The structure of Ce₂Al₃Ge₄ refined for the first time from single-crystal X-ray diffraction data

Single crystals of dicerium trialuminium tetragermanide, Ce₂Al₃Ge₄, have been synthesized from a high-temperature reaction using an eutectic mixture of Al and Ge as a metal flux. Through single-crystal X-ray diffraction it was established that Ce₂Al₃Ge₄ crystallizes in the centrosymmetric space group Cmce (No. 64) with the Ba₂Cd₃Bi₄ structure type (Pearson code oC36). Five atoms compose the asymmetric unit, i.e. one Ce, two Al, and two Ge atoms, all in special positions with Wyckoff symbols 8f (Ce), 4a and 8e (Al), and 8e and 8f (Ge). The structure can be described as a three-dimensional network of Al and Ge atoms, with Ce atoms occupying the cavities of the framework.