Ferromagnetism in structurally disordered UFe0.39Ge2

A polycrystalline sample of the uranium ternary germanide UFe0.39Ge2 was examined by means of X-ray powder diffraction, DC magnetization and AC magnetic susceptibility, heat capacity and electrical resistivity measurements performed in wide ranges of temperature and magnetic fields. The experiments confirmed that the compound crystallizes with orthorhombic crystal structure of the CeNiSi2-type that is closely related to that of the ferromagnetic superconductor UGe2 and orders ferromagnetically at 37 K. Moreover, it exhibits some features characteristic of ferromagnetic cluster glasses. The electrical transport in UFe0.39Ge2 is strongly influenced by structural disorder arising from the partly occupied Fe-sites in its crystallographic unit cell.