Intermediate-valent Ce23Ru7Mg4 and RE23Ru7Mg4 (RE = La, Pr, Nd) with Pr23Ir7Mg4-type Structure

Abstract

The rare earth-rich magnesium compounds RE23Ru7Mg4 (RE = La, Ce, Pr, Nd) were synthesized from the elements in sealed tantalum ampoules in an induction furnace. They crystallize with the hexagonal non-centrosymmetric Pr23Ir7Mg4-type structure, space group P63mc. The structures of La23Ru6.88(1)Mg4 (a = 1017.7(4), c = 2286.5(5) pm, wR2 = 0.0277, 2708 F2, 71 variables), Ce23Ru7Mg4 (a = 993.5(3), c = 2243.9(8) pm, wR2 = 0.0573, 2268 F2, 70 variables), and Pr23Ru7Mg4 (a = 996.8(3), c = 2241.5(6) pm, wR2 = 0.0492, 2565 F2, 70 variables) have been refined from single-crystal diffractometer data. The structures are built up from complex threedimensional networks of edge- and corner-sharing RE6Ru trigonal prisms. Cavities within these networks are filled by slightly elongated Mg4 tetrahedra (311 - 315 pm in Pr23Ru7Mg4) and RE6 octahedra. The cerium compound has an a parameter which is even smaller than that of Nd23 Ru7Mg4, indicating intermediate-valent cerium. This was confirmed by magnetic susceptibility measurements. Ce23Ru7Mg4 shows an average, reduced magnetic moment of 2.01 μB/Ce atom. Pr23Ru7Mg4 contains stable trivalent praseodymium (3.64 μB/Pr atom)