Ni_5-δSn₄Zn (δ ∼ 0.25) from single-crystal data

Abstract

Work on the ternary Ni-Sn-Zn phase diagram revealed the existence of the title compound pentanickel tetratin zinc, Ni(3.17)Sn(2.67)Zn(0.67) [Schmetterer et al. (2012). Intermetallics, doi:10.1016/j.intermet.2011.05.025]. It crystallizes in the Ni(5)Ga(3)Ge(2) structure type (orthorhombic, Cmcm) and is related to the InNi(2) type (hexagonal, P6(3)/mmc) of the neighbouring Ni(3)Sn(2) high-temperature (HT) phase, but is not a superstructure. The crystal structure was determined using single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Its homogeneity range was characterized using electron microprobe analysis. Phase analysis at various temperatures indicated that the phase decomposes between 1073 and 1173 K, where a more extended ternary solid solution of the Ni(3)Sn(2) HT phase was found instead.