X-ray investigations of ternary R3Pd4Ge4 samples

Ternary R3Pd4Ge4 samples (R=Nd, Eu, Er) were structurally investigated by means of X-ray single crystal and powder diffraction. The Er3Pd3.68(1)Ge4 compound belongs to the Gd3Cu4Ge4 structure type. No ternary R3Pd4Ge4 compound when R is Nd or Eu was observed. The Nd and Eu containing samples appeared to be multiphase. Ternary phases observed in the Nd3Pd4Ge4 and Eu3Pd4Ge4 alloys and their crystallographic characteristics are the following: NdPd2Ge2, CeGa2Al2 structure type, space group I4/mmm; NdPd0.6Ge1.4, AlB2 structure type, space group P6/mmm; Nd(Pd0.464(1)Ge0.536(1))2, KHg2 structure type, space group Imma; Eu(Pd,Ge)2, AlB2 structure type, space group P6/mmm; EuPdGe, EuNiGe structure type, space group P21/c, and ternary compound with unknown structure.