Transport and magnetic properties of Ce2NiIn3

We report results on transport and magnetic properties for the title compound. Spin-glass (SG) features arise below the temperature of Tf = 2.8 K for Ce2NiIn3, as determined from ac and dc magnetic susceptibility. The low temperature specific heat presents an anomaly with a maximum located near Tf which is unusual when compared with other compounds of the type Ce2TX3 (where T = transition metal and X = Si, Ge) and canonical SG systems. The anisotropic SG behavior or inhomogeneous magnetic ordering have been proposed as the possible causes for the arising magnetic ground state. The results for Ce2NiIn3 are compared with those obtained for Ce2NiGe3, isotypic compound.