Rare Earth-rich Cadmium Compounds RE4TCd (T = Ni, Pd, Ir, Pt)

Abstract

New intermetallic compounds RE4TCd (RE = Y, La-Nd, Sm, Gd-Tm, Lu; T = Ni, Pd, Ir, Pt) were synthesized by melting of the elements in sealed tantalum tubes in a highfrequency furnace. They crystallize with the Gd4RhIn-type structure, space group F 4̄3m, Z = 16. The four gadolinium compounds were characterized by single crystal X-ray diffractometer data: a = 1361.7(1) pm, wR2 = 0.062, 456 F2 values, 19 variables for Gd4NiCd; a = 1382.1(2) pm, wR2 = 0.077, 451 F2 values, 19 variables for Gd4PdCd; a = 1363.6(2) pm, wR2 = 0.045, 494 F2 values, 19 variables for Gd4IrCd; a = 1379.0(1) pm, wR2 = 0.045, 448 F2 values, 19 variables for Gd4PtCd. The rare earth atoms build up transition metal-centered trigonal prisms which are condensed via common corners and edges, leading to three-dimensional adamantane-related networks. The cadmium atoms form Cd4 tetrahedra which fill voids left in the prisms’ network.