Pure as well as Ag- and Au-substituted ${\mathrm{YbInCu}}_4$ single crystals are structurally and chemically characterized and investigated by means of heat capacity, magnetization, resistivity, and ultrasonic measurements. We study the influence of different compositions of the initial melt as well as of Au and Ag substitutions on the valence change and investigate whether this change occurs via a first-order phase transition or via crossover. We construct a phase diagram of ${\mathrm{YbInCu}}_4$ as a function of various substitutions and show that the position of the critical end point of the valence transition depends on the substituent and on the conditions under which the samples are grown. Multiple thermal cycles through the first-order transition lead to a significant modification of the physical properties, which clearly demonstrates the influence of defects in substituted ${\mathrm{YbInCu}}_4$.

Close

PrevNext

View figure in article

• Defects
• Doping effects
• Electrical conductivity
• Growth
• Magnetism
• Phase diagrams
• Phase transitions
• Pressure effects
• Specific heat
• Structural properties
• Ultrasound attenuation
• Crystal structures
• Metals
• Rare-earth magnetic materials
• Single crystal materials
• Strongly correlated systems
• Crystal growth
• Magnetization measurements