Novel ternary compound Ce4Pt9Al13: Crystal structure, physical properties.

Abstract The crystal structure of the novel Al-rich intermetallic phase Ce 4 Pt 9 Al 13 was determined from single-crystal X-ray diffraction data and confirmed by powder X-ray diffraction. The compound crystallizes with its own structure type, which is a "site exchange" variant of the Ho 4 Ir 13 Ge 9 -type (Pearson symbol oP 52, space group Pmmn , No. 59, Z = 2, lattice parameters: a = 4.1826(1) Å, b = 11.4424(3) Å, c = 19.8475(5) Å, V = 949.88(7) Å3). The magnetic properties of Ce 4 Pt 9 Al 13 were determined in the temperature range 1.72–400 K. Down to the lowest temperatures studied, the compound shows a Curie-Weiss paramagnetic behavior with strong crystalline electric field contribution observed below about 200 K. The electrical conductivity in Ce 4 Pt 9 Al 13 has metallic character, and at low temperatures it is governed by an interplay of strong crystal field and Kondo interactions. Highlights • The novel ternary compound Ce 4 Pt 9 Al 13 crystallizes with its own structure type. • The Ce 4 Pt 9 Al 13 structure type is a "site exchange" variant of the Ho 4 Ir 13 Ge 9 -type. • Ce 4 Pt 9 Al 13 is characterized by the hexagonal-prismatic environment of the Ce atoms. • Ce 4 Pt 9 Al 13 exhibits a Curie-Weiss paramagnetic behavior due to Ce3+ valence state. • Physical properties are influenced by crystalline electric field and Kondo effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]