Structure and Magnetism of REPtMg (RE = Pr,Nd, Sm)
New magnesium based intermetallic compounds PrPtMg, NdPtMg and SmPtMg were synthesized from the elements by reaction in sealed tantalum tubes in a high-frequency furnace. The three compounds were investigated by X-ray powder and single crystal diffraction: ZrNiAl type, space group P6̄2m, a = 752.34(8), c = 412.66(4) pm, wR2 = 0.0668, 341 F2 values, 14 variables for PrPtMg, a = 748.80(8), c = 411.52(4) pm, wR2 = 0.0521, 196 F2 values, 14 variables for NdPtMg and a = 743.90(5), c = 409.80(3) pm, wR2 = 0.0489, 248 F2 values, 12 variables for SmPtMg. From a geometrical point of view these structures are composed of two types of platinum centered trigonal prisms, i. e. [Pt1Mg3RE6] and [Pt2Mg6RE3]. These prisms are condensed via common edges and faces. Together the platinum and magnesium atoms build three-dimensional [PtMg] networks in which the rare earth atoms are located in distorted pentagonal channels. Magnetic susceptibility data of PrPtMg show Curie-Weiss behaviour with an experimentalmagnetic moment of 3.59(2) μB and a paramagnetic Curie temperature of 7.5(5) K. Ferromagnetic ordering is detected at TC = 8.0(5) K with a magnetic moment of 1.75(5) μB/Pr at 4.5 K and 5 T. SmPtMg orders ferromagnetically below 52(1) K with a presumably complex spin structure in the ordered state.