Crystal structure and low-temperature physical properties of RMSn intermetallics

Crystal growth, transport, and magnetic properties of Ln3Co4Sn13 (Ln=La, Ce) with a perovskite-like structure

“…The magnetic susceptibility (w) of a single crystal of Ce 3 Co 4 Sn 13 shows Curie-Weiss paramagnetic behavior down to 1.8 K with an applied field of 0.1 T. This is consistent with the data reported by Israel et al [22]. Fig.…”

“…Lattice parameters obtained from the room-temperature data collections are a ¼ 9:6430ð6Þ and 9:6022ð5ÞÅ, for the La and Ce compounds, respectively. These values are in close agreement with data reported previously from powder X-ray diffraction: 9.635(1) Å (La) and 9.594(1) Å (Ce) [19]; and 9.721 Å (La) and 9.590 Å (Ce) [22]. The final least-squares refinement cycle gave RðF Þ ¼ 0:0305 (La) and 0.0561 (Ce) and R w ðF …”

“…The resistivity suddenly drops to zero in the La compound at T c $2.8 K due to the superconducting transition, consistent with the susceptibility data. (Israel et al report a T c ¼ 2:4 K; however, no transport data were presented due to Sn flux contamination [22].) Above T c , the resistivity increases as T 3 , consistent with Wilson's theory of the s-d hybridization effect in transition metals [34].…”

“…Temperature-dependent specific heat divided by the temperature (C p /T) for Ce 3 from previous reported data [22,38]. The linear specific heat coefficient (g) can be estimated by fitting the data with g þ bT 2 above the transition temperature, giving $4 mJ mol À1 K À2 for La 3 Co 4 Sn 13 .…”

Electronic, magnetic, and electric transport properties of Ce3Rh4Sn13and CeŚlebarski1, White2, Fijałkowski3 et al. 2012Phys. Rev. B

“…2,6 These intermetallic compounds have been the subject of intensive investigations recently for several reasons. (i) The ternary Ce 3 M 4 Sn 13 stannides crystallize in the cubic Yb 3 M 4 Sn 13 structure (space group Pm3n), which is closely related to that of the skutterudites, which are well known thermoelectric materials.…”