Valency and magnetic behavior of ytterbium in intermetallic compounds

Conference · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1976 · AIP (Am. Inst. Phys.) Conf. Proc.; (United States)

OSTI ID:7125155

Klaasse, J C.P.; Mattens, W C.M.; van Ommen, A H; de Boer, F R; de Chatel, P F

Seventeen binary and some ternary intermetallic compounds of Yb were examined in order to determine the factors controlling its valency. From susceptibility measurements between 1.4 and 1060/sup 0/K the trivalent state can be firmly established by the validity of the Curie-Weiss law in 7 systems. Diamagnetism or weakly temperature dependent paramagnetism, indicative of divalent Yb, is found in 7 systems. In YbGa/sub 2/ and especially YbCu/sub 2/ the temperature dependence is too strong to classify these systems as simple Pauli paramagnets, and in YbAl/sub 2/, YbAl/sub 3/ and YbCuAl the susceptibility goes through a maximum and becomes Curie-Weiss like at high temperatures. Yb in the latter five systems is considered having an intermediate valency. A correlation is established between the valency of Yb and the electronegativity of its metallic environment. The temperature dependence of the susceptibility of the intermediate-valency systems can be reasonably described by invoking a 4f resonance on each Yb ion, but the complete lack of saturation cannot be understood within this picture. Other semi-empirical and theoretical formulas are also partially successful, but none of them offers a complete description of the results.

• Research Organization: Univ., Amsterdam
• OSTI ID: 7125155
• Conference Information: Journal Name: AIP (Am. Inst. Phys.) Conf. Proc.; (United States) Journal Volume: 34
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360104* -- Metals & Alloys-- Physical Properties
ALLOY SYSTEMS
ALLOYS
BINARY ALLOY SYSTEMS
INTERMETALLIC COMPOUNDS
MAGNETIC PROPERTIES
MAGNETIC SUSCEPTIBILITY
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
RARE EARTH ALLOYS
STABILITY
TERNARY ALLOY SYSTEMS
VALENCE
YTTERBIUM ALLOYS