Crystal structure and magnetism of UFe3B2

The structure of the UFe3B2 compound has been refined down to R=0.022 and wR2=0.052 from single crystal X-ray diffraction data. This uranium boride crystallizes in the CeCo3B2 type-structure (P6/mmm space group no. 191, Z=1, ρ=10.79 g/cm3), with lattice parameters at room temperature a=0.5052(1) nm, c=0.3002(1) nm and V=0.664(1) nm3. Magnetization measurements made between 2 K and 800 K suggested that UFe3B2 is an antiferromagnet with a rather high Néel temperature of TN=268±5 K. No other magnetic transitions were observed down to the lowest studied temperature.

► Crystal structure of UFe3B2 was refined.
► Magnetic properties of UFe3B2 were determined in wide temperature and magnetic field ranges.
► An antiferromagnetic-like transition was detected at ∼270 K.