Crystal growth and structure determination of LaMIn5 (M = Co, Rh, Ir)
Abstract
The compounds CeMIn5 (M = Co, Rh, Ir) have been shown to exhibit heavy fermion behavior. In order to better understand this effect and the nature of the observed superconductivity, we have synthesized and characterized the non-magnetic analogs, LaMIn5 (M = Co, Rh, Ir). The structures of LaCoIn5, LaRhIn5, and LaIrIn5 were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. CeMIn5 and LaMIn5 compounds are isostructural and adopt a tetragonal structure with space group P4/mmm, Z = 1. Lattice parameters are a = 4.6399(4) and c = 7.6151(6) Å for LaCoIn5, a = 4.6768(3) and c = 7.5988(7) Å for LaRhIn5, and a = 4.6897(6) and c = 7.5788(12) Å for LaIrIn5. We compare these experimental data with band structure computations and examine structural trends that affect the magnetic and transport properties of these compounds. © 2002 Elsevier Science (USA).