Synthesis and Characterization of New Intermetallic Compounds $M_3(AsTe_3)_2$ (M=Cr, Fe, Co)

The new amorphous intermetallic compounds, M3(AsTe3)2: M=Cr, Co, Fe, were synthesized by the precipitation reaction of the Zintl anion AsTe33- with the divalent transition metal halides in aqueous solution and analyzed by EDS equipped with SEM and PIXE. The empirical formula of the specimens was found to be Fe3.0As1.8Te5.9, Co3.0As2.1Te6.5, and Cr3.0As2.0Te6.9 by the quantitative elemental analysis. The dc specific resistivity of the materials was measured as a function of temperature in the range from 20 to 300 K, in which their resistivity of Cr3(AsTe3)2 was largely dependent on temperature, while those of Co3(AsTe3)2 and Fe3(AsTe3)2 were only slightly dependent on temperature. To characterize the spin glass state of the specimens, the ac and dc magnetic susceptibility were measured and it was found that Co3(AsTe3)2 and Fe3(AsTe3)2 undergo a transition to a spin glass state at 6 K and 38 K, respectively. Magnetization data are reported as both thermal remanent magnetization (TRM) and isothermal remanent magnetization (IRM) as a function of magnetizing field and temperature