Mixed-metal flux synthesis of quaternary RMn2TrxZn20−x compounds with Tr=Al, In

Eighteen new intermetallic compounds RMn₂Tr_xZn_20−x (2<x<7; R=rare-earth metal; Tr=Al, In) were synthesized using low-melting mixtures of (Tr/Zn) as a solvent. Structural refinement using single-crystal X-ray diffraction data shows that the compounds are substituted variants of the cubic CeCr₂Al₂₀-type structure (Fd-3m, Z=8; unit cell parameters vary from a=14.1152(3)Å for YbMn₂Al_5.3Zn_14.7 to a=14.8125(4)Å for SmMn₂In_5.9Zn_14.1). The Zn and Tr elements show site preferences in the indium compounds, but not in the aluminum analogs. The substitution of trielide element for zinc modifies the valence electron count of the compounds to allow for the incorporation of Mn into the structure. Magnetic susceptibility data show no evidence of magnetic ordering down to 3 K.