The YbNi2-xSn compound, a new structure type of ternary stannides

The crystal structure of the new ternary stannide YbNi2-xSn [space group P6(3)/mmc (N 194), z=4] was investigated using single crystal X-ray diffraction data (automatic single crystal diffractometers Philips PW1100 and Bruker SMART CCD, Mo Kalpha radiation). Three crystals with different composition YbNi1.695Sn [a=4.424(4) Angstrom, c=15.232(6) Angstrom, V=258.2(4) Angstrom(3), p=10.066 g cm(-1), mu=57.32 mm(-1)], YbNi1.705Sn [a=4.424(5) Angstrom, c=15.179(7) Angstrom, V=257.3(4) Angstrom(3), rho=10.116 g cm(-3), mu=57.59 mm(-1)] and YbNi1.745Sn [a=4.303(6) Angstrom, c=16.001(9) Angstrom, V=256.7(5) Angstrom(3), rho=10.199 g cm(-3), mu=58.00 mm(-1)] were refined to R=0.0494, wR(2)=0.1330, to R=0.0782, wR(2)=0.1916 and to R=0.0643, wR(2)=0.1460, respectively. The compounds belongs to a new structure type of intermetallic compounds and are formed from two hypothetical structures YbNi1.5Sn (space group P6(3)/mmc, z=4) and YbNi2Sn (space group P6(3)/mmc, z=4) containing segments of the MnCu2Al, ZrBeSi and ZrPt2Al structures.