Interaction of the Components and the Crystal Structure of Compounds in the Eu–Zn–Ga System

摘要

We establish phase equilibria in the Eu–Zn–Ga ternary system for a partial isothermal section within the range of europium concentrations 0–33.3 at. at 400°C. The X-ray powder diffraction analysis, scanning electron microscopy, and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy are used to identify the phases and investigate the crystal structures and compositions of the analyzed materials. The phase equilibria of the analyzed Eu–Zn–Ga system at 400°C are characterized by the formation of four solid solutions, gallium solubility in EuZn13, EuZn11, and EuZn5 and zinc solubility in EuGa4, as well as of one continuous EuZn2–EuGa2 solid solution, and the existence of a ternary intermetallic compound, EuZnx?Ga3?–?x, x = 0.15. This new compound crystallizes in the CeNiSi2 structural type (space group Cmcm) with a = 4.2900(6) ?, b = 18.405(2) ?, and c = 4.3836(7) ?. The analyzed partial isothermal section has eight ternary phase fields at 400°C.