The crystal structure of La2Mg17-xSnx solid solution was determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction for the first time. This phase crystallizes in hexagonal symmetry with space group P63/mmc (a = 10.3911(3), c = 10.2702(3) Å, V = 960.36(6) Å3, R1 = 0.0180, wR2 = 0.0443 for the composition La3.65Mg30Sn1.10) and is related to the structure of CeMg10.3 and Th2Ni17-types which are derivative from the CaCu5-type. A series of isotypical solid solutions La2Mg17-xMx (M = Ni, Sn, Sb, x ~0.8) was synthesized and studied by X-ray powder diffraction, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and fluorescent X-ray spectroscopy. All solid solutions crystallize with the structure related to the Th2Ni17-type. The electrochemical hydrogenation confirmed the similar electrochemical behavior of all studied alloys. The amount of deintercalated hydrogen depends on the physical and chemical characteristics of doping elements and increases in the sequence Sn < Mg < Sb < Ni. The most geometrically advantageous sites are octahedral voids 6h of the initial structure, thus a coordination polyhedron for H-atom is an octahedron [HLa2(Mg,M)4].

La3.65Mg30Sb1.07, hexagonal, P63/mmc (no. 194), a = 10.3895(2) Å, c = 10.2547(3) Å, V = 958.61(5) Å3, Z = 1, R gt (F) = 0.0166, wR ref(F 2) = 0.0429, T = 293(2) K.

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The ternary Tb2–x Nd x Zn17–y Ni y (x = 0.5, y = 4.83) disordered phase belongs to the structural family based on the rhombohedral Th2Zn17 structure type. The structure is maximally disordered since all the sites are occupied by statistical mixtures of atoms. The Tb/Nd mixture of atoms occupies the 6c site (site symmetry 3m). The statistical mixtures Ni/Zn consisting of more Ni atoms are located in the 6c and 9d (symmetry .2/m) sites. In the following 18f (site symmetry .2) and 18h (site symmetry .m) sites are located Zn/Ni statistical mixtures which consist of more Zn atoms. Zn/Ni atoms form three-dimensional networks with hexagonal channels that fill statistical mixtures of Tb/Nd and Ni/Zn. The Tb2–x Nd x Zn17–y Ni y compound belongs to the family of intermetallic phases capable of absorbing hydrogen. In the structure, there are three types of voids, namely, 9e (site symmetry .2/m), 3b (site symmetry \overline{3}m) and 36i (site symmetry 1), in which hydrogen can be inserted, and the maximum total absorption capacity can reach 1.21 wt% H2. Electrochemical hydrogenation shows that the phase absorbs 1.03% of H2, which indicates partial filling of the voids with H atoms.