Rare Earth Metal Ruthenium Gallides R2Ru3Ga9 with Y2Co3Ga9 Type Structure

The twelve isotypic intermetallic compounds R₂Ru₃Ga₉ with R = Y, La–Nd, Sm, Gd–Tm were prepared by arc‐melting of the elemental components. Their crystal structure was determined from single‐crystal X‐ray data of Dy₂Ru₃Ga₉: Cmcm, a = 1279.3(2) pm, b = 755.6(1) pm, c = 964.7(1) pm, Z = 4, R = 0.020 for 671 structure factors and 42 variable parameters. All atomic positions have within two standard deviations ideal occupancies (occupancy values vary between 98.8(5) and 101.2(6)%). The structure is briefly discussed, emphasizing its relation to other structures with a high content of gallium or aluminum.     

Preparation and Crystal Structures of Ternary Rare Earth Osmium Gallides LnOsGa3 (Ln = Gd—Tm) and LnOsGa3 (Ln = La—Nd)

The title compounds were prepared from the elemental components at high temperatures. The compounds LnOsGa₃ crystallize with the cubic TmRuGa₃ type structure which was refined from four‐circle X‐ray diffractometer data of TbOsGa₃: Pm3¯m, Z = 3, a = 640.8(1) pm, R = 0.014 for 173 structure factors and 10 variable parameters. The other gallides crystallize with a new structure type which was determined from single‐crystal X‐ray data of CeOsGa₄: Pmma, Z = 6, a = 963.9(2) pm, b = 880.1(1) pm, c = 767.0(1) pm, R = 0.030 for 744 F values and 56 variables. The structure may be considered as consisting of two kinds of alternating layers, although bonding within and between the layers is of similar strength. One kind of layers (A) is slightly puckered, two‐dimensionally infinite, hexagonal close packed, with the composition OsGa₃; the other kind of layers (B) is planar with the composition CeGa. The structure is closely related to that of Y₂Co₃Ga₉ where the corresponding layers have the compositions Co₃Ga₆ (A) and Y₂Ga₃ (B).     

Synthesis, structure, and physical properties of Ce2PdGa10

A new ternary compound, Ce₂PdGa₁₀, has been synthesized using Ga flux and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Ce₂PdGa₁₀ adopts a tetragonal structure in the I₄/mmm space group and is isostructural to Ce₂NiGa₁₀. Lattice parameters are , , , and Z=2. The compound is metallic (dρ/dT>0), with the resistance decreasing roughly linearly with temperature from 300 to 175 K. The magnetic susceptibility of Ce₂PdGa₁₀ is consistent with local-moment paramagnetism and no long-range magnetic ordering occurs down to 2 K. A large positive magnetoresistance over 200% is observed at 2 K for fields of 9 T. In this paper, we present the structure and physical properties of Ce₂PdGa₁₀ and compared them to CePdGa₆.     

Na30.5AgxGa60—x: A Three‐Dimensional Network Composed of Ga3, Ga12, and Ga18 Clusters

Single crystal X‐ray structural determinations for Na_30.5Ag_2.6(2)Ga_57.4(2) and Na_30.5Ag_6.4(2)Ga_53.6(2) (P6/mmm, Z = 1) reveal Ga₃ triangles, Ga₁₂ icosahedra, and Ga₁₈ hexacapped hexa gonal prisms that are interconnected into a three‐dimensional network. Silver substitutes on the outer gallium sites of the Ga₁₈ unit and presumably stabilizes the structure by reduction of the overall electron count. The two compositions are close to the limits of a nonstoichiometry region in Ga—Ag content, whereas the sodium content does not vary significantly. Stacking of the (Ga, Ag)₁₈ “drums” along creates a channel in which some typically less well localized sodium atoms reside; other sodium cations lie between the clusters and bond to gallium atoms in typical roles. Apparently isotypic analogues of this structure that are more or less well ordered are also known for other combinations of elements. Extended Hückel MO and band calculations were performed in order to gain a better understanding of the silver compound. The variable electron count observed falls in a region of relatively nonbonding states with only a small dependence on energy.     

Rare Earth Ruthenium Gallides with the Ideal Composition Ln2Ru3Ga5 (Ln = La–Nd,Sm) crystallizing with U2Mn3Si5 (Sc2Fe3Si5) Type Structure

The rare earth ruthenium gallides Ln₂Ru₃Ga₅ (Ln = La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm) were prepared by arc‐melting of cold‐pressed pellets of the elemental components. They crystallize with a tetragonal structure (P4/mnc, Z = 4) first reported for U₂Mn₃Si₅. The crystal structures of the cerium and samarium compounds were refined from single‐crystal X‐ray data, resulting in significant deviations from the ideal compositions: Ce₂Ru_2.31(1)Ga_5.69(1), a = 1135.10(8) pm, c = 580.58(6) pm, R_F = 0.022 for 742 structure factors; Sm₂Ru_2.73(2)Ga_5.27(2), a = 1132.95(9) pm, c = 562.71(6) pm, R_F = 0.026 for 566 structure factors and 32 variable parameters each. The deviations from the ideal compositions 2:3:5 are discussed. A mixed Ru/Ga occupancy occurs only for one atomic site. The displacement parameters are relatively large for atoms with mixed occupancy within their coordination shell and small for atoms with no neighboring sites of mixed occupancy. Chemical bonding is analyzed on the basis of interatomic distances. Ln–Ga bonding is stronger than Ln–Ru bonding. Ru–Ga bonding is strong and Ru–Ru bonding is weak. The Ga–Ga interactions are of similar strength as in elemental gallium.     

Synthesis, structure, and magnetism of Tb4PdGa12 and Tb4PtGa12

Single crystals of Tb₄MGa₁₂ (M=Pd, Pt) have been synthesized. The isostructural compounds crystallize in the cubic space group , with Z=2 and lattice parameters: a=8.5940(5) and 8.5850(3) Å for Tb₄PdGa₁₂ and Tb₄PtGa₁₂, respectively. The crystal structure consists of corner-sharing MGa₆ octahedra and TbGa₃ cuboctahedra. Magnetic measurements suggest that Tb₄PdGa₁₂ is an antiferromagnetic metamagnet with a Néel temperature of 16 K, while the Pt analog orders at T_N=12 K.