Antiferromagnetism in EuPdGe3

The results of X-ray diffraction, magnetic susceptibility and magnetization, and Eu-151 Mossbauer spectroscopy measurements of polycrystalline EuPdGe3 are reported. EuPdGe3 crystallizes in the BaNiSn3-type tetragonal structure (space group I4mm) with the lattice constants a = 4.4457(1) angstrom and C = 10.1703(2) angstrom. The results are consistent with EuPdGe3 being an antiferromagnet with the Neel temperature T-N = 12.16(1) K and with the Eu spins S = 7/2 in the ab plane. The temperature dependence of the magnetic susceptibility above T-N follows the modified Curie-Weiss law with the effective magnetic moment of 7.82(1) mu(B) per Eu atom and the paramagnetic Curie temperature of -5.3(1) K indicative of dominant antiferromagnetic interactions. The M(H) isotherms for temperatures approaching T-N from above are indicative of dynamical short-range antiferromagnetic ordering in the sample. The temperature dependence of the hyperfine magnetic field follows a S = 7/2 Brillouin function. The principal component of the electric field gradient tensor is shown to increase with decreasing temperature and is well described by a T-3/2 power-law relation. The Debye temperature of EuPdGe3 determined from the Mossbauer data is 199(2) K. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.