Cerium valence change in the solid solutions Ce(Rh1−xRux)Sn

Oliver Niehaus (1) , M. Abdala Paula (2) , Jan F. Riecken (1) , Florian Winter (1) , Bernard Chevalier (3) , Rainer Pöttgen (1)

1 Institut für Anorganische und Analytische Chemie
2 ESRF - European Synchrotron Radiation Facility
3 ICMCB - Institut de Chimie de la Matière Condensée de Bordeaux

The solid solutions Ce(Rh1−xRux)Sn were investigated by means of susceptibility measurements, specific heat, electrical resistivity, X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS), and 119Sn Mössbauer spectroscopy. Magnetic measurements as well as XAS data show a cerium valence change in dependence on the ruthenium content. Higher ruthenium content causes an increase from 3.22 to 3.45 at 300 K. Furthermore χ and χ−1 data indicate valence fluctuation for cerium as a function of temperature. For example, Ce(Rh0.8Ru0.2)Sn exhibits valence fluctuations between 3.42 and 3.32 in the temperature range of 10 to 300 K. This could be proven by using the interconfiguration fluctuation (ICF) model introduced by Sales and Wohlleben. Cerium valence change does not influence the tin atoms as proven by 119Sn Mössbauer spectroscopy, but it influences the electrical properties. Ce(Rh0.9Ru0.1)Sn behaves like a typical valence fluctuating compound, and higher ruthenium content causes an increase of the metallic behavior.

Mots clés: Cerium; Intermediate; Valence; Magnetic Properties

Domaines: Matériaux; Chimie inorganique

Oliver Niehaus, M. Abdala Paula, Jan F. Riecken, Florian Winter, Bernard Chevalier, et al.. Cerium valence change in the solid solutions Ce(Rh1−xRux)Sn. Zeitschrift fur Naturforschung B, 2013, 68 (9), pp.960-970. ⟨10.5560/ZNB.2013-3176⟩. ⟨hal-00861785⟩