Lattice Constant, Resistivity, Specific Heat, and Susceptibility in the Mixed Valent - Kondo System: Cerium

The lattice constant at 300 and 77 K, the resistivity and magnetic susceptibility from 1.8 to 300 K, and the low temperature specific heat, both in and out of field up to 40 kgauss, were measured for several samples of Ce (Pd(,1-y)Ag(,y))(,3) with y ranging from 0 to .35. The intermetallic compound CePd(,3) has been shown by Gardner to be mixed valent at room temperature and atmospheric pressure, with the Ce ion valence calculated to be 3.45. The results of this thesis are in agreement and show furthermore that substitution of Ag (which has one more electron than Pd) for Pd in this compound tends to drive the Ce ion valence from 3.45 to 3 at y (TURNEQ) .12 For samples with y > .12, the Ce remains trivalent and the Kondo effect is observed. Parameters calculated from the data are compared to predictions of several mixed valence and Kondo theories. The mixed valence theories' predictions are in qualitative agreement with the data. However, results in the trivalent region are inconsistent with predictions of dilute Kondo theories.