Crystal structure and magnetic properties of YbZn8.5Al2.5 compound

Details of the crystal structure of new aluminide YbZn8.5Al2.5 (BaHg11-type structure, SG Pm  3¯m, a = 0.845202(6) nm, RI = 0.071, RP = 0.083) have been investigated by X-ray methods. Basic characterization by magnetic methods and heat capacity measurement reveals a lack of magnetic order. The Curie behaviour of susceptibility with reduced effective moments can be explained by low concentration of Yb ions in the 4f13 state. It can be understood considering a statistical occupancy of the Zn–Al sublattice, forming different types of environments of Yb.