Low-Temperature Magnetic Transitions in Anisotropic Ce-Based Intermetallic Single Crystals

We report distinct low-temperature magnetic behavior observed in two morphologically different single-crystalline samples of a newly synthesized Ce-based intermetallic compound. Magnetization measurements (M–T) between 2 and 20 K reveal a pronounced anisotropy between rod-like and plate-like crystals, with the rod samples showing a sharp upturn near 5 K, suggesting a ferromagnetic transition. In contrast, the plate samples exhibit a gradual magnetic response with reduced saturation magnetization, indicative of antiferromagnetic or competing exchange interactions or crystallographic orientation effects. These variations highlight the sensitivity of the magnetic ground state to growth conditions and sample geometry, pointing to possible coexistence of local-moment and itinerant-electron magnetism in these compounds. Ongoing work aims to correlate morphology-dependent magnetic anisotropy with structural and electronic characterization to elucidate the role of Ce 4f–ligand hybridization in the emergence of magnetic order.