Crystal structure and low-temperature physical properties of R [formula omitted]M [formula omitted]Sn [formula omitted][formula omitted] intermetallics

Abstract

We have synthesized single crystalline samples of R 3 M 4 Sn 13 ( R = Ce , La; M = Ir , Co) using a Sn-flux method. Measurements of magnetic susceptibility and heat capacity indicate heavy-fermion behavior for the Ce-based compounds. The crystal structure of these intermetallic compounds has been determined by Rietveld refinement from X-ray powder diffraction data. They crystallize in a Yb 3 M 4 Sn 13 type structure (Pm-3n), which has 40 atoms per unit cell. The low-temperature physical properties of these intermetallic compounds are reported.