The Dy–Ni–Si system as a representative of the rare earth–Ni–Si family: Its isothermal section and new rare-earth nickel silicides

•Dy–Ni–Si isothermal section was obtained at 870 K/1070 K.•Twelve known ternary dysprosium nickel silicides were confirmed in Dy–Ni–Si.•Nine new dysprosium nickel silicides were detected in Dy–Ni–Si.•Seventeen new rare earth nickel silicides were detected in {Y, Gd–Tm}–Ni–Si.•Tb3Ni8Si, Dy3Ni8Si, Ho3Ni12Si4 and DyNi2Si show ferromagnetic-like ordering.

The Dy–Ni–Si system has been investigated at 1070 K by X-ray and microprobe analysis. The system contains the 12 known compounds DyNi10Si2, DyNi5Si3, DyNi6Si6, DyNi4Si, DyNi2Si2, Dy2Ni3Si5, DyNiSi3, Dy3Ni6Si2, DyNiSi2, DyNiSi, Dy3NiSi3, Dy3NiSi2, and the new compounds Dy34Ni16−27Si50−39 (AlB2-type), Dy2Ni15.2−14.1Si1.8−2.9 (Th2Zn17-type), ~Dy11Ni65Si24, ~Dy16Ni62Si22 (unknown structures), DyNi7Si6 (GdNi7Si6-type), Dy3Ni8Si (Ce3Co8Si-type), DyNi2Si (YPd2Si-type), ~Dy40Ni47Si13 and ~Dy5Ni2Si3 (unknown structures). Quasi–binary solid solutions were detected at 1070 (870 K) for Dy2Ni17, DyNi5, DyNi7, DyNi3, DyNi2, DyNi, DySi2 and DySi1.67. No detectable solubility is observed for the other binary compounds of the Dy–Ni–Si system.The crystal structures of new phases RNi7Si6 (GdNi7Si6-type), R3Ni8Si (Ce3Co8Si-type), RNi2Si (YPd2Si-type) and R3Ni12Si4 (Gd3Ru4Al12-type), with R=Y, Gd–Tm, has been studied. Magnetic properties of few representative compounds are also reported.

Graphical abstractThe Dy–Ni–Si system has been investigated at 1070 K by X-ray and microprobe analysis. The system contains the 12 known compounds DyNi10Si2, DyNi5Si3, DyNi6Si6, DyNi4Si, DyNi2Si2, Dy2Ni3Si5, DyNiSi3, Dy3Ni6Si2, DyNiSi2, DyNiSi, Dy3NiSi3, Dy3NiSi2, and the new compounds Dy34Ni16−27Si50−39, Dy2Ni15.2−14.1Si1.8−2.9, ~Dy11Ni65Si24, ~Dy16Ni62Si22, DyNi7Si6, Dy3Ni8Si, DyNi2Si, ~Dy40Ni47Si13 and ~Dy5Ni2Si3. Quasi–binary solid solutions were detected for Dy2Ni17, DyNi5, DyNi7, DyNi3, DyNi2, DyNi, DySi2 and DySi1.67.The crystal structures and magnetic properties of new phases RNi7Si6 (GdNi7Si6-type), R3Ni8Si (Ce3Co8Si-type), RNi2Si (YPd2Si-type) and R3Ni12Si4 (Gd3Ru4Al12-type), with R=Y, Gd–Tm, are also reported.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide