Crystal structure of the RZn1-xSb2 compounds (R=La, Ce)

The crystal structure of the RZn1-xSb2 compounds annealed at 1070 and 870 K was studied by X-ray powder diffraction. Two structural modifications of the RZn1-xSb2 compounds were observed: the NdAgAs, type structure with a=0.43794, b=0.44022, c=1.05044 nm and a=0.43493, b=0.43742, c = 1.04763 nm for LaZn1-xSb2 and CeZn1-xSb2 respectively, when the compounds were annealed at 1070 K and the HfCuSi2 type structure with a=0.43900, c = 1.0508 nm and a=0.43635, c=1.04160 nm for LaZn0.6Sb2 and CeZn0.8Sb2, respectively, when the compounds were annealed at 870 K. The crystal structure was refined using the Rietveld method.