TaRhGe with TiNiSi-type Structure

The new germanide TaRhGe was prepared from the elements by arc-melting and subsequent annealing at 1020 K for 10 days. TaRhGe crystallizes with the TiNiSi-type structure, space group Pnma, Z = 4, oP12, a = 640.2(2), b = 383.2(2), c = 741.7(2) pm, wR2 = 0.0550, 432 F-2 values, 20 parameters. The structure consists of a three-dimensional [RhGe] network of distorted RhGe4/4 tetrahedra with Rh-Ge distances ranging from 244 to 250 pm. The tantalum atoms are coordinated within this network by two folded and mutually tilted Rh3Ge3 hexagons. TaRhGe is Pauli-paramagnetic and shows no superconducting transition down to 3 K.