Rare Earth-rich Magnesium Compounds RE4PdMg (RE=Y,Sm,Gd) and RE4PtMg (RE = Y, Nd, Sm, Gd)

Abstract

The rare earth-rich intermetallic magnesium compounds RE4PdMg (RE =Y, Sm,Gd) and RE4PtMg (RE =Y,Nd, Sm, Gd) were prepared by melting of the elements in sealed tantalum tubes in an induction furnace. These new Gd4RhIn-type compounds were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction. The structures of the gadolinium compounds were refined from single crystal X-ray diffractometer data: space group F4̅3m, Z = 16, a = 1388.1(2) pm, wR2 = 0.0392, 381 F2 values and 20 variables for Gd4Pd1.14Mg0.86 and a = 1387.6(2) pm, wR2 = 0.0519, 409 F2 values, BASF = 0.47(4) and 21 variables for Gd4Pt1.07Mg0.93. The gadolinium atoms build up palladium (platinum) centered trigonal prisms which are condensed via common corners and edges, leading to three-dimensional networks. The magnesium atoms form Mg4 tetrahedra which show slight mixing with the platinum metal.