, a = 4.366Å, b = 7.288Å and c = 7.640Å) [1], YbZn 2 Ge 2 (BaAl 4 structure type, I4/mmm, Z = 2, a = 4.1765Å and c = 10.8663Å) [3] and Ce 4 Zn 8 Ge 11−x (Ce 4 Zn 8 Ge 11−x structure type, I4/nmm, Z = 2, a = 5.9468(6)Å and c = 24.740(3)Å) [4].…”