Magnetic behavior of new CePdSn ternary compounds

We have prepared and measured the magnetic susceptibility of several new ternary compounds in the CePdSn system: CePd0.5Sn2, Ce8Pd24Sn, “Ce4Pd7Sn4” and the solid solution based on Ce2Pd2Sn. In CePd0.5Sn2, an effective magnetic moment of 2.60(3)μB is observed but no ordering is apparent above 4.2 K. Complete nickel substitution for Pd in Ce(Pd1−xNix)0.5Sn2 results in the known lower limit to the CeNi1−xSn2 solid solution. We have determined the extent of the solid solution based on Ce2Pd2Sn to have the form Ce4Pd4+2xSn2−x−y in a roughly triangular region with limits of x = 0, y = 0; x = 0, y ≈ 23 and x ≈ 23, y = 0. Magnetic behavior consistent with trivalent cerium moments is observed at these limits with ferromagnetic ordering present for x = 0, y = 23. Cubic Ce8Pd24Sn has an effective high temperature moment of 2.49(4)μB and antiferromagnetic ordering at 7.5 K. A hexagonal phase dominates the composition “Ce4Pd7Sn4”, but a structural solution has remained elusive. An effective cerium moment of 2.53(4)μB is observed in “Ce4Pd7Sn4” with a Weiss constant of −23 K, suggesting antiferromagnetic interactions, but no ordering is observed above 4.2 K.