Abstract
Polycrystalline samples of ternary rare-earth germanides R 2Co 3Ge 5 (R=La, Ce and Pr) have been prepared and investigated by means of magnetic susceptibility, isothermal magnetization, electrical resistivity and specific heat measurements. All these compounds crystallize in orthorhombic U 2Co 3Si 5 structure (space group Ibam). No evidence of magnetic or superconducting transition is observed in any of these compounds down to 2 K. The unit cell volume of Ce 2Co 3Ge 5 deviates from the expected lanthanide contraction, indicating non trivalent state of Ce ions in this compound. The reduced value of effective moment ( μ eff ≈0.95 μ B ) compared to that expected for trivalent Ce ions further supports valence-fluctuating nature of Ce in Ce 2Co 3Ge 5. The observed temperature dependence of magnetic susceptibility is consistent with the ionic interconfiguration fluctuation (ICF) model. Although no sharp anomaly due to a phase transition is seen, a broad Schottky-type anomaly is observed in the magnetic part of specific heat of Pr 2Co 3Ge 5. An analysis of C mag data suggests a singlet ground state in Pr 2Co 3Ge 5 separated from the singlet first excited state by 22 K and a doublet second excited state at 73 K.
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