Syntheses and Structure of Er6Co2.19(1)In0.81(1)

Summary. The erbium–cobalt–indide Er₆Co_2.19(1)In_0.81(1) was prepared by arc-melting of the pure elements. Single crystals were obtained through a special annealing procedure. Er₆Co_2.19(1)In_0.81(1) crystallizes with the orthorhombic Ho₆Co₂Ga structure: Immm, a = 934.3(1), b = 936.4(1), c = 985.4(1) pm, wR2 = 0.0557, 892 F ² values, and 35 variable parameters. The structure contains two gama;crystallographically independent Co₂ dumb-bells at Co–Co distances of 223 and 236 pm, respectively. Further structural motifs are distorted octahedral Er₆ clusters (336–401 pm Er–Er) which are condensed to a three-dimensional network via all corners. The In2 atoms have a distorted icosahedral erbium coordination (329–355 pm In2–Er). These icosahedra show an orthorhombically distorted bcc packing.