title: Synthesis and theoretical investigations of the solid solution CeRu(1-x)Ni(x)Al (x = 0.1-0.95) showing cerium valence fluctuations.
abstract: Members of the solid solution series of CeRu(1-x)Ni(x)Al can be obtained directly by arc melting of the elements. The presented compounds with 0.1 ≤ x ≤ 0.85 crystallize in the orthorhombic space group Pnma (No. 62) in the LaNiAl structure type, while for 0.9 ≤ x ≤ 1, the hexagonal ZrNiAl-type structure is found. The orthorhombic members exhibit an anomaly in the trend of the lattice parameters as well as an interesting behavior of the magnetic susceptibility, suggesting that the cerium cations exhibit no local moment. Besides the mixed-valent nature of the cerium cations, valence fluctuations along with a change in the cerium oxidation state depending on the nickel content have been found. The oxidation state has been determined from the magnetic data and additionally by XANES. Density functional theory calculations have identified the shortest Ce-Ru interaction as decisive for the stability of the orthorhombic solid solution.
authors: NRW Graduate School of Chemistry and ‡Institut für Anorganische und Analytische Chemie, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster , Corrensstrasse 30, D-48149 Münster, Germany.
authors: Oliver
authors: O
authors: Niehaus
authors: Ute Ch
authors: UCh
authors: Rodewald
authors: Paula M
authors: PM
authors: Abdala
authors: Rachid
authors: R
authors: St Touzani
authors: Boniface P T
authors: BP
authors: Fokwa
authors: Oliver
authors: O
authors: Janka