Intermediate valence behavior in the novel cage compound CeIr ₂Zn₂0

Single crystals of the cerium intermetallic compound CeIr ₂Zn₂0 were grown by the flux method, and studied by means of x-ray diffraction, magnetic, electrical transport, and thermodynamic measurements. The compound crystallizes with the cubic CeCr₂Al ₂0-type crystal structure, in which the Ce and transition metal atoms are located inside cages formed by the Al/Zn atoms. CeIr₂Zn ₂0 shows paramagnetic behavior and metallic-like electrical conductivity. The bulk physical data conjointly indicate its intermediate valence character due to an unstable 4f shell. Accordingly, the charge carriers in this material exhibit moderate mass enhancement. The observed physical behavior in CeIr₂Zn₂0 is in concert with the electronic structure of the compound, calculated within the local spin density approximation.