LaNiIn_1-xSn_x and CeNiIn_1-xSn_x solid solutions at T=870 K

The solid solutions LaNiIn1-xSnx and CeNiIn1-xSnx were studied by means of X-ray powder diffraction and EDX analyses in the full concentration range for samples annealed at T = 870 K. The limited solubility of the fourth component in the starting compounds with equiatomic composition, and the limits and the unit cell parameters of the solid solutions have been determined. The crystal structure of CeNiIn(0.57S)n(0.43) was refined from single-crystal X-ray diffraction data: ZrNiAl-type structure; hexagonal space group P62m, a = 0.74213(10), c = 0.40825(8) nm, R-1= 0.0155, wR(2) = 0.0303, 282 independent hkl reflections and 15 refined parameters. The existence ranges within the solid solutions are discussed.