Growth of new ternary intermetallic phases from Ca/Zn eutectic flux

The eutectic 7.3:2.7 molar ratio mixture of calcium and zinc metal melts at 394 °C and was explored as a solvent for the growth of new intermetallic phases for potential use as hydrogen storage materials. The reaction of nickel in this molten mixture produces two new phases—the CaCu₅-related structure CaNi₂Zn₃ (P6/mmm, a=8.9814(5) Å, c=4.0665(5) Å) and a new cubic structure Ca₂₁Ni₂Zn₃₆ (Fd-3m, a=21.5051(4) Å). Palladium-containing reactions produced CaPd_0.85Zn_1.15 with the orthorhombic TiNiSi structure type (Pnma, a=7.1728(9) Å, b=4.3949(5) Å, c=7.7430(9) Å). Reactions of platinum in the Ca/Zn mixture produce Ca₆Pt₃Zn₅, with an orthorhombic structure related to that of W₃CoB₃ (Pmmn, a=13.7339(9) Å, b=4.3907(3) Å, c=10.7894(7) Å).