CeNi1-xSb1+yBi1-y Phases with ZrCuSiAs-type and CeNi1.26Sb2 with CaBe2Ge2-type Structure

Block- and platelet-shaped single crystals of several CeNi 1-x Sb 1+y Bi 1-y phases with ZrCuSiAstype structure (space group P4=nmm) were grown from a CeNiSb precursor in bismuth fluxes. The structures of CeNiSb 1.19 Bi 0.81 , CeNi 0.80 Sb 1.16 Bi 0.84 and CeNi 0.75 Sb 1.74 Bi 0.26 were refined from single-crystal X-ray diffractometer data. The 2b nickel site can be fully or partially occupied, and the bismuth square nets show solid solutions with antimony. CaBe 2 Ge 2- type CeNi 2-x Sb 2 crystals occur as by-products of the crystal growth experiments. The structure of a CeNi 1.26 Sb 2 crystal has been refined. The small difference of the compositions hamper phase analytical studies by powder X-ray diffraction. A polycrystalline CeNiSbBi sample showed Curie-Weiss behavior with an experimental magnetic moment of 2.56(1) μ B per Ce atom, indicating purely trivalent cerium. No magnetic ordering is detected down to 2:5 K. A 121 Sb Mössbauer spectrum showed an isomer shift of δ = -8.06(6)mms -1 , substantiating the antimonide character.