Magnetic Properties and Specific Heat Studies of the Plumbides CeTPb (T = Cu, Pd, Ag, Au)

Abstract

Abstract The cerium plumbides CeCuPb, CePdPb, CeAgPb, and CeAuPb have been synthesized from the elements in sealed tantalum tubes in a high-frequency furnace followed by annealing. The copper, silver and gold compounds crystallize with the NdPtSb-type structure, space group P63mc: a = 466.1(2), c = 778.1(3) pm for CeCuPb, a = 484.8(2), c = 773.0(3) pm for CeAgPb, and a = 480.24(9), c = 772.9(2) pm for CeAuPb. CePdPb crystallizes with the ZrNiAl-type structure: P6̅2m, a = 775.0(2), c = 413.32(8) pm. The dc susceptibility measurements show trivalent cerium for all four plumbides with experimental magnetic moments of 2.53(2), 2.71(2), 2.63(2), and 2.58(2) μB/Ce atom for CeCuPb, CePdPb, CeAgPb, and CeAuPb, respectively. The compounds CeCuPb, CeAgPb, and CeAuPb, studied by dc susceptibility and specific heat measurements, order antiferromagnetically at N´eel temperatures of 8.2(1), 7.4(1), and 3.7(1) K, respectively.