DOE OSTI2020
Nd3NiGe2 crystallizes in the orthorhombic Pnma space group. The structure is three-dimensional. there are three inequivalent Nd sites. In the first Nd site, Nd is bonded in a 6-coordinate geometry to one Ni and five Ge atoms. The Nd–Ni bond length is 2.95 Å. There are four shorter (3.11 Å) and one longer (3.34 Å) Nd–Ge bond lengths. In the second Nd site, Nd is bonded in a 7-coordinate geometry to two equivalent Ni and five Ge atoms. Both Nd–Ni bond lengths are 2.92 Å. There are a spread of Nd–Ge bond distances ranging from 3.09–3.77 Å. In the third Nd site, Nd is bonded in a 8-coordinate geometry to three equivalent Ni and five Ge atoms. There are one shorter (3.06 Å) and two longer (3.12 Å) Nd–Ni bond lengths. There are a spread of Nd–Ge bond distances ranging from 3.08–3.18 Å. Ni is bonded in a 9-coordinate geometry to six Nd and three Ge atoms. There are one shorter (2.56 Å) and two longer (2.57 Å) Ni–Ge bond lengths. There are two inequivalent Ge sites. In the first Ge site, Ge is bonded in a 9-coordinate geometry to seven Nd and two equivalent Ni atoms. In the second Ge site, Ge is bonded in a 9-coordinate geometry to eight Nd and one Ni atom.