Ternary intermetallic compounds R11Ru4In9 (RPr, Nd) and R10Ru1+xIn3-x (RHo, Er, Lu): Synthesis, crystal structure and physical properties

Abstract

Two series of novel intermetallic compounds R₁₁Ru₄In₉ (RPr, Nd) and R₁₀Ru_1+xIn_3-x (RHo, Er, Lu) were synthesized by arc melting of components and subsequent annealing at 600 °C. Intermetallics R₁₁Ru₄In₉ crystallize in a orthorhombic unit cell, with Nd₁₁Pd₄In₉ structure type, space group Сmmm, Pearson symbol oS48, Z = 2. The cell parameters: a = 14.736(2) Å, b = 22.013(2) Å, c = 3.7892(3) Å (Pr); a = 14.669(3) Å, b = 21.929(3) Å, c = 3.7805(3) Å (Nd). Intermetallics R₁₀Ru_1+xIn_3-x crystallize in a hexagonal unit cell, with anti-Co₂Al₅ structure type, space group P6₃/mmc, Pearson symbol hP28, Z = 2. The cell parameters: a = 9.4891(11) Å, c = 9.3254(9) Å (Ho); a = 9.4387(5) Å, c = 9.2815(6) Å (Er); a = 9.3365(6) Å, c = 9.2083(6) Å (Lu). The structure of Lu₁₀Ru_1+xIn_3-x (x = 1.2) was determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction and structures of other compounds was determined by the Rietveld method using powder X-ray diffraction pattern. Nd₁₁Ru₄In₉ and Er₁₀Ru_1+xIn_3-x (x = 1.1) compounds are characterized by the presence of a magnetic transition at 37 K and 13.5 K, respectively. The observed magnetic transition is most likely indicative of a transition to the spin glass state.