Formation, crystal chemistry and magnetism of compounds RE2TGe6, RE rare earth, T Pd, Pt, Cu, Ag and Au

Abstract Novel ternary compounds RE 2 TGe 6 (RE  Y, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb; T  Pd, Pt, Ag, Au) were synthesized by argon arc melting followed by a heat treatment at 600 or 800 °C for 150 h. From X-ray powder analysis all compounds were found to be isotypic with structure type Ce 2 CuGe 6 . Magnetic susceptibilities were measured for RE 2 CuGe 6 (RE  Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm) and Ce 2 PdGe 6 . All compounds exhibit antiferromagnetic ordering below 20 K. The paramagnetic effective moments agree with the values for tripositive RE ion moments. The Sm containing sample reveals typical Van Vleck type paramagnetism above the Neel point.