Synthesis and Characterization of New Ternary Uranium Compound UCr₂Al₂₀

Abstract

A new U-based ternary compound UCr₂Al₂₀ was synthesized. The compound was characterized by X-ray diffraction, specific heat, magnetization and resistivity measurements. The low temperature electronic specific heat coefficient γ is estimated to be γ\simeq80 mJ/mol·K². The magnetic susceptibility is slightly temperature dependent with the value χ\simeq2×10⁻³ emu/mol. The ratio χ⁄χ_cal, where χ_cal is calculated from γ, is about 2, which suggests that the compound is a magnetically exchange-enhanced system.