X-ray and 237Np Mössbauer effect investigation on the NpB2C compound

Powder x-ray diffraction and 237Np Mossbauer effect measurements were performed on NpB2C crystallizing in the ThB2C – type structure, Rm . On the base on 237Np Mossbauer spectroscopy formal +3 oxidation states were assigned to both Np sites, 3a and 6c. The magnetic ordering of the Np sublattice below 80 K is confirmed and the value of the ordered moment amounts to 0.30 μB and 1.05 μB on the 3a and 6c Np sites, respectively. The reduced magnitudes of the ordered moment and of the isomer shift suggest rather delocalized 5f electrons.