PROPERTIES OF Y3RH AND Y3IR

Abstract

Electrical resistivity, magnetic susceptibility, lattice parameters and XPS valence band were measured for Y3Rh and Y3Ir single crystals. The electrical resistivity shows T-2.5 dependence up to 40 K for Y3Rh and 45 K for Y3Ir, next the inflection point and the pronounced negative curvature and finally the tendency to saturate at higher temperatures. The magnetic susceptibility obeys the Curie-Weiss law after subtracting the temperature independent term chi(0). For Y3Rh mu(eff) = 0.7 mu(B) and Theta = -13 K, for Y3Ir mu(eff) = 0.84 mu(B) and Theta = 5 K. The lattice parameters show an anomalous variation with temperature. The XPS valence band measurements exhibit a single narrow state of 4d rhodium or 5d of iridium, the top of which may be hybridized with the bottom of 4d states of yttrium. This effect may be responsible for the mentioned phenomena.