Ferromagnetic ordering in the thallide EuPdTl2

Abstract

The new thallide EuPdTl2, synthesized from the elements in a sealed tantalum tube in a high-frequency furnace, was investigated by X-ray diffraction on powders and single crystals: MgCuAl2 type, Cmcm, Z = 4, a = 446.6(1), b = 1076.7(2), c = 812.0(2) pm, wR2 = 0.0632, 336 F2 values, 16 variables. The structure can be considered as an orthorhombically distorted, palladium-filled variant of the binary Zintl phase EuTl2. The palladium and thallium atoms build up a three-dimensional [PdTl2] polyanion with significant Pd-Tl (286-287 pm) and Tl-Tl (323-329 pm) interactions. The europium atoms fill distorted hexagonal channels of the [PdTl2] polyanion. Susceptibility measurements show a magnetic moment of 7.46(5) μB/Eu atom, indicative of divalent europium. EuPdTl2 is a soft ferromagnet with a Curie temperature of T C = 12.5(5) K. © 2006 Verlag der Zeitschrift für Naturforschung.