Structural and magnetic properties of CeCu5-xPdx (x=1 and 2) alloys

The binary compound CeCu5 has the hexagonal, CaCu5 type structure and orders antiferromagnetically near 4 K. We find that Cu can be replaced by Pd up to at least CeCu3Pd2. While CeCu4Pd retains the hexagonal symmetry of the parent CeCu5, interestingly CeCu3Pd2 crystallizes in the cubic AuBe5 type structure. On the other hand, in the La analogs the hexagonal structure is retained up to at least LaCu3Pd2. Magnetization data reveal that Ce ions remain trivalent in both compounds. Heat capacity data indicate that CeCu4Pd and CeCu3Pd2 order magnetically below 1.8 K. While the resistivity of CeCu4Pd shows normal metallic behavior, the data show that CeCu3Pd2 is a dense Kondo lattice. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.