Group-subgroup relationships in ternary AlB₂-type compounds and their properties

The simplicity of the AlB2 structure offers a vast possibility for structural tunning, where the group-subgroup relations lead to the compounds with ZrBeSi-, CaIn2- and YPtAs-type structures. These are created by changing the structural topology of the honeycomb layers and their stacking, causing the extension of the unit cell parameter along the c axis. In this work we summarize the abundance of the compounds with the AlB2-type structure and underline the importance of an in depth understanding of their structure-property relationships. Specifically, we will focus on the Ca1-xSrxAlSi solid solutions, where we investigate the evolution of the electronic, the superconducting and the structural properties upon exchange of the interlayer atoms.