Magnetic, electrical and Eu-151 Mossbauer properties of EuPtGe

The title compound was prepared from the elements in a tantalum tube at 1170 K. EuPtCe [single-crystal X-ray data: space group P2(1)3, Z=4, a=654.63(9) pm, R(1)=0.0208, 378 F-2 values and 11 parameters] crystallizes with the LaIrSi type structure, an ordered ternary version of the SrSi2 type. Magnetic susceptibility and Eu-151 Mossbauer measurements show no magnetic order down to 4.2 K. The experimentally determined magnetic moment, mu(exp)=7.80(5) mu(B)/Eu compares well with the free ion value, mu(eff)=7.94 mu(B)/Eu for Eu2+, in accordance with the isomer shift delta=-10.4 mm s(-1) which is typical for divalent Eu. EuPtGe is a metallic conductor with a specific resistivity at room temperature of 145 mu Omega cm.