Single Crystal Synthesis and Characterization of R₄Ni₂InGe₄ (R = Gd, Tb)

Rare-earth (R) germanides are known for their diverse physical properties such as complex magnetic ordering (e.g., RT₂Ge₂ [1]). R₄T₂InGe₄ (T = Fe, Co, Ni, Ru, Rh, Ir) was the first reported variant of quaternary compound belonging to this family. They manifest a monoclinic structure and have been synthesized via arc-melting [2]. Although they have been known for almost a decade, few of their properties have been examined. To start our exploration of the quaternary rare earth germanides, we grew single crystals of Gd₄Ni₂InGe₄ and Tb₄Ni₂InGe₄ from R-Ni-In-Ge melt, extending the study on previously reported single crystal R₄Ni₂InGe₄ (R = Dy, Ho, Er, and Tm) series grown out of In flux [3]. The samples were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, resistivity and magnetization measurements.

[1] Szytula, A et al., (1994). Handbook of Crystal Structures and Magnetic Properties of Rare Earth Intermetallics. CRC Press.

[2] Anton O. Oliynyk et al., Inorg. Chem. 2015, 54, 6, 2780−2792

[3] James R. Salvador et al., Inorg. Chem. 2006, 45, 18, 7091−7099