High pressure synthesis of a new phase of YbAg2: Structure, valence of Yb and properties

Abstract The new phase of YbAg 2 was obtained using high-pressure and high-temperature reaction. YbAg 2 crystallizes in the MgZn 2 structure (the space group P 6 3 / mmc space group, No 194) with a  = 5.68153(3) A and c  = 9.31995(7) A and the unit cell volume V  = 260.54(3) A 3 . The XANES analysis showed that the valence state of Yb is +2.8. The low-temperature dependences of the electrical resistivity and magnetic susceptibility can be adequately described by a T 2 term that supports the Fermi-liquid picture. The Kadowaki–Woods relation gives a low value of the degeneracy ( N  = 2).