Electronic structure and magnetic properties of CeNiSb - art. no. 125126

We have investigated the electronic structure and magnetic properties of Ce NiSb, CeNi0.9Rh0.1Sb, and CeNiSb0.9Sn0.1 The 3d and 4d x-ray photoemission spectroscopy (XPS) spectra indicate a stable configuration of the f shell. This is in agreement with susceptibility measurements which indicate an eff ective moment nearly equal to that of trivalent Ce. Analysis of the 4d(9)f( 2) weight in the 3d XPS spectra using Gunnarsson-Schonhammer theory suggest s a hybridization interaction Delta of about 50 meV. The hybridization is s maller than that of the Kondo insulating compound CeRhSb. The Curie tempera ture T-c increases with applied pressure P and is discussed within the fram ework of the Doniach phase diagram. The experimental results indicate the i nfluence of the number of free electrons in the unit cell on the magnetic b ehavior of ternary Ce intermetallic compounds.