Crystal Structure and Physical Properties of Polymorphs of LnAlB₄ (Ln = Yb, Lu)

Single crystals of YbAlB4 were grown in excess Al flux. Plate- and needle-shaped crystals were found. The plates are found to be β-YbAlB4, which crystallizes with the ThMoB4 structure type in space group Cmmm (No. 65), Z = 4, with lattice parameters of a = 7.3080(4), b = 9.3150(5), and c = 3.4980(2) Å. The needle-shaped crystals were identified as the first form of YbAlB4 which crystallizes with the YCrB4 structure type in space group Pbam (No. 55), Z = 4, with lattice parameters of a = 5.9220(2), b = 11.4730(3), and c = 3.5060(5) Å. While both compounds have heavy fermion ground states with Ising-like magnetic anisotropy, the electronic specific heat coefficients (γ) differ. The β-phase has a γ value near 300 mJ mol-1 K-2, more than twice that of the α-phase, γ = 130 mJ mol-1 K-2. A comparison of the structures and physical properties of both polymorphs is presented.