Electronic structure and magnetic properties of CeNiSb

We have investigated the electronic structure and magnetic properties of CeNiSb, CeNi0.9Rh0.1Sb, and CeNiSb0.9Sn0.1 The 3d and 4d x-ray photoemission spectroscopy (XPS) spectra indicate a stable configuration of the f shell. This is in agreement with susceptibility measurements which indicate an effective moment nearly equal to that of trivalent Ce. Analysis of the 4d(9)f(2) weight in the 3d XPS spectra using Gunnarsson-Schonhammer theory suggests a hybridization interaction Delta of about 50 meV. The hybridization is smaller than that of the Kondo insulating compound CeRhSb. The Curie temperature T-c increases with applied pressure P and is discussed within the framework of the Doniach phase diagram. The experimental results indicate the influence of the number of free electrons in the unit cell on the magnetic behavior of ternary Ce intermetallic compounds.