Ca3Pt4+xGe13−y and Yb3Pt4Ge13: new derivatives of the Pr3Rh4Sn13 structure type

The new phases Ca(3)Pt(4+x)Ge(13-y) (x = 0.1; y = 0.4; space group I2(1)3; a = 18.0578(1) Å; R(I) = 0.063; R(P) = 0.083) and Yb(3)Pt(4)Ge(13) (space group P4(2)cm; a = 12.7479(1) Å; c = 9.0009(1) Å; R(I) = 0.061, R(P) = 0.117) are obtained by high-pressure, high-temperature synthesis and crystallize in new distortion variants of the Pr(3)Rh(4)Sn(13) type. Yb(3)Pt(4)Ge(13) features Yb in a temperature-independent non-magnetic 4f(14) (Yb(2+)) configuration validated by X-ray absorption spectra and resonant inelastic X-ray scattering data. Ca(3)Pt(4+x)Ge(13-y) is diamagnetic (χ(0) = -5.05 × 10(-6) emu mol(-1)). The Sommerfeld coefficient γ = 4.4 mJ mol(-1) K(-2) for Ca(3)Pt(4+x)Ge(13-y), indicates metallic properties with a low density of states at the Fermi level in good agreement with electronic structure calculation (N(E(F)) = 3.3 eV(-1)/f.u.)); the Debye temperature (θ(D)) is 398 K.