La3Ru8B6 and Y3Os8B6, new members of a homologous series R(A)nM3n−1B2n

Two new compounds, La₃Ru₈B₆ and Y₃Os₈B₆, were synthesized by arc melting the elements. Their structural characterization was carried out at room temperature on as-cast samples by using X-ray diffractometry. According to X-ray single-crystal diffraction results these borides crystallize in Fmmm space group (no. 69), Z=4, a=5.5607(1) Å, b=9.8035(3) Å, c=17.5524(4) Å, ρ=8.956 Mg/m³, μ=25.23 mm⁻¹ for La₃Ru₈B₆ and a=5.4792(2) Å, b=9.5139(4) Å, c=17.6972(8) Å, ρ=13.343 Mg/m³, μ=128.23 mm⁻¹ for Y₃Os₈B₆. The crystal structure of La₃Ru₈B₆ was confirmed from Rietveld refinement of X-ray powder diffraction data. Both La₃Ru₈B₆ and Y₃Os₈B₆ compounds are isotypic with the Ca₃Rh₈B₆ compound and their structures are built up from CeCo₃B₂-type and CeAl₂Ga₂-type structural fragments taken in ratio 2:1. They are the members of structural series R(A)_nM_3n−1B_2n with n=3 (R is the rare earth metal, A the alkaline earth metal, and M the transition metal). Structural and atomic parameters were also obtained for La_0.94Ru₃B₂ compound from Rietveld refinement (CeCo₃B₂-type structure, P6/mmm space group (no. 191), a=5.5835(9) Å, c=3.0278(6) Å).     

On phase equilibria and crystal structures in the systems Ce-Pd-B and Yb-Pd-B. Physical properties of R2Pd13.6B5 (R=Yb, Lu)

Phase equilibria and crystal structures of ternary compounds were determined in the systems Ce-Pd-B and Yb-Pd-B at 850 °C in the concentration ranges up to 45 and 33 at% of Ce and Yb, respectively, employing X-ray single crystal and powder diffraction. Phase relations in the Ce-Pd-B system at 850 °C are governed by formation of extended homogeneity fields, τ₂-CePd₈B_2−x (0.10<x<0.48); τ₃-Ce₃Pd_25−xB_8−y (1.06<x<1.87; 2.20<y<0.05), and CePd₃B_x (0<x<0.65) the latter arising from binary CePd₃. Crystallographic parameters for the new structure type τ₂-CePd₈B_2−x (space group C2/c, a=1.78104(4) nm, b=1.03723(3) nm, c=1.16314(3), β=118.515(1)° for x=0.46) were established from X-ray single crystal diffraction. The crystal structures of τ₂-CePd₈B_2−x and τ₃-Ce₃Pd_25−xB_3−y are connected in a crystallographic group-subgroup relationship. Due to the lack of suitable single crystals, the novel structure of τ₁-Ce₆Pd_47−xB₆ (x=0.2, C2/m space group, a=1.03594(2) nm, b=1.80782(3) nm, c=1.01997(2) nm, β=108.321(1)°) was determined from Rietveld refinement of X-ray powder diffraction data applying the structural model obtained from single crystals of homologous La₆Pd_47−xB₆ (x=0.19) (X-ray single crystal diffraction, new structure type, space group C2/m, a=1.03988(2) nm, b=1.81941(5) nm, c=1.02418(2) nm, β=108.168(1)°).The Yb-Pd-B system is characterized by one ternary compound, τ₁-Yb₂Pd₁₄B₅, forming equilibria with extended solution YbPd₃B_x, YbB₆, Pd₅B₂ and Pd₃B. The crystal structures of both Yb₂Pd₁₄B₅ and isotypic Lu₂Pd₁₄B₅ were determined from X-ray Rietveld refinements and found to be closely related to the Y₂Pd₁₄B₅-type (I4₁/amd). The crystal structure of binary Yb₅Pd_2−x (Mn₅C₂-type) was confirmed from X-ray single crystal data and a slight defect on the Pd site (x=0.06) was established.The three structures τ₁-Ce₆Pd_47−xB₆, τ₂-CePd₈B_2−x and τ₃-Ce₃Pd_25−xB_8−y are related and can be considered as the packings of fragments observed in Nd₂Fe₁₄B structure with different stacking of common structural blocks.Physical properties for Yb₂Pd_13.6B₅ (temperature dependent specific heat, electrical resistivity and magnetization) yielded a predominantly Yb-4f¹³ electronic configuration, presumably related with a magnetic instability below 2 K. Kondo interaction and crystalline electric field effects control the paramagnetic temperature domain.     

Nuclear pumping of a3He-Cs metal-vapor mixture

Results of a spectroscopic study of low temperature atmospheric density³He-Cs plasmas created by the³He(n, p)³T reaction at a thermal neutron flux of about 8×10¹¹ n/cm² s are presented. Measurements were carried out using the steady state nuclear reactor of the Moscow Engineering Physics Institute as a neutron source in the temperature range 70–450°C. The possibility of direct nuclear pumped³He-Cs laser action is indicated by calculations ofnp,ns CsI level populations.     

Crystal chemistry of ternary germanides,RM1−xGe2(1>x≤0)

In a systematic study of phase equilibria in R-M-Ge systems, where R is a rare earth metal (except Sc) and M is an iron triad metal, we have discovered 40 new ternary germanides lying on the RMGe₂–RGe₂ cross section. The structures of these species proved virtually identical and may be described in the framework of the CeNiSi₂ [1] or ZrSi₂ structural types [2]. In this work, we compared the crystal structures of all the discovered compounds and established the crystal chemical behavior in the CeNiSi₂–ZrSi₂ series.I. Franko Lvov State University Translated from Zhurnal Strukturnoi Khimii, Vol. 30, No. 5, pp. 96–101, September–October, 1989.     

Rh3B2−x, new structure type of binary borides with triclinic symmetry

New binary compound Rh₃B_2−x, x=0.167 crystallizing with its own structure type has been observed from the as cast alloys. The compound has a limited thermal stability range: it was found to decompose after annealing at 800 °C for 20 days. The crystal structure was investigated by X-ray diffraction from two single crystals using different techniques: CAD-4 automatic diffractometer, a=5.470(2), b=6.816(3), c=9.068(4), α=110.74(3), β=94.81(3), γ=90.44(2), 107 refined parameters, R₁=0.0418, wR₂=0.1087 for 1223 reflections with I>2σ(I_o), and BRUKER SMART AXS, a=5.483(4), b=6.818(6), c=9.072 (7), a=110.78(1), b=94.73(1), g=90.46(1), 107 refined parameters, R₁=0.0401, wR₂=0.0959 for 943 reflections with I>2σ(I_o). The Rh₃B_2−x, structure (space group , Pearson symbol aP30-1) is the first representative of structures with triclinic symmetry among binary borides and contains three different types of boron-boron aggregation: isolated boron atoms, B-B pairs and B₆ chain fragments.