Synthesis, crystal structure and physical properties of Yb₂Pd₃Ge₅

A systematic study on the existence of R₂Pd₃Ge₅ intermetallics with heavy rare earth metals (R = Gd–Lu) was conducted; only the Yb₂Pd₃Ge₅ was revealed to exist. Its crystal structure was established by X-ray powder diffraction and refined by means of Rietveld method. This compound crystallizes in the orthorhombic U₂Co₃Si₅ structure type (Ibam, oI40, Z = 4, a = 10.2628(1), b = 12.0580(1), and c = 5.98251(6) Å), which represents an ordered derivative of the tI10-ThCr₂Si₂ prototype, ubiquitous among intermetallics. Magnetization and susceptibility measurements indicate that Yb₂Pd₃Ge₅ is a paramagnet with μ_eff close to 0.8 μ_B/Yb-atom, suggesting a nearly divalent Yb state. Electrical resistivity and Seebeck coefficient of the studied compound as a function of temperature confirm its metallic-like behavior.