Rare-earth metal gallium silicides via the gallium self-flux method. Synthesis, crystal structures, and magnetic properties of RE(Ga1−xSix)2 (RE=Y, La–Nd, Sm, Gd–Yb, Lu)

Abstract

Fifteen ternary rare-earth metal gallium silicides have been synthesized using molten Ga as a molten flux. They have been structurally characterized by single-crystal and powder X-ray diffraction to form with three different structures—the early to mid-late rare-earth metals RE¼ La–Nd, Sm, Gd–Ho, Yb and Y form compounds with empirical formulae RE(GaxSi1� x)2 (0.38rxr0.63), which crystallize with the tetragonal a-ThSi2 structure type (space group I41/amd, No. 141; Pearson symbol tI12). The compounds of the late rare-earth crystallize with the orthorhombic a-GdSi2 structure type (space group Imma, No.