Lattice distortions in layered type arsenides LnTAs{sub 2} (Ln=La-Nd, Sm, Gd, Tb; T=Ag, Au): Crystal structures, electronic and magnetic properties

The lanthanide coinage-metal diarsenides LnTAs{sub 2} (Ln=La, Ce-Nd, Sm; T=Ag, Au) have been reinvestigated and their structures have been refined from single crystal X-ray data. Two different distortion variants of the HfCuSi{sub 2} type are found: PrAgAs{sub 2}, NdAgAs{sub 2}, SmAgAs{sub 2}, GdAgAs{sub 2}, TbAgAs{sub 2}, NdAuAs{sub 2} and SmAuAs{sub 2} crystallize as twofold superstructures in space group Pmcn with the As atoms of their planar layers forming zigzag chains, whereas LaAgAs{sub 2}, CeAgAs{sub 2} and PrAuAs{sub 2} adopt a fourfold superstructure (space group Pmca) with cis-trans chains of As atoms. The respective atomic positions can be derived from the HfCuSi{sub 2} type by group-subgroup relations. The compounds with zigzag chains of As atoms exhibit metallic behaviour while those with cis-trans chains are semiconducting as measured on powder pellets. The majority of the compounds including 4f elements show antiferromagnetic ordering at T{sub N}