Formation, crystal chemistry and magnetism of compounds RE 2TGe 6, RE  rare earth, T  Pd, Pt, Cu, Ag and Au

Abstract

Novel ternary compounds RE 2TGe 6 (RE  Y, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb; T  Pd, Pt, Ag, Au) were synthesized by argon arc melting followed by a heat treatment at 600 or 800 °C for 150 h. From X-ray powder analysis all compounds were found to be isotypic with structure type Ce 2CuGe 6. Magnetic susceptibilities were measured for RE 2CuGe 6 (RE  Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm) and Ce 2PdGe 6. All compounds exhibit antiferromagnetic ordering below 20 K. The paramagnetic effective moments agree with the values for tripositive RE ion moments. The Sm containing sample reveals typical Van Vleck type paramagnetism above the Néel point.