Abstract
We report the single crystal properties of CePd2Zn3 and CePd2Ga3 compounds. The compounds were prepared by Bridgman method in high-frequency induction furnace.
Both compounds adopt the hexagonal PrNi2Al3-type structure with a = 5.3914(2) angstrom, c = 4.3012(2) angstrom for CePd2Zn3 and a = 5.4106(8) angstrom, c = 4.2671(8) angstrom for CePd2Ga3, respectively. CePd2Zn3 orders antiferromagnetically below T-N = 1.9 K.
Magnetoresistance measurements revealed a crossover at B-c = 0.95 T. CePd2Ga3 orders ferromagnetically at T-C = 6.7 K.
Applied hydrostatic pressure reduces the value of the Curie-temperature (rate partial derivative T-C/partial derivative p = 0.9 K GPa(-1)) down to 3.9 K at 3.2 GPa. Both compounds display a strong magnetocrystalline anisotropy with easy axis of magnetization perpendicular to the c-axis in the hexagonal lattice.