Er₃Si_5-x – a modulated derivative of the structure type AlB₂

Chem. Met. Alloys 1 (2008) 185-191

https://doi.org/10.30970/cma1.0057

Svitlana PUKAS, Lev AKSELRUD, Radovan CERNY, Roman GLADYSHEVSKII

The crystal structure of the new compound Er₃Si_5-х (x = 0.24) obtained at 600ºС was studied by X-ray single-crystal diffraction. This orthorhombic structure can be derived from the structure type AlB₂ by considering an ordered distribution of vacancies on the small-atom sites and appeared to be modulated along one crystallographic direction: superspace group Amm2(α00), a = 0.40872(2), b = 1.13516(5), c = 0.65739(3) nm, q = 0.2223(1)a*. In contrast to the hexagonal structure type Th₃Pd₅ with empty triangular channels, in the structure of Er₃Si_5-x Si atoms move from one trigonal prism to a neighboring one according to the modulation wave, the direction of the modulation vector being parallel to the prism axes.

Projection of the structure of Er₃Si_5-х along [1 0 0].

Keywords

Erbium silicide / Modulated structure / Single-crystal diffraction