  We have performed X-ray powder diffraction, magnetization, electrical
resistivity, heat capacity and inelastic neutron scattering (INS) to
investigate the physical properties of the intermetallic series of compounds
CeCuBi$_{2-x}$Sb$_{x}$. These compounds crystallize in a tetragonal structure
with space group $P4/nmm$ and present antiferromagnetic transition temperatures
ranging from 3.6 K to 16 K. Remarkably, the magnetization easy axis changes
along the series, which is closely related to the variations of the tetragonal
crystalline electric field (CEF) parameters. This evolution was analyzed using
a mean field model, which included anisotropic nearest-neighbor interactions
and the tetragonal CEF Hamiltonian. The CEF parameters were obtained by fitting
the magnetic susceptibility data with the constraints given by the INS
measurements. Finally, we discuss how this CEF evolution can affect the Kondo
physics and the search for a superconducting state in this family.
