Magnetism and electronic structure of RTIn (R = Ce, Pr, Nd; T = Ni, Cu, Pd, Au) ternary compounds

Chem. Met. Alloys 1 (2008) 92-96

https://doi.org/10.30970/cma1.0011

Ł. GONDEK, A. SZYTUŁA, D. KACZOROWSKI, Ya. KALYCHAK, B. PENC, J. HERNANDEZ-VELASCO, Yu. TYVANCHUK

Magnetic and X-ray photoemission spectroscopy (XPS) measurements were performed on polycrystalline samples RTIn where R is Ce, Pr, Nd and T is Ni, Cu, Pd, Au. All these compounds crystallize in the hexagonal ZrNiAl-type crystal structure. The magnetic data indicate various magnetic properties. Among the CeTIn compounds those with T = Ni and Cu are paramagnets down to 1.9 K, while those with T = Pd and Au order antiferromagnetically at low temperatures. Both PrTIn (T = Ni, Au) phases are paramagnets, while the NdTIn compounds are ferromagnetic for T = Ni and Pd, antiferromagnets for T = Cu and paramagnets for T = Au. The analysis of the XPS data concentrates on the valence bands and R 3d_5/2 and R 3d_3/2 spectra. The valence band spectra indicate a strong hybridization of the R 4f and T states, which causes the absence of any magnetic order in some of these compounds. From the R 3d spectra the values of the hybridization energy have been determined.

Magnetic ordering temperatures as a function of the de Gennes factor for the RTIn compounds.

Keywords

Rare earth alloys and compounds / Intermetallics / Magnetically ordered materials / Magnetic measurements / Neutron diffraction / Electronic properties