Antiferromagnetic–ferromagnetic transition induced by the hydrogenation of the ternary stannide Ce(Ni0.82Cu0.18)Sn

The title compound absorbs slowly hydrogen at 523 K under a pressure of P(H2)=1 MPa, giving the new hydride Ce(Ni0.82Cu0.18)SnH1.7(1). The hydrogenation induces both: (i) a structural transition from orthorhombic TiNiSi-type to hexagonal ZrBeSi-type and (ii) a magnetic transition from antiferromagnetic (TN=3.0(2) K) to ferromagnetic ordering (TC=4.6(2) K). This behaviour is compared to that observed recently during the hydrogen insertion into the Kondo semi-metal stannide CeNiSn.