Hydrogen as a probe into 5f-magnetism

Abstract

Abstract We performed magnetic measurements on the hydrogenated system (U, Th)CoSn as part of an investigation of UTX compounds (T – transitional metal, X – p-metal). The U1–x ThxCoSn compounds crystallize in the hexagonal structure (ZrNiAl type, space group P 2m). Hydrogen absorption of approximately 1 H/f. u. could be achieved. The hydrogenation does not change the crystal structure. In all cases it leads to a unit-cell expansion by 3.0 % to 3.6 %. Studies of the temperature dependence of the magnetic susceptibility indicate a certain increase in the Curie temperature TC in the hydrides, but the Th concentration at which ferromagnetism vanishes remains practically unchanged (U0.2Th0.8CoSn has a paramagnetic ground state).