Anisotropic magnetization, resistivity and heat capacity of single   crystalline R3Ni2-xSn7 (R = La, Ce, Pr and Nd)
  We present a detailed study of R3Ni2-xSn7 (R = La, Ce, Pr and Nd) single crystals by measurements of crystal structure, stoichiometry, temperature dependent magnetic susceptibility, magnetization, electrical resistivity, magnetoresistance, and specific heat. This series forms with partial Ni occupancy with x varying from ~ 0.1 for R = La to ~0.7 for R = Nd. The electrical resistivity of this series follows metallic behavior at high temperatures. Determination of clear anisotropies as well as antiferromagnetic ordering temperatures for R3Ni2-xSn7 (R = Ce, Pr and Nd) have been made. For Pr3Ni1.56Sn7 and Nd3Ni1.34Sn7, multiple magnetic transitions take place upon cooling. Metamagnetic transitions in this family (R = Ce, Pr and Nd) were detected for applied magnetic fields below 70 kOe. An H-T phase diagram of Ce3Ni1.69Sn7 was assembled to shed light on its low field properties and to rule out possible quantum critical effects. 
Xiao Lin, Sergey L. Bud'ko, Srinivasa Thimmaiah, Paul C. Canfield
cond-mat.str-el