β-HfCuGe—Aβ-HfCuGe—A new polymorph of HfCuGe with a novel structure type

The structure and elementary physical properties of a new intermetallic compound, β-HfCuGeβ-HfCuGe, are reported. β-HfCuGeβ-HfCuGe has a tetragonal structure (space group I4/mmm) with lattice constants of a=3.7634(11)Å and c=13.499(4) Å. The structure, which consists of double layers of Hf stacked with edge-sharing CuGe4 squares, is not typical for intermetallic compounds and appears to be a new structure type. The compound is a weak paramagnet and a normal metal down to 0.4 K.

Crystal structure of β-HfCuGeβ-HfCuGe (right) and the coordination of the different atoms in ββ-HfCuGe (left).Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slideHighlights
► Layered intermetallic compound.
► BCC Hf layers and square planar CuGe network.
► Metallic conductor and paramagnetic.