Preparation and crystal structure of the carbides R11Ni60C6 (R≡Y, Dy-Lu)

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/0925-8388(92)90583-U

The carbides R₁₁Ni₆₀C₆ (R ≡ Y, Dy-Lu) were prepared from powders of the elemental components by arc-melting of cold pressed pellets and subsequent annealing. They crystallize with a cubic structure of space group Im3m which was determined from single-crystal X-ray data of Yb₁₁Ni₆₀C₆ (a = 1244.1(1) pm, Z = 2) and refined to a residual of R = 0.024 for 257 structure factors and 26 variable parameters. The metal atoms have high coordination numbers, as is typical of intermetallic phases. The carbon atoms occupy an octahedral site with one ytterbium and five nickel atoms as neighbours. This is only partially reflected by the hydrolysis of Lu₁₁Ni₆₀C₆ in diluted hydrochloric acid which results in mainly methane with substantial amounts of ethane and ethylene. The compounds are ferromagnetic.