Magnetic, electrical and thermodynamic properties of RE8Pd24In

Investigations of magnetic, transport and thermodynamic properties of RE8Pd24In (RE=Pr, Nd, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er and Tm) are reported through measurements of X-ray diffraction, electrical resistivity (ρ(T)ρ(T)), magnetic susceptibility (χ(T)χ(T)), magnetization (σ(μ0H)σ(μ0H)) and heat capacity (Cp(T)Cp(T)). These ternary compounds have the cubic AuCu3-type structure. Compounds with RE=Gd and Tb order antiferromagnetically (AF) and exhibit magnetic transitions observed in their χ(T)χ(T) and Cp(T)Cp(T). ρ(T)ρ(T) results for the Gd and Tb compounds indicate a minimum above the magnetic phase transition temperature TNTN, and an increase in ρ(T)ρ(T) upon further cooling as a precursor of AF order at lower temperatures. χ(T)χ(T) data at high temperatures follow the Curie–Weiss relation for all compounds and give effective moment values close to those expected for the free RE3+-ion. Enhanced values of the electronic contribution to the heat capacity were observed for Gd8Pd24In and Tb8Pd24In.