Crystal growth of YbTX (T = Cu, Ag, Pt, Au; X = Sn, Sb) and the magnetic and transport properties

Single crystals of YbTX (T=Cu, Ag, Pt, Au; X=Sn, Sb) have been synthesized by the Bridgeman method. We found that the compounds YbCuSn, YbPtSn and YbAuSn crystallize in the TiNiSi-, ZrNiAl- and TiNiSi-type structure, respectively. The electrical resistivity rho, magnetic susceptibility chi and magnetization M were measured. The results of chi(T) revealed that the valence of the Yb ions is divalent in all the compounds except for YbPtSn. By contrast, YbPtSn with trivalent Yb ions orders antiferromagnetically at T-m=3.5 K and exhibits a metamagnetic transition at 4.5 kOe. As the magnetic field is increased to 150 kOe, M(H) of YbPtSn saturates at a value of 2.31 mu(B) f.u.(-1), whereas M(H) for other compounds gradually increases to values less than 0.02 mu(B) f.u(-1). All the compounds are metallic and the analysis of rho(T) by using the Bloch-Gruneisen law leads to the characteristic temperatures ranging from 90 to 170 K. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science S.A.