Preparation of Yb3Pt5 and YbPt3 single crystals and a study of their properties

Abstract Single crystals of YbPt 3 and the previously unknown compound Yb 3 Pt 5 were prepared by high temperature solution growth in molten lead. Their compositions, lattice parameters and densities were determined. The electrical resistivity and magnetic susceptibility were measured between 0.05 K and 300 K. Single crystals of YbPt 3 show antiferromagnetic ordering at 0.30 K. The compound Yb 3 Pt 5 shows a structural phase transition near 170 K and an antiferromagnetic transition at 0.95 K. In both compounds the magnetic moments for ytterbium deviate from the value for integral valent Yb 3+ .