Abstract
A series of ternary aluminide intermetallics with a new structure type were formed from the reaction of gold and rare-earth metals in aluminum flux. The REAu 3Al 7 structure was obtained with all rare earths RE with the exception of La and Eu. These materials crystallize in the rhombohedral space group R-3c, with unit cell parameters a=8.0922(6) A ̊ and c=21.066(2) A ̊ for PrAu 3Al 7 as an example. The variation in cell edges with rare-earth size is regular with the exception of the Yb analogue. The possible mixed valency indicated by this result was confirmed by magnetic susceptibility measurements. Density functional theory-based band structure calculations on YbAu 3Al 7 indicate the ytterbium f-orbitals are located just below the Fermi level, further supporting the mixed valence description of this material.
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