Magnetoresistivity properties of some ternary stannides based on cerium and nickel

The stannides CeNi(5)Sn (intermediate valence), CeNi(4)Sn(2) (antiferromagnet), CeNiSn(2) (antiferromagnet then ferromagnet) and Ce(2)Ni(2)Sn (Kondo antiferromagnet) were investigated by magnetoresistivity (MR) measurements. Various behaviours were detected: (i) MR is always positive-and weak (congruent to 4.8% at 2 K and 9 T) for CeNi(5)Sn as expected for a non-magnetic metal; (ii) for CeNi(4)Sn(2) the positive MR increases strongly (congruent to 35% at 2 K) below T(N) = 11 K; (iii) a large negative MR is observed at 9 T in the paramagnetic state of Ce(2)Ni(2)Sn (congruent to - 18% at 6 K) and CeNiSn(2) (2 - 7% at 5 K) suggesting the influence of the Kondo effect. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.