Abstract. We have synthesized CeRhP, aiming at breaking new ground as regards the CeRhPn (Pn = pnictogen) system. X-ray powder diffraction analysis shows that CeRhP crystallizes into the tetragonal LaPtSi-type structure. Both the magnetic susceptibility and thermopower exhibit a broad peak around 170 K, and the specific heat gives an electronic specific-heat coefficient of 30 mJ K^-2 mol^-1. These results indicate that CeRhP is a valence-fluctuating compound with a Kondo temperature of 400-500 K. The electrical resistivity shows a metallic behaviour, in contrast to the semimetal or semiconducting behaviour in CeRhSb and CeRhAs, with the orthorhombic ε-TiNiSi-type structure. This stresses the importance of the crystal symmetry to the gap formation in the CeRhPn series.

Print publication: Issue 12 (1 April 2002)
Received 6 February 2002, in final form 19 February 2002
Published 15 March 2002