Electronic and magnetic properties of the rare earth intermetallic compounds RRu4Sn6 (R = Nd, Sm, Gd, Tb, Dy and Ho)

A number of compounds of structural formula RRu4Sn6 (R = rare-earth element) have previously been reported to form in the tetragonal crystal structure with space group I (4) over bar 2m. In this structure the R atoms are well isolated from each other. We embarked on this study to investigate the physical properties and to compare with earlier results obtained on the strongly correlated, low charge-carrier density compound CeRu4Sn6. Here we report our results of crystallographic, electrical resistivity, and magnetic studies on this family of compounds. In contrast to the behaviour in CeRu4Sn6, magnetic ordering is evident at low temperatures in the compounds with R = Sm, Gd, and Dy, as is evidenced by well-resolved anomalies in the temperature dependence of the electrical resistivity and static magnetic susceptibility. (c) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.