Crystal structure and physical properties of the ternary antimonides R3Ni6Sb5, R = Y, Gd, Tb

Crystal structure of the new ternary antimonide Y3Ni6Sb5 was investigated using X-ray single crystal data: own type of structure, space group P2(1)/m, alpha = 1.06358(6) nm, b = 0.42030(3) nm, c = 1.26520(9), beta = 113.326(3)degrees, Z = 2, R-F = 0.055, wR(F) = 0.063 for 1341 independent reflections and 98 variable parameters. Isotypic compounds Gd3Ni6Sb5 and Tb3Ni6Sb5 were synthesized. Magnetic and electric transport properties were studied in the temperature range above 5 K. Y3Ni6Sb5 is a temperature independent Pauli type paramagnet. The Gd3Ni6Sb5 compound orders ferromagnetically at T-C = 8 K, whereas the Tb3Ni6Sb5 homologue is an antiferromagnet at T-N-5 K. The onset of magnetic ordering is also proved by the electrical resistivity measurements. The analysis of the resistivity, rho(T), measurements for Y3Ni6Sb5 resulted in a Debye temperature Theta(D) = 135 K. (C) 2014 Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved. 3