Specific heat of RNi4Al intermetallic compounds

Here we present the detailed analysis of the specific heat data of selected intermetallic compounds RNi4Al for R=Ce,Pr,Nd, and Dy. To determine the magnetic entropy of these compounds, the zero-field specific heat data were measured in the temperature range 2-300K. The data of magnetic RNi4Al compounds were compared to those of non-magnetic isostructural analogues LaNi4Al, LaNi5 and YNi5 compounds to determine the phonon contribution to the specific heat. No Schottky term and no magnetic entropy were found in case of CeNi4Al. Similarly to the RNi5 series, no anomalous behavior of the electronic specific heat has been observed in RNi4Al compounds