Structure and properties of Gd4Pd10In21

Gd4Pd10In21 was synthesized from the elements in a glassy carbon crucible in an induction furnace and investigated by X-ray powder and single crystal diffraction: C2/m, a = 2293.3(2), b = 444.49(3), c = 1934.3(1) pm, β = 133.00(1)°, wR2 = 0.0496, 1564 F2 values, and 106 variable parameters. The five crystallographically independent palladium atoms have all a trigonal prismatic coordination. Together, the palladium and indium atoms build up a three-dimensional [Pd10In21] network in which the gadolinium atoms fill distorted pentagonal channels. Magnetic susceptibility measurements show that Gd4Pd10In21 orders antiferromagnetically at TN = 14.2(1) K. Two further magnetic transitions were found at temperatures 11.8 and 6.4 K, respectively. Below Tirr = 10 K, strong irreversibility between ZFC and FC magnetic susceptibilities are observed. The zero-field specific heat measurements show a clear peak around the magnetic transition temperatures TN. Measured quadrupole interaction constants by 155Gd Mössbauer spectroscopy give estimations for the Vzz component of the electric field gradient tensor at both gadolinium sites in Gd4Pd10In21.

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