The present review summarizes important aspects
of the crystal chemistry of ytterbium-based intermetallic
compounds along with a selection of their outstanding physical
properties. These originate in many cases from the ytterbium
valence. Different valence states are possible here, divalent (4f14),
intermediate-valent, or trivalent (4f13) ytterbium, resulting in
simple diamagnetic, Pauli or Curie−Weiss paramagnetic, or
valence fluctuating behavior. Especially, some of the Yb3+
intermetallics have gained deep interest due to their Kondo or
heavy Fermion ground states. We have summarized their property
investigations using magnetic and transport measurements, specific
heat data, NMR, ESR, and Mössbauer spectroscopy, elastic and
inelastic neutron scattering, and XAS data as well as detailed thermoelectric measurements
