Magnetic and transport properties of UPd2Sb

A new compound UPd2Sb was prepared and studied by means of X-ray diffraction, magnetization, electrical resistivity, magnetoresistivity, thermoelectric power and specific heat measurements. The phase crystallizes with a cubic structure of the MnCu2Al-type (s.g. Fm3¯m). It orders antiferromagnetically at TN=55 K and exhibits a modified Curie-Weiss behaviour with reduced effective magnetic moment at higher temperatures. The electrical resistivity behaves in a manner characteristic of systems with strong electronic correlations, showing Kondo effect in the paramagnetic region and Kondo-like response to the applied magnetic field. The Seebeck coefficient exhibits a behaviour expected for scattering of conduction electrons on a narrow quasiparticle band near the Fermi energy. The low-temperature electronic specific heat in UPd2Sb is moderately enhanced being about 81 mJ/mol K2.