(Al,Mg)3La: a new phase in the Mg–Al–La system

During an investigation of the Mg-rich end of the Mg–Al–La system, a new ternary phase with the composition of (Al,Mg)3La was identified. The crystal structure of this phase was determined by conventional X-ray powder diffraction and transmission electron microscopy analysis and refined using high-resolution X-ray powder diffraction. The (Al,Mg)3La phase is found to have an orthorhombic structure with a space group of C2221 and lattice parameters of a = 4.3365 (1) Å, b = 18.8674 (4) Å and c = 4.4242 (1) Å, which is distinctly different from the binary Al3La phase (P63/mmc). The resolved structure of the (Al,Mg)3La phase is further verified by high-angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy.