Y2Rh3Ge, a rhombohedral substitution variant of the MgCu2 type

The structure of Y₂Rh₃Ge has been determined and refined from single-crystal X-ray diffraction data (R = 0.042). It is a rhombohedral, ternary, ordered variant of the cubic Laves structure type MgCu₂, with space group and c = 11.82(1)Å for the triple hexagonal cell. The c/a ratio (2.13) is significantly lower than the value for the triple hexagonal cell of the cubic lattice of the parent structure type (2.45), resulting in shorter distances between Rh and Ge atoms than between Rh atoms. The isotypy of Pr₂Rh₃Si, Er₂Rh₃Si, Pr₂Rh₃Ge, and Er₂Rh₃Ge has been established from Guinier films. The Y₂Rh₃Ge structure is compared with the binary compound YRh₂, crystallizing with the MgCu₂ structure, and with three other simple, ternary, ordered substitution derivatives of the Laves phase types MgZn₂ and MgCu₂.