DOE OSTI2020
Er2Ge5 crystallizes in the orthorhombic Pmmn space group. The structure is three-dimensional. there are two inequivalent Er sites. In the first Er site, Er is bonded in a 10-coordinate geometry to ten Ge atoms. There are a spread of Er–Ge bond distances ranging from 2.92–3.19 Å. In the second Er site, Er is bonded in a 10-coordinate geometry to ten Ge atoms. There are a spread of Er–Ge bond distances ranging from 2.95–3.26 Å. There are five inequivalent Ge sites. In the first Ge site, Ge is bonded in a 8-coordinate geometry to four equivalent Er and four equivalent Ge atoms. All Ge–Ge bond lengths are 2.82 Å. In the second Ge site, Ge is bonded in a 4-coordinate geometry to six Er and two equivalent Ge atoms. Both Ge–Ge bond lengths are 2.59 Å. In the third Ge site, Ge is bonded in a 7-coordinate geometry to two equivalent Er and five equivalent Ge atoms. There are one shorter (2.51 Å) and four longer (2.82 Å) Ge–Ge bond lengths. In the fourth Ge site, Ge is bonded in a 7-coordinate geometry to two equivalent Er and five equivalent Ge atoms. In the fifth Ge site, Ge is bonded in a 8-coordinate geometry to six Er and two equivalent Ge atoms.