Electronic structure and magnetic properties of Ce5CuPb3

Abstract We report on the magnetic and electronic transport properties and as well band electronic structure of the Ce 5 CuPb 3 intermetallic compound, crystallizing in the hexagonal Hf 5 CuSn 3 -type structure. The magnetic and XPS data indicate localized character of the 4 f -electrons. Ce 5 CuPb 3 is shown to be a magnet with double transitions below T C 1 = 46 K and T C 2 = 5 K . Despite being magnetic the compound is found to have a strongly enhanced electronic specific heat (about 50 mJ / mol Ce K 2 ). The electronic band structure calculations based on TB-LMTO and FP-LAPW confirm the magnetic ground state. From the theoretical data we would expect that the Ce1 and Ce2 atoms located at the 4 d and 6 g , respectively, give distinct contributions to the density of states at the Fermi level.