LAUSR

Abstract Ternary aluminides, R10(Co,Ni)Al3, R14(Co,Ni)3Al3, R6(Co,Ni)2Al, R3Co3Al and R4CoAl (R = Y, Gd-Tm), have been prepared by arc-melting of the metals and annealed at 600 °C. Their crystal structure has been investigated by means of powder X-ray diffraction analysis. The phases belong to the known structure types, namely, Y10RuCd3 (space group P63/mmc, Pearson symbol hP28, Z = 2), Gd14Co3In3 (space group P42/nmc, Pearson symbol tP80, Z = 4), Ho6Co2Ga (space group Immm, Pearson symbol oI36, Z = 4), Y3Co3Ga (space group Cmcm, Pearson symbol oC28, Z = 4) and Gd4RhIn (space group F 4 ¯ 3m, Pearson symbol cF96, Z = 16). Structural peculiarities, coordination and interactions of the atoms in the Ho6Co2Al, Ho10CoAl3 and Tm14Ni3Al3 compounds have been briefly discussed. Bulk magnetic studies were performed for representative Ho10CoAl3, Er10CoAl3 and Tm10CoAl3 compounds and it was found that they order antiferromagnetically at temperatures TN equal to 23.8 K, 14.8 K, and 7.4 K, respectively.