Magnetic and electrical transport properties of RE9Ni24Sn49 compounds (RE=Y, Ce, Pr, Sm and Tb)

Magnetic and electrical transport properties of cubic phases RE9Ni24Sn49 (RE=Y, Ce, Pr, Sm and Tb) have been investigated by means of magnetic susceptibility, magnetisation, electrical resistivity and Seebeck effect measurements. The Ce-, Pr- and Tb-based compounds order antiferromagnetically at TN=3.1, 4.5 and 4.2 K, respectively, Sm9Ni24Sn49 remains paramagnetic down to the lowest temperature studied, while Y9Ni24Sn49 is a weak Pauli paramagnet. All the materials studied exhibit metallic character of their electrical conductivity and thermoelectric power.