Transport and magnetic properties of new ternary Ce2T3X9-compounds (T = Rh, Ir, X = Al, Ga)

Abstract Measurements of thermoelectric power, electrical resistivity, and magnetic susceptibility on new Ce 2 T 3 X 9 -compounds (T=Rh, Ir; X=Al, Ga) are presented. These compounds crystallize in the orthorhombic Y 2 Co 3 Ga 9 -structure. The transport data show for each compound two characteristic anomalies, around 100 K and around 20 K, respectively. In contrast to many Ce-systems, where such anomalies can be ascribed to crystalline-field and Kondo effects, respectively, for these systems the temperature dependence of the susceptibility and the specific heat suggest an intermediate valent Ce-state which shows additional low energy interactions.