Crystal structure and physical properties of PuPd5Al2

We report on the crystallographic aspects and the basic properties of the plutonium based compound PuPd5Al2. This material is antiferromagnetic at TN = 5.6 K and does not present any hint of superconductivity down to 2 K. This material crystallizes in the ZrNi2Al5-type of structure with lattice parameters: a = 4.1302 Å and c = 14.8428 Å. The magnetization, heat capacity and electrical resistivity measurements indicate clearly antiferromagnetic order at TN = 5.6 K. This material is compared to the structurally related cerium based material CePd5Al2 presenting superconductivity induced by pressure.