On the physical properties of RPd(8)B(2-x) and R(3)Pd(25-x)B(8-y) (R = La, Ce).

Physical properties (magnetization, electrical resistivity and specific heat in the temperature range from 2 to 270 K (0.3-270 K for the resistivity)) have been determined for polycrystalline samples of the ternary compounds RPd(8)B(2 - x) (CePd(8)B(2 - x) type; space group C 2/c) and R(3)Pd(25 - x)B(8 - y) (La(3)Pd(25 - x)B(8 - y) type; space group P 2(1)/c) with R = La, Ce. Rietveld refinement of x-ray powder intensity data confirmed the crystal structure and single-phase condition. LaPd(8)B(2 - x) is a novel representative of the CePd(8)B(2 - x) type (a = 1.7838(1) nm, b = 1.040 24(4) nm, c = 1.164 60(6) nm, β = 118.56(1)°). Both cerium compounds behave like Kondo lattices.