Abstract
The rare earth compounds RE 2Ge 2In ( RE = La , Ce, Pr, Nd) were synthesized by arc-melting the elements under argon and investigated by X-ray diffraction on both powders and single crystals. The structures of the praseodymium and neodymium compounds have been refined on the basis of the single crystal data: Mo 2FeB 2 type, P 4 / m b m , a = 753.2 ( 1 ) pm , c = 434.69 ( 6 ) pm , w R 2 = 0.0701 , 272 F 2 values for Pr 2Ge 2In and a = 749.6 ( 1 ) pm , c = 432.49 ( 7 ) pm , w R 2 = 0.0457 , 317 F 2 values for Nd 2Ge 2In, with 12 variable parameters for each refinement. These structures can be considered as intergrowths of distorted AlB 2 and CsCl related slabs of compositions REGe 2 and REIn, respectively. The Ge Ge distances within the AlB 2 slabs are 253 pm for both Pr 2Ge 2In and Nd 2Ge 2In. Magnetic measurements have indicated that La 2Ge 2In is a diamagnet, whereas Ce 2Ge 2In, Pr 2Ge 2In and Nd 2Ge 2In exhibit localized magnetism of RE 3+ ions with complex behavior at the lowest temperatures hinting at canted antiferromagnetism or spin glass freezing. All four compounds studied show metallic electrical conductivity.
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