The phase diagram of the Yb-Ge system

The phase diagram of the Yb-Ge system was investigated over the whole compositional range by means of differential thermal analysis (DTA), X-ray diffraction (XRD), optical microscopy (LOM) and electron probe microanalysis (EMPA). Besides the already known intermediate phases Yb2Ge (PbCl2-type), Yb5Ge3 (Mn5Si 3-type), Yb11Ge10 (Ho11Ge 10-type) and Yb3Ge5 (Th3Pd 5-type), two new compounds have been found: Yb5Ge 4 (Sm5Ge4-type) and Yb3Ge 8, which crystallize with a new triclinic structure type. All the compounds formed in the system have been completely structurally characterized by single crystal determinations. © 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.