High-pressure synthesis of Yb2Cu2In and its physical properties

The Yb2Cu2In compound with the tetragonal Mo2B2Fe structure has been prepared using a high-pressure technique. The lattice volume is found to be considerably larger than that expected for the system with usual Yb3+ configuration. The temperature dependence of the magnetic susceptibility and the electrical resistivity shows that this system is almost non-magnetic. These results indicate that the Yb ion in this system is very close to the divalent state. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.