Er6Zn23Ge crystallizes in the cubic Fm-3m space group. Er(1) is bonded in a distorted single-bond geometry to four equivalent Zn(1), four equivalent Zn(2), four equivalent Zn(4), and one Ge(1) atom. There are four inequivalent Zn sites. In the first Zn site, Zn(2) is bonded to four equivalent Er(1), four equivalent Zn(1), and four equivalent Zn(4) atoms to form ZnEr4Zn8 cuboctahedra that share corners with four equivalent Zn(2)Er4Zn8 cuboctahedra, edges with two equivalent Ge(1)Er6 octahedra, and faces with eight equivalent Zn(2)Er4Zn8 cuboctahedra. In the second Zn site, Zn(3) is bonded in a body-centered cubic geometry to eight equivalent Zn(1) atoms. In the third Zn site, Zn(4) is bonded in a 12-coordinate geometry to three equivalent Er(1), three equivalent Zn(1), three equivalent Zn(2), and three equivalent Zn(4) atoms. In the fourth Zn site, Zn(1) is bonded in a 10-coordinate geometry to three equivalent Er(1), one Zn(3), three equivalent Zn(2), and three equivalent Zn(4) atoms. Ge(1) is bonded to six equivalent Er(1) atoms to form GeEr6 octahedra that share edges with twelve equivalent Zn(2)Er4Zn8 cuboctahedra.
Er6Zn23Ge crystallizes in the cubic Fm-3m space group. Er(1) is bonded in a distorted single-bond geometry to four equivalent Zn(1), four equivalent Zn(2), four equivalent Zn(4), and one Ge(1) atom. All Er(1)-Zn(1) bond lengths are 3.04 Å. All Er(1)-Zn(2) bond lengths are 3.22 Å. All Er(1)-Zn(4) bond lengths are 3.10 Å. The Er(1)-Ge(1) bond length is 2.75 Å. There are four inequivalent Zn sites. In the first Zn site, Zn(2) is bonded to four equivalent Er(1), four equivalent Zn(1), and four equivalent Zn(4) atoms to form ZnEr4Zn8 cuboctahedra that share corners with four equivalent Zn(2)Er4Zn8 cuboctahedra, edges with two equivalent Ge(1)Er6 octahedra, and faces with eight equivalent Zn(2)Er4Zn8 cuboctahedra. All Zn(2)-Zn(1) bond lengths are 2.76 Å. All Zn(2)-Zn(4) bond lengths are 2.60 Å. In the second Zn site, Zn(3) is bonded in a body-centered cubic geometry to eight equivalent Zn(1) atoms. All Zn(3)-Zn(1) bond lengths are 2.77 Å. In the third Zn site, Zn(4) is bonded in a 12-coordinate geometry to three equivalent Er(1), three equivalent Zn(1), three equivalent Zn(2), and three equivalent Zn(4) atoms. All Zn(4)-Zn(1) bond lengths are 2.74 Å. All Zn(4)-Zn(4) bond lengths are 2.94 Å. In the fourth Zn site, Zn(1) is bonded in a 10-coordinate geometry to three equivalent Er(1), one Zn(3), three equivalent Zn(2), and three equivalent Zn(4) atoms. Ge(1) is bonded to six equivalent Er(1) atoms to form GeEr6 octahedra that share edges with twelve equivalent Zn(2)Er4Zn8 cuboctahedra.