UFE6GE6 - A NEW TERNARY MAGNETIC COMPOUND

The ternary intermetallic magnetic compound UFe6Ge6 was studied by single crystal X-ray diffraction and Fe-57 Mossbauer spectroscopy; the magnetic properties were also investigated. UFe6Ge6 was found to melt congruently at c. 950-degrees-C and to crystallize in space group P6/mmm, with cell parameters a = 5.126 8(4) angstrom, c = 4.050 7(5) angstrom, V = 92.204 7(13) angstrom3, Z = 0.5 and a YCo6Ge6 type structure that was solved by single crystal X-ray diffraction to a final R = 0.059 (R(w) = 0.071). Magnetization measurements suggest two transitions: one at 322(5) K reminiscent of an antiferromagnetic ordering and another ferromagnetic at 230(10) K. According to Fe-57 Mossbauer spectroscopy there is a transition at 322(5) K associated with the ordering of the Fe moments which do not undergo any noticeable reordering at lower temperatures. Thus the transition at 230 K is tentatively attributed to the ordering of the U-sublattice.