Synthesis, structure and physical properties of new intermetallic spin glass-like compounds RE 2PdGe3 (RE = Tb and Dy).

New intermetallic compounds Tb2Pd1.25Ge2.75 and Dy2Pd1.25Ge2.75 have been synthesized using the arc-melting method. The crystallographic structure and magnetic, electronic transport, and thermal properties are reported. The crystal structure obtained from powder x-ray diffraction analysis suggests that these compounds crystallize in the AlB2-type structure (space group P6/mmm, no. 191) with lattice parameters a  =  4.228 53(5)/4.230 54 (2) Å and c  =  3.942 25(9)/3.945 52(5) Å for the compounds with Tb and Dy respectively. The ac and dc magnetic susceptibility studies reveal spin-glass like behavior, with freezing temperature T f  =  10.5 K for Tb2Pd1.25Ge2.75 and 4.5 K for Dy2Pd1.25Ge2.75. These data are in good agreement with the heat capacity measurements.