Magnetic, transport and thermal behaviour of R3Si2, R2YSi2 (R=La and Ce), Ce2ScSi2 and Ce2Sc3Si4

We have studied the magnetic properties of Ce3Si2, Ce2YSi2, Ce2ScSi2 and Ce2Sc3Si4. Non-magnetic analogues La3Si2 and La2YSi2 were also studied. All the four cerium compounds are antiferromagnetic at low temperatures. Ce2Si2 orders near 8.5 K and the transition temperature is lower in isostructural Ce2YSi2 and Ce2ScSi2. A magnetic transition near 5.6 K is observed in Ce2Sc3Si4. Heat capacity and resistivity data indicate appreciable short-range order and/or a residual Kondo interaction in these cerium based compounds. A superconducting transition in La,Si, occurs near 2.1 K, while isostructural La2YSi2 shows normal metallic behaviour down to at least 1.6 K. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.