Crystal structure and physical properties of CeNiIn4

Abstract

The ternary indide CeNiIn₄ was prepared from the elemental components by arc-melting and subsequent annealing at 970 K. CeNiIn₄ adopts the orthorhombic YNiAl₄-type structure. It was refined from single-crystal X-ray data: Cmcm, a= 445.9(1) pm, b= 1676.7(2) pm, c= 719.3(1) pm, V= 0.5378(2) nm³, Z= 2, wR(2)= 0.0359, 906 F² values and 24 variable parameters. The structure of CeNiIn₄ contains one-dimensional columns of [NiCe₂In₄] trigonal prisms which are separated by an indium network. Magnetic susceptibility measurements show Curie–Weiss behaviour. No magnetic order was observed down to 2 K. The experimental magnetic moment µ_exp= 2.6(1)µ_B is close to that of the free Ce³⁺ ion of µ_eff= 2.54µ_B. CeNiIn₄ is a good metallic conductor with a specific resistivity of 33 µΩ cm at room temperature.