The new cerium-rich intermetallic phase Ce13Ru2Sn5 Crystal structure and physical properties

International audienceA new intermetallic compound with a high content of cerium, Ce13Ru2Sn5, was found during the systematic investigation of the Ce-Ru-Sn ternary system. The crystal structure has been studied by a single crystal X-ray diffraction experiment and was found to be a new structure type of the intermetallic compounds space group I4/mcm, the lattice parameters a = 22.8999(2) Å, c = 9.1668(1) Å, Z = 8. Ce13Ru2Sn5 structure is characterized by eight independent crystallographic Ce sites and some shortened Ce-Ru contacts dCe1-Ru1 = 2.7693(3) Å, dCe2-Ru1 = 2.7925(12) Å and dCe3-Ru1 = 2.7612(12) Å. The low temperature measurements of electrical resistivity and magnetization of Ce13Ru2Sn5 reveal the complex behavior of the magnetoresistance occurring below 20 K but with an additional positive component below 7.5 K. This behavior is discussed in light of the magnetic measurements showing two transitions at ∼16 K and ∼6 K together with hysteretic loops in the M(H) below 20 K. © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved