La6Pd13Cd4 and Ce6Pd13Cd4 with palladium-centred rare earth octahedra: synthesis, structure, and chemical bonding

Abstract  

The palladium-rich cadmium compounds La₆Pd₁₃Cd₄ and Ce₆Pd₁₃Cd₄ were synthesized by induction melting the elements in sealed tantalum ampoules and subsequent annealing. They were characterized by X-ray powder and single-crystal diffraction: Na₁₆Ba₆N type, Im`3] mIm\overline{3} m, a = 988.12(9) pm, wR2 = 0.0463, 225 F ² values, and 12 variables for La₆Pd₁₃Cd₄, and a = 982.1(2) pm, wR2 = 0.0521, 215 F ² values, and 12 variables for Ce₆Pd₁₃Cd₄. The striking structural motifs are palladium-centred La₆ and Ce₆ octahedra, which are packed in a bcc fashion. Further palladium and cadmium atoms built up three-dimensional Pd₃Cd] networks in which the La₆Pd and Ce₆Pd octahedra are embedded. Chemical bonding analyses show that the dominant interaction occurs within the palladium-centred RE ₆ octahedra, while weaker bonding exists between them.