Synthesis, crystal structure and physical properties of Yb2Pd3Ge5.

Abstract A systematic study on the existence of R 2 Pd 3 Ge 5 intermetallics with heavy rare earth metals (R = Gd–Lu) was conducted; only the Yb 2 Pd 3 Ge 5 was revealed to exist. Its crystal structure was established by X-ray powder diffraction and refined by means of Rietveld method. This compound crystallizes in the orthorhombic U 2 Co 3 Si 5 structure type (Ibam , oI 40, Z = 4, a = 10.2628(1), b = 12.0580(1), and c = 5.98251(6) Å), which represents an ordered derivative of the tI 10-ThCr 2 Si 2 prototype, ubiquitous among intermetallics. Magnetization and susceptibility measurements indicate that Yb 2 Pd 3 Ge 5 is a paramagnet with μ eff close to 0.8 μ B /Yb-atom, suggesting a nearly divalent Yb state. Electrical resistivity and Seebeck coefficient of the studied compound as a function of temperature confirm its metallic-like behavior. Highlights • Only Yb 2 Pd 3 Ge 5 was revealed to exist among R 2 Pd 3 Ge 5 intermetallics (R = Gd÷Lu). • Yb 2 Pd 3 Ge 5 crystallizes in the orthorhombic U 2 Co 3 Si 5 structure type (Ibam , oI 40, Z = 4). • Magnetic properties measurements confirm a nearly divalent Yb state in Yb 2 Pd 3 Ge 5. • Electrical resistivity studies confirm metallic-like behavior of Yb 2 Pd 3 Ge 5. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]