SrPdGa3 type gallides RERhGa3 with RE=La, Ce and Pr

Abstract

Abstract The ternary rare earth gallides RERhGa3 with RE = La, Ce and Pr were synthesized by arc-melting and subsequent annealing in a muffle furnace. The gallides were characterized through Guinier powder patterns and the structure of LaRhGa3 was refined from single-crystal X-ray diffraction data: SrPdGa3 type, Cmcm, a = 639.2(2), b = 1030.9(2), c = 589.3(2) pm, wR2 = 0.0964, 416 F 2 values and 19 variables. The rhodium and gallium atoms build up a three-dimensional polyanionic network [RhGa3] which is stabilized through Rh–Ga (245–251 pm) and Ga–Ga (267–295 pm) bonds and filled by the lanthanum atoms. The crystal chemical relationship with the structures of LaRh2Ge2 (ThCr2Si2 type), LaRh2Ga2 (CaBe2Ge2 type) and LaRhGe3 (BaNiSn3 type) is discussed.