Structure and electromagnetic transport properties of compound NdNi2Ge2

The sample of compound NdNi2Ge2 is prepared by arc melting. The crystal structure is analyzed using powder X-ray diffraction and refined with Rietveld is method. It is shown that NdNi2Ge2 intermetallic compound crystallizes into a tetragonal structure with space group of I/4mmm and its lattice constant is a=4.120(1),c=9.835(0), Z=2. Nd atoms occupy 2a positions, Ni atoms 4d positions and Ge atom 4e positions. NdNi2Ge2 intermetallic compound has a Curie-Weiss constant of 25.8 and Curie-Weiss temperature of 6.24 K. The effective magnetic moment is 3.69B, which is very close to that of Nd3+. It implies that the magnetic moment originates mainly from Nd3+ ion. The resistivity varies from 0.3 m1.1 m. Fitting results show that this intermetallic compound is semimetal.