Crystal structure, magnetism and transport properties of Ce3Ni25.75Ru3.16Al4.1B10

• Flux synthesis of high quality single crystals of Ce3Ni25.75Ru3.16Al4.1B10 is presented along with the crystal structure, magnetic and transport properties.
• The compound is isostructural to Nd3Ni29Si4B10 but is first of this structure type showing mixed occupancies of d-elements.
• This is an intermetallic phase with Ce in either the 4+ or an intermediate valence state.
• The fact that this structure with mixed occupied transition metal sites exists suggests that more compounds of this type should be accessible and the physical properties tuned.

Single crystals of Ce3Ni25.75Ru3.16Al4.1B10 were obtained from a process in which a polycrystalline sample of CeRu2Al2B was annealed in an excess of a Ni–In flux. The initial phase, CeRu2Al2B, does not recrystallize, instead, crystals of a new phase, Ce3Ni25.75Ru3.16Al4.1B10, could be isolated once the flux was removed. The title compound crystallizes in the tetragonal space group P4/nmm (No. 129) with a=1139.02(8), c=801.68(6) pm (c/a=0.70) in the Nd3Ni29Si4B10 structure type. Electrical resistivity measurements reveal metallic behavior with a minimum of 700 µΩ cm and a small residual resistivity ratio of RRR=1.4 indicating a large amount of disorder scattering. The cerium atoms are either in the 4+ or an intermediate valence state with a valence fluctuation temperature far above room temperature.

Single crystals of Ce3Ni25.75Ru3.16Al4.1B10 were obtained using a process in which a polycrystalline sample of CeRu2Al2B was annealed in an excess of a Ni–In flux. Electrical resistivity measurements reveal metallic behavior with a minimum of 700 μΩ cm and a small residual resistivity ratio of RRR=1.4 indicating a large amount of disorder scattering. The cerium atoms are either in the 4+ or an intermediate valence state with a valence fluctuation temperature far above room temperature.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide