Compounds of the formula RPd3B x (R=rare earth with 0⩽x⩽1) and RPd3Si x (R=La, Ce, Eu with 0⩽x⩽0.3) can be prepared by alloying boron or silicon with parent RPd3 compounds. Addition of boron (silicon) does not change the structure but results in lattice expansion. The valence state of Ce in CePd3 and that of Eu in EuPd3 is strongly influenced by boron and silicon. Ce is known to be in a valence fluctuating state in CePd3 while Eu is trivalent (J=0) in EuPd3. The increase in the lattice parameter as a function of boron concentration is observed to be larger in CePd3B x and EuPd3B x compared to that in other RPd3B x alloys giving the first indication of the change in the valence state of Ce and Eu. This is confirmed from susceptibility measurements. With the addition of boron, susceptibility increases and the effective paramagnetic moments approach the values corresponding to Ce3+ (J=5/2, μeff=2.54 μ B ) and Eu2+ (J=7/2, μeff=7.94 μ B ) in the two alloy systems CePd3B x and EuPd3B x respectively. In the case of europium alloys,151Eu Mossbauer studies point out the importance of near-neighbour environment effects. Further, in EuPd3B, where all the europium ions are crystallographically equivalent, a single Mossbauer line, with an isomer shift characteristic of europium ions in valence-fluctuating state, is observed at 300 K. However, at 88 K the Mossbauer absorption splits into two lines corresponding to europium ions in two valence states,e.g. divalent- and trivalent-like. Such a behaviour indicates thermally-induced charge ordering of europium ions. Addition of silicon to CePd3, like boron, results in unusual lattice expansion and changes the valency of cerium towards 3+. the valence change is further corroborated by susceptibility measurements. In EuPd3Si x alloys, susceptibility and Mossbauer studies indicate that in the limiting single phase alloy EuPd3Si0.25 the europium ions are on the verge of valence instability. Susceptibility results on CeRh3B x alloys are also presented.
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