Synthesis and physical properties of a new caged compound Ce3Pd20As6 of the C6Cr23-type structure

TL;DR

This study reports the synthesis, structural characterization, and physical property measurements of a new Ce3Pd20As6 compound with a C6Cr23-type structure, revealing localized 4f electrons and weak Kondo screening.

Contribution

The paper introduces a new caged compound Ce3Pd20As6 with detailed structural analysis and physical property measurements, highlighting its unique electronic and magnetic characteristics.

Findings

Ce3Pd20As6 crystallizes in a C6Cr23-type structure.

The compound exhibits localized 4f electrons with no phase transition down to 0.5 K.

Weak Kondo screening is observed in electrical resistivity.

Abstract

We have found that Ce3Pd20As6 crystallizes into a cubic C6Cr23-type structure. Combination of electron probe microanalysis of the chemical composition and Rietveld analysis of the powder X-ray diffraction pattern has revealed an inhomogeneous atomic composition of variable stoichiometry. The physical properties of Ce3Pd20As6 were investigated by measuring the magnetization, electrical resistivity and specific heat. The 4f electrons of Ce3+ ions are well localized but do not show phase transition down to 0.5 K. The metallic electrical resistivity shows a weak Kondo screening. The residual resistivity ratio is rather low probably due to the variable stoichiometry. The magnetization curve and magnetic entropy suggest the Gamma_8 quartet crystalline-electric-field ground state at least one of two Ce sites.