Ternary rare earth (R) alloys occurring in some ∼RPd2−xGex sections

Ternary rare earth (R) alloys with palladium and germanium, on a stoichiometric ratio close to RPd2−xGex, were synthesised and structurally determined. New compounds were identified for R=La, Pr, Nd, Gd, Tb, Dy and Y and their crystal structures were found to be related to the hexagonal hP3–AlB2 type. A homogeneous alloy was obtained for Lu too, on the stoichiometric ratio 1:1:1. This compound was found to crystallise in the orthorhombic oI12–KHg2 (=CeCu2) type structure, like the other equiatomic RPdGe alloys. In some systems the stability composition range of AlB2 structure type was also analysed.