Spin-glass-like phase behaviour in CeNi2−xCuxSn2

We report the results of our investigation in CeNi2−xCuxSn2 (x=0, 0.4, 1.0, 1.6 and 2.0), a new pseudoternary series with CaBe2Ge2-type tetragonal structure. Substitution of Cu for Ni leads to a linear increase in the constants a, c and the unit cell volume v. As probed by the low temperature dependence of ac susceptibility χac(T), the Tf temperature, which corresponds to the freezing temperature of the spin-glass clusters, is annihilated above 2.0 K significantly for the samples with x≥1.6. This observation proves conclusively that the Ni-rich samples in the series CeNi2−xCuxSn2 have the advantage of forming the spin-glass-like state.