PHYSICAL-PROPERTIES OF CEPD3AS2

CePd3As2 was prepared from the elements by first melting the reactants at 850 degrees C and subsequent annealing of a pressed pellet at 750 degrees C. It adopts the monoclinic (C2/m) structure of GdPd3As2, as c onfirmed by a single crystal X-ray study, with a = 1667.3(2) pm, b = 4 12.05(4) pm, c = 999.8(1) pm, beta = 108.045(4)degrees. Magnetic susce ptibility measurements indicate trivalent cerium moments of 2.46(3) mu (B), and suggest some weak anti-ferromagnetic exchange (theta = -11(2) K). No apparent magnetic ordering is observed in the magnetic suscept ibility. Resistance measurements indicate metallic behavior with a dec rease in magnetic scattering below 100 K arising from thermal depopula tion of cerium crystal field levels.