MAGNETIC-ORDERING IN THE RE2PD2-X TERNARY STANNIDES (RE = GD, TB, DY,HO, ER)(XSN1)

Contrary to other compounds as RE2Ni2Sn, the ternary stannides RE2Pd2xSn1-x show a range of homogeneity on the palladium-rich side and crys tallize in the structure deriving from the tetragonal U3Si2-type. Magn etization measurements reveal that these compounds order antiferromagn etically with Neel temperatures decreasing from 27.5 K (Gd2Pd2.02Sn0.9 8) to 8 K (Er2Pd2.02Sn0.98). Moreover some of them exhibit a complex m agnetic phase diagram as, for instance, Tb2Pd2.05Sn0.95 where two magn etic transitions occur respectively at T-N=27.5 and T-2=23.5 K. For th is series, T-N varies roughly proportional to the De Gennes factor imp lying that a R.K.K.Y. mechanism is responsible for their magnetic prop erties. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science S.A.