Magnetic and Electrical Characteristics of REPd3 Intermetallic Compounds

Magnetic characteristics of 12 REPd3 (RE = a rare earth) compounds have been studied between 4° and 300°K. Electrical resistivity measurements have been made on the Ce, Gd, and Ho compounds. All compounds are paramagnetic at room temperature; all except CdPd3, SmPd3, and EuPd3 exhibit Curie-Weiss behavior with paramagnetic moments in close agreement with that expected for the free tripositive ion. The susceptibility behavior of CePd3 is ascribed to the Kondo phenomenon (spin compensation) while that of SmPd3 and EuPd3 to the narrowness of the multiplet spacings. This interpretation for CePd3 is supported by its resistivity-temperature behavior. Evidence for magnetic ordering is found only for GdPd3, which seems to order ferromagnetically below 7°K.