Valence fluctuation in CeMo2Si2C

Abstract

We report on the valence fluctuation of Ce in CeMo2Si2C as studied by means of magnetic susceptibility χ(T), specific heat C(T), electrical resistivity ρ(T) and X-ray absorption spectroscopy. Powder X-ray diffraction revealed that CeMo2Si2C crystallizes in CeCr2Si2C-type layered tetragonal crystal structure (space group P4/mmm). The unit cell volume of CeMo2Si2C deviates from the expected lanthanide contraction, indicating non-trivalent state of Ce ions in this compound. The observed weak temperature dependence of the magnetic susceptibility and its low value indicate that Ce ions are in valence fluctuating state. The formal LIII Ce valence in CeMo2Si2C〈ν∼〉=3.14 as determined from X-ray absorption spectroscopy measurement is well below the value 〈ν∼〉≃3.4 in tetravalent Ce compound CeO2. The temperature dependence of specific heat does not show any anomaly down to 1.8 K which rules out any magnetic ordering in the system. The Sommerfeld coefficient obtained from the specific heat data is γ = 23.4 mJ/mol K2. The electrical resistivity follows the T2 behavior in the low temperature range below 35 K confirming a Fermi liquid behavior. Accordingly both the Kadowaki Woods ratio A/γ2 and the Sommerfeld Wilson ratio χ(0)/γ are in the range expected for Fermi-liquid systems. In order to get some information on the electronic states, we calculated the band structure within the density functional theory, eventhough this approach is not able to treat 4f electrons accurately. The non-f electron states crossing the Fermi level have mostly Mo 4d character. They provide the states with which the 4f sates are strongly hybridized, leading to the intermediate valent state.