Crystal Structure and Magnetism of Noncentrosymmetric Eu(2)Pd(2)Sn

[Image: see text] The new intermetallic compound Eu(2)Pd(2)Sn has been investigated. A single crystal was selected from the alloy and was analyzed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, revealing that this compound possesses the noncentrosymmetric Ca(2)Pd(2)Ge structure type being, so far, the only rare-earth-based representative. Bonding analysis, performed on the basis of DOS and (I)COHP, reveals the presence of strong covalent Sn–Pd bonds in addition to linear and equidistant Pd–Pd chains. The incomplete ionization of Eu leads to its participation in weaker covalent interactions. The magnetic effective moment, extracted from the magnetic susceptibility χ(T) is μ(eff) = 7.87 μ(B), close to the free ion Eu(2+) value (μ(eff) = 7.94 μ(B)). The maximum of χ(T) at T(N) ∼ 13 K indicates an antiferromagnetic behavior below this temperature. A coincident sharp anomaly in the specific heat C(P)(T) emerges from a broad anomaly centered at around 10 K. From the reduced jump in the heat capacity at T(N) a scenario of a transition to an incommensurate antiferromagnetic phase below T(N) followed by a commensurate configuration below 10 K is suggested.