Structural and magnetic properties of Ce(Cu,Ni)2 pseudobinary phases

The stability of the pseudobinary phases obtained by partial substitution of Ni with Cu, Ag or Au in the cubic Laves phase CeNi₂, or by partial substitution of Cu with Ni in the orthorhombic compound CeCu₂ has been investigated. No solid solubility of Cu, Ag and Au in the CeNi₂ cubic lattice could be detected. In contrast, pseudobinary orthorhombic phases, corresponding to the formula CeCus_2?xNi_x, exist over the range x = 0 to 1. For these phases, crystal structures and magnetic properties have been determined. In every case, the electronic configuration of cerium appears to be unaffected to the Ni content, and corresponds to the trivalent state. The Ni atoms are in a non-magnetic state. The magnetic susceptibility of CeCu₂ in the region from 530 to 900 K shows anomalous behaviour, which should be due to a metamagnetic transition.