New real ternary and pseudoternary phases in the Li–Au–In system

Two real ternary lithium gold indides LiAu2In and Li280Au22In130 (Li0.65Au0.05In0.30) were found in the Li–Au–In system. They are isostructural to the respective Ag-alloys. LiAu2In crystallizes in the MnCu2Al-type structure (Fm-3m, Heusler phase, a=6.4982(8) Å, based on single crystal XRD-data) and Li280Au22In130 in the Li278Ag40In114-type structure (F-43m, a=19.9970(2) Å, based on powder XRD-data). The analogy of the two ternary systems Li–Au–In and Li–Ag–In is additionally reaffirmed by the wide homogeneity range of the pseudoternary solid solution with NaTl-type structure (Zintl phase),which expands not only in the direction of the quasibinary cut Li(AuxIn1−x) with 0≤x≤0.5, but also into the directions of both higher and lower Li-concentrations.

Graphical abstractTwo real ternary compounds (1: Heusler phase, 2: n=6 variant of a cubic n×n×n W-type superstructure) together with one pseudoternary compound (3: Zintl phase with its broad homogeneity range).Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slideHighlights► “Real” ternary phases were found in the Li–Au–In systems: LiAu2In and Li280Au22In130. ► The homogeneity range of “pseudoternary” Li(AuxIn1−x) extends to the binary phase x=0. ► The three-element sets, both Li, Au, In and Li, Ag, In, are compound formers⁎. (*in the definition of Villars et al., J. Alloys Compd. 317–318, 2001, 26).