Magnetic and transport properties of single crystalline RCoxSn2 (R = Ce and La)

In this study, single crystals of CeCo0.39Sn2 and LaCo0.43Sn2 were grown by the Czochralski pulling method for the first time. These compounds crystallize to the orthorhombic CeNiSi2 type structure with the space group Cmcm. The inverse magnetic susceptibility χ−1 of CeCo0.39Sn2 obeys a Curie-Weiss law above 100 K. The effective magnetic moment is close to the value expected for the Ce3+ ion, indicating that the Ce 4f electrons in CeCo0.39Sn2 are well localized. No magnetic transition is observed down to 2 K. However, the specific heat exhibits an upturn upon cooling below 8 K, suggesting that a magnetic order would occur below 2 K