Crystal structure, thermal expansion and magnetic properties of Pr2Cu0.8Ge3 compound

A new ternary compound, Pr2Cu0.8Ge3, was synthesized and its physical property investigated. The Rietveld method was used to refine the powder X-ray diffraction data and the results show that Pr2Cu0.8Ge3 crystallized in an a-ThSi2-type tetragonal structure with the space group I41/amd (No. 141), a = 0.42001(1) nm, c = 1.44147(2) nm, Z = 2 and Dcalc = 7.322 g cm−3. Lattice thermal expansion study was carried out by high-temperature powder X-ray diffraction technique from room temperature (293 K) to 803 K, and the calculated lattice and volume thermal expansion coefficients obtained were 1.57 × 10−5 K−1, 1.03 × 10−5 K−1 and 4.18 × 10−5 K−1 for α¯a, α¯c and α¯V, respectively. The magnetic susceptibility of Pr2Cu0.8Ge3 was found to follow the Curie–Weiss law in the 20–300 K temperature range. The effective magnetic moment (μeff) and paramagnetic Curie temperature (θp) were estimated to be 3.56(3) μB and 17.5(2) K, respectively.

► This is the first work to report the finding of Pr2Cu0.8Ge3 compound.
► Rietveld refinement shows an a-ThSi2-type structure of Pr2Cu0.8Ge3.
► Unit-cell parameters of Pr2Cu0.8Ge3 increase with the elevated temperature at 293–803 K.
► Paramagnetic moment of compound agrees well with the theoretical value of Pr3+ ions.