Structural and physical properties of the new intermetallic compound Yb3Pd2Sn2

The crystal structure of the ternary intermetallic compound Yb3Pd2Sn2 has been determined ab initio from powder X-ray diffraction data. The compound crystallizes as a new structure type in the orthorhombic space group Pbcm and lattice constants a=0.58262(3), b=1.68393(8), c=1.38735(7) nm. Yb3Pd2Sn2 is composed of a complex ∞[Pd2Sn2]δ− polyanionic network in which the Yb ions are embedded. A comparison between this structure and those of Eu3Pd2Sn2 and Ca3Pd2Sn2, other novel polar intermetallic compounds, was made. DC susceptibility and 170Yb Mössbauer spectroscopic measurements indicate a close-to divalent Yb behavior. Moreover, a hybridization between 4f and conduction electrons is suggested by electronic structure calculations and heat capacity measurements.