Crystal structure of R3Ge4 compounds (R Er, Ho, Tm, Lu)

The crystal structure of binary germanides R₃Ge₄ (R Er, Ho, Tm, Lu) has been determined by means of powder X-ray diffraction. For Er₃Ge₄ a full-structure determination has been performed using the Rietveld method (306 reflections, space group Cmcm,

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). The location of the atoms in Er₃Ge₄ is similar to that in the W₃CoB₃ structure, with the Ge atoms substituting for Co and B. For the other R₃Ge₄ compounds (RHo, Tm and Lu) the lattice parameters are given.