Ferromagnetic ordering in GdPdCd

Abstract GdPdCd was obtained in pure form via reaction of the elements in a sealed tantalum tube in a high-frequency furnace. The structure was investigated by X-ray diffraction on both powders and single crystals: ZrNiAl type, P 6 2m , a=758.2(1), c=391.78(7) pm, wR2=0.0410 for 358 F2 values and 14 variables. Striking structural motifs of GdPdCd are two types of palladium-centered tricapped trigonal prisms [Pd1Cd3Gd6] and [Pd2Cd6Gd3]. Together the palladium and cadmium atoms build a three-dimensional network in which the gadolinium atoms fill distorted pentagonal channels. Susceptibility measurements reveal Curie–Weiss behaviour with an effective magnetic moment of 8.2(1) μB/Gd. GdPdCd ord…