Name: Oliver Niehaus
Diploma / M.Sc degree: Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Germany
(July 2012)

PhD Project: Investigation of the structure and physical properties of cerium intermetallics

Abstract of Research Project

Intermetallic cerium compounds show a wide range of different physical properties due to the two possible oxidation states (Ce³⁺ and Ce⁴⁺). Especially the unique bonding situation arises for intermetallics containing ruthenium as transition metal is of huge interest because of their remarkable properties. Very short Ce-Ru distances are often observed, that can only be explained by the presence of partially tetravalent cerium atoms. A PPMS (Physical Properties Measurement System) is used to determine the cerium valence and the resulting magnetic and electrical properties of new intermetallic cerium compounds.



Publications

O. Niehaus, P. M. Abdala, J. F. Riecken, F. Winter, B. Chevalier, R. Pöttgen
Cerium Valence Change in the Solid Solutions Ce(Rh₁-_xRu_x)Sn
Z. Naturforsch. 68b (2013), 960-970.