On squaring triangles - Structural motifs in Cu-In-Sb compounds

Two new ternary Cu-In-Sb compounds Cu7In2.5Sb0.5 and Cu2In0.75Sb0.25 are presented. Both compounds are Ni2In type superstructures with vacancies in the pseudohexagonal network. Additionally, the pseudocubic nature of the compounds and Ni2In type (super)structures, in general, is discussed. Remarkably, a large number of pseudo-five-fold and pseudo-three-fold axes contribute to generate a pseudocubic symmetry in the crystal structure that is reflected in pseudocubic axial ratios in Ni2In type superstructures. We find that they belong to the family of tetrahedrally close packed structures which implies that pseudocubic axial relationships simply are to be expected. (C) 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.