The Dy–Ni–Si system as a representative of the rare earth–Ni–Si family: Its isothermal section and new rare-earth nickel silicides

The Dy–Ni–Si system has been investigated at 1070K by X-ray and microprobe analysis. The system contains the 12 known compounds DyNi10Si2, DyNi5Si3, DyNi6Si6, DyNi4Si, DyNi2Si2, Dy2Ni3Si5, DyNiSi3, Dy3Ni6Si2, DyNiSi2, DyNiSi, Dy3NiSi3, Dy3NiSi2, and the new compounds Dy34Ni16−27Si50−39 (AlB2-type), Dy2Ni15.2−14.1Si1.8−2.9 (Th2Zn17-type), ~Dy11Ni65Si24, ~Dy16Ni62Si22 (unknown structures), DyNi7Si6 (GdNi7Si6-type), Dy3Ni8Si (Ce3Co8Si-type), DyNi2Si (YPd2Si-type), ~Dy40Ni47Si13 and ~Dy5Ni2Si3 (unknown structures). Quasi–binary solid solutions were detected at 1070 (870K) for Dy2Ni17, DyNi5, DyNi7, DyNi3, DyNi2, DyNi, DySi2 and DySi1.67. No detectable solubility is observed for the other binary compounds of the Dy–Ni–Si system.The crystal structures of new phases RNi7Si6 (GdNi7Si6-type), R3Ni8Si (Ce3Co8Si-type), RNi2Si (YPd2Si-type) and R3Ni12Si4 (Gd3Ru4Al12-type), with R=Y, Gd–Tm, has been studied. Magnetic properties of few representative compounds are also reported.