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

Abstract The binary compound CeCu 5 has the hexagonal, CaCu 5 type structure and orders antiferromagnetically near 4 K. We find that Cu can be replaced by Pd up to at least CeCu 3 Pd 2 . While CeCu 4 Pd retains the hexagonal symmetry of the parent CeCu 5 , interestingly CeCu 3 Pd 2 crystallizes in the cubic AuBe 5 type structure. On the other hand, in the La analogs the hexagonal structure is retained up to at least LaCu 3 Pd 2 . Magnetization data reveal that Ce ions remain trivalent in both compounds. Heat capacity data indicate that CeCu 4 Pd and CeCu 3 Pd 2 order magnetically below 1.8 K. While the resistivity of CeCu 4 Pd shows normal metallic behavior, the data show that CeCu 3 Pd 2 is a dense Kondo lattice.