“…3.1 Layer structures in the La 0:8 Mg 0:2 Ni 3:4Àx Co 0:3 -(MnAl) x (0 < x < 0:4) alloys and description of the crystal structure As mentioned in the previous section, several intermetallic compounds, have been reported in the La-Ni or La-Mg-Ni alloy system, such as LaNi 2 (meta-stable, cF24-MgCu 2 , cubic Laves phase: 1,2,16) ), LaMgNi 4 (cF24-MgSnCu 4 , cubic ordered Laves phase 14,15) ), LaNi 3 (hR36-PuNi 3 , 1:3R-structure 1) ), LaMg 2 Ni 9 (hR36-PuNi 3 , 1:3R-structure 13) ), La 2 Ni 7 (hP36-Ce 2 Ni 7 , 2:7H-structure 1) ), La 17) ), and LaNi 5 (hP6-CaCu 5…”