title: Intermediate valence behavior in the novel cage compound CeIr2Zn20.
abstract: Single crystals of the cerium intermetallic compound CeIr(2)Zn(20) were grown by the flux method, and studied by means of x-ray diffraction, magnetic, electrical transport, and thermodynamic measurements. The compound crystallizes with the cubic CeCr(2)Al(20)-type crystal structure, in which the Ce and transition metal atoms are located inside cages formed by the Al/Zn atoms. CeIr(2)Zn(20) shows paramagnetic behavior and metallic-like electrical conductivity. The bulk physical data conjointly indicate its intermediate valence character due to an unstable 4f shell. Accordingly, the charge carriers in this material exhibit moderate mass enhancement. The observed physical behavior in CeIr(2)Zn(20) is in concert with the electronic structure of the compound, calculated within the local spin density approximation.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Low Temperature and Structure Research, Polish Academy of Sciences, PO Box 1410, 50-950 Wrocław, Poland. P.Swatek@int.pan.wroc.pl
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Swatek
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kaczorowski