Moment – Bearing Tb substitution in CePt2Si2

The effects of substituting moment-bearing Tb in CePt2Si2are reported through X-ray diffraction (XRD), electrical resistivity (ρ(T)), magnetic susceptibility, (χ(T)), and magnetization, (σ(μ0H)) measurements. XRD results for all compositions of (Ce1−xTbx)Pt2Si2system indicate a tetragonal CaBe2Ge2- type structure with space group P4/nmm. ρ(T) results indicate a rapid evolution from a coherent Kondo lattice for the CePt2Si2parent compound to incoherent single-ion Kondo behaviour with substitution of Tb for Ce. However, between 90% and 100% of Tb content, the (Ce1−xTbx)Pt2Si2system reverts back to stable local - moment, normal metal behaviour. χ(T) data at higher temperature follow the Curie - Weiss relation for all alloy compositions and give effective moment values μeffwhich increase gradually from the expected values of 2.54 μBfor the Ce3+- ion to 9.72 μBfor the Tb3+- ion. At low temperature χ(T) data exhibit antiferromagnetism at the Ne′el temperature TNin the concentration range 0.7≤x≤1. Below TNthe zero-field-cooled and field-cooled susceptibility bifurcate in a 0.1 T field, suggesting an inhomogeneous magnetic ground state as a result of spin glass - like state for compositions in the range 0.6≤x≤1. No evidence of metamagnetic behaviour was observed from σ(μ0H) data for all compositions. © 2016 Elsevier B.V.