Rare Earth-Transition Metal Indides with Lu5Ni2In4-type Structure

Abstract

New intermetallic compounds RE5T2In4 (RE = Sc, Y, La-Nd, Sm, Gd-Tm, Lu; T = Rh, Ir) were synthesized by arc-melting of the elements or by induction melting of the elements in tantalum crucibles under flowing argon. The samples were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction. They crystallize with the orthorhombic Lu5Ni2In4-type structure, space group Pbam, Z = 2, a 2 : 1 intergrowth variant of CsCl and AlB2 related slabs of compositions InRE8 (distorted cubes) and RhRE6 (distorted trigonal prisms). Susceptibility measurements of Ce5Ir2In4 have revealed modified Curie- Weiss behavior above 70 K with an experimental magnetic moment of 2.45(1) μB / Ce atom. The cerium magnetic moments order ferri- or ferromagnetically at TC = 7.1(2) K.