Crystal structure refinement of the SmPd3In2 compound

The SmPd 3 In 2 compound was synthesized from the elements by arc-melting followed by annealing at 870 K. The crystal structure was refined from powder synchrotron X-ray diffraction. It crystallizes with the CePd 3 In 2 -type structure, space group Pnma , a = 10.2859(13), b = 4.5865(4), c = 9.7474(12) Å, Z = 4, R f = 2.56 %, R Bragg = 3.74 %. The refined lattice parameters of the SmPd 3 In 2 compound are the smallest in the R E Pd 3 In 2 series, where RE = La, Ce, Pr, Nd, and Sm. The structure is two-layered along the shortest cell parameter and contains chains of octahedral voids [E Sm 2 Pd 2 In 2 ] extended along the [010] direction. The crystal structure of the SmPdIn compound (the ZrNiAl-type structure, space group P -62 m, a = 7.6596(10), c = 3.9366(6) Å, Z = 3, R f = 2.91 %, R Bragg = 5.05 %), which is in equilibrium with SmPd 3 In 2 , was also refined. Keywords: samarium, palladium, indium, intermetallics, crystal structure.