Physical properties of new cerium palladium phosphide with C6Cr23-type structure

We have found that a cerium palladium phosphide crystallizes into a C6Cr23-type structure with atomic disorder. Prepared polycrystalline samples show a homogeneity range in the ternary Ce–Pd–P phase diagram. The physical properties of the highest-quality sample of Ce2.4Pd20.7P5.9 were investigated by measuring the magnetization, electrical resistivity and specific heat. No pronounced phase transition was observed down to 0.5 K. The Kondo screening of localized 4f electrons in metallic Ce2.4Pd20.7P5.9 appears to be weaker than that in the isostructural compounds of Ce3Pd20Si6 and Ce3Pd20Ge6. By a comparative study of Ce2.4Pd20.7P5.9 and Ce3Pd20X6 (X = Si, Ge), the competition between the Kondo temperature and ordering temperatures including the quadrupolar ordering temperature is briefly discussed.