Magnetic, electrical and thermodynamic properties of RE 8Pd 24In

Abstract

Investigations of magnetic, transport and thermodynamic properties of RE 8Pd 24In (RE=Pr, Nd, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er and Tm) are reported through measurements of X-ray diffraction, electrical resistivity ( ρ ( T ) ), magnetic susceptibility ( χ ( T ) ), magnetization ( σ ( μ 0 H ) ) and heat capacity ( C p ( T ) ). These ternary compounds have the cubic AuCu 3-type structure. Compounds with RE=Gd and Tb order antiferromagnetically (AF) and exhibit magnetic transitions observed in their χ ( T ) and C p ( T ) . ρ ( T ) results for the Gd and Tb compounds indicate a minimum above the magnetic phase transition temperature T N , and an increase in ρ ( T ) upon further cooling as a precursor of AF order at lower temperatures. χ ( T ) data at high temperatures follow the Curie–Weiss relation for all compounds and give effective moment values close to those expected for the free RE 3+-ion. Enhanced values of the electronic contribution to the heat capacity were observed for Gd 8Pd 24In and Tb 8Pd 24In.