Magnetic and structural characteristics of the R3Ni7B2 compounds (R = rare earth)

Magnetic and structural behaviour and phase relationships of materials of composition R₃Ni₇B₂ (R = Nd-Lu) were investigated. Detailed X-ray analysis yields that two hexagonal structures are encountered. For the heavy rare earth (Gd-Lu) the compounds crystallize in the CeNi₃ structure. The space group is P6₃/mmc and each unit cell contains two formula units. The R₃Ni₇B₂ where R = Nd-Sm (including Yb₃Ni₇B₂) crystallize in the CeCo₄B structure. The space group is P6/mmm and each unit cell contains one formula unit. The detailed crystal structures are discussed. The magnetic measurements show that Yb₃Ni₇B₂ and Lu₃Ni₇B₂ are Pauli paramagnetic. Sm₃Ni₇B₂ is ferromagnetically ordered with a huge intrinsic magnetic hardness. The magnetization at the coercive field at low temperatures is extremely time dependent. The R₃Ni₇B₂ which crystallize in CeNi₃ structure are antiferromagnetic at low temperatures. All Mossbauer and magnetization experimental results can be explained assuming an antiferromagnetic exchange interaction in both 2(c) and 4(f) crystallographic sites and a ferromagnetic interaction between these sites.     

Physical properties and anisotropies of the RNiGe3 series (R = Y, Ce-Nd, Sm, Gd-Lu)

We have studied RNiGe₃ (R=Y, Ce-Nd, Sm, Gd-Lu) single crystals by measuring crystal structure and stoichiometry, magnetic susceptibility, magnetization, electrical resistivity, magnetoresistance, and specific heat. Clear anisotropies as well as antiferromagnetic ordering in the RNiGe₃ series (R=Ce-Nd, Sm, Gd-Tm) have been observed above 1.8 K from the magnetic susceptibility. A metamagnetic transition in this family (except for R=Sm) was detected at 2 K for applied magnetic fields below 70 kOe. The electrical resistivity of this series follows metallic behavior in the high temperature region. Below the antiferromagnetic ordering temperature a significant anisotropy is exhibited in the resistivity and magnetoresistance for different current directions. The anisotropic magnetic, transport, and thermal properties of RNiGe₃ compounds are discussed in terms of Ni site occupancy as well as a combination of the effect of formation of a magnetic superzone gap and the crystalline electric field.     

Crystals and magnetic structure of RMn2Si2 (R = Pr, Nd, Y) and YMn2Ge2

Crystallographic and magnetic properties of PrMn₂Si₂, NdMn₂Si₂, YMn₂Si₂ and YMn₂Ge₂ intermetallics were studied by X-ray, neutron diffraction and magnetometric measurements. The crystal structure of all four compounds was confirmed to be body-centered tetragonal (space group I4/mmm). All were found to be antiferromagnetic with Néel points at 368, 380, 460 and 395 K respectively. Neutron diffraction results indicate that their magnetic structure consists of ferromagnetic layers composed of Mn ions piled up along the c-axis. Each layer is antiferromagnetically coupled to adjacent layer. The magnetic space group is I_p4/m′m′m′. No magnetic ordering of the R sublattice was observed at 1.8 K in the case of R = Pr and Nd.     

Magnetic properties of RAu2Si2 rare earth compounds

The magnetic properties of the R Au₂Si₂ compounds with R = Ce-Er have been investigated. It was found that the compounds for which R = Ce, Sm, Gd, Tb and Dy are antiferromagnetically ordered at temperatures ranging from 5.7 to 15.9°K. PrAu₂Si₂ and NdAu₂Si₂ exhibit paramagnetic behavior for temperatures as low as 4.2°K. The magnetic structure is ferrimagnetic for the compounds in which R = Eu, Ho, and Er. The Eu compound is in the divalent state. The Néel and Curie points for this system do not follow the De-Gemnes function. Curie-Weiss Behavior is exhibited by all the compounds with effective moments in good agreement with that of a free tripositive lanthanide ion. The difference in magnetic properties between R Au₂Si₂ and the isomorphous R Fe₂Si₂ series is discussed.     

Magnetic properties of RPd5Al2 (R=Y, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Gd)

Polycrystalline samples of a new rare-earth series RPd₅Al₂ crystallizing in the tetragonal ZrNi₂Al₅-type structure have been prepared. Their physical properties by electrical resistivity ρ, magnetic susceptibility χ, magnetization M and specific heat C_p measurements are reported. The ingots are composed of elongated grains preferentially aligned in the c direction; therefore, measurements were conducted parallel and perpendicular to the grains. Antiferromagnetic ordering appears in R=Ce, Nd, Gd, and Sm at low temperatures. CePd₅Al₂ has two AFM transitions at 4.1 and 2.9 K and ρ(T) indicates a Kondo metal behavior with large anisotropy. In PrPd₅Al₂ no magnetic transition was observed down to 0.4 K. The C_p(T) shows a broad peak around 13 K due to the CEF effect, suggesting a non-magnetic singlet ground state. In NdPd₅Al₂, χ(T) shows anisotropy and the C_p(T) shows a sharp peak at 1.2 K. The magnetic entropy at 3 K is very close to Rln2, indicating a Kramers doublet ground state. In SmPd₅Al₂, C_p(T) shows a magnetic transition at 1.7 K. C_p(T) for GdPd₅Al₂ shows a peak at 6 K, followed by a broad anomaly around 3 K. Within this series, T_N's for CePd₅Al₂ and NdPd₅Al₂ clearly deviate from the relation predicted by de Gennes scaling, which is ascribed to the CEF effect.     

Magnetocaloric effect in R2Fe17 (R=Sm,Gd, Tb,Dy, Er)

A series of R₂Fe₁₇ (R=Sm, Gd, Tb, Dy, Er) have been synthesized. The magnetocaloric effect (MCE) of these compounds has been investigated by means of magnetic measurements in the vicinity of their Curie temperature. The Curie temperature of Er₂Fe₁₇ is 294 K. The maximum magnetic entropy change of Er₂Fe₁₇ under 5 T magnetic field is ∼3.68 J/kg K. In the R₂Fe₁₇ (R=Sm, Gd, Tb, Dy, Er) system, the maximum magnetic entropy change under 1.5 T magnetic field is 1.72, 0.89, 1.32, 1.59, 1.68 J/kg K corresponding to their Curie temperature (400, 472, 415, 364, 294 K), respectively.     

Magnetic properties of R2Pt compounds with R = Gd,Tb, Dy,Ho, Er and Tm

Magnetic properties of polycrystalline samples of R₂Pt compounds (R = Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er and Tm) are presented. The Gd, Td, Dy, Ho based compounds are ferromagnetic with Curie temperatures ranging between 155 and 17 K. Er₂Pt and Tm₂Pt are antiferromagnetic with Néel temperatures of 9 and 5 K respectively. The observed properties are discussed considering indirect exchange interactions and crystal field effects acting on the rare earth ions which lies in very low symmetry sites.     

The magnetic properties of some R5Pt3 compounds (R = Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho)

The magnetic susceptibility and magnetization of the R₅Pt₃ intermetallic compounds have been studied. Gd₅Pt₃ is ferromagnetic while Tb₅Pt₃, Dy₅Pt₃ and Ho₅Pt₃ possess rather a non-linear magnetic structure, with strong ferromagnetic interaction and high anisotropy effects at low temperatures.     

Magnetic properties of ternary RMn2Si2 and RMn2Ge2 compounds

Magnetic properties of RMn₂Si₂ and RMn₂Ge₂ compounds, where R is a rare earth metal, have been investigated by magnetometric measurements. RMn₂Ge₂ (where R is a light rare earth) and LaMn₂Si₂ are ferromagnets. Remaining compounds have antiferromagnetic properties. DyMn₂Si₂ and ErMn₂Si₂ show ferromagnetic properties at low temperatures. It was confirmed that the value of Curie (or Néel) temperature for the Mn sublattice decreases with increasing c constant.     

Crystal field effect on the magnetic moment's direction of rare earth ions with low point symmetry in r4co3 (r = Tb, Ho, Dy, Er, Tm) compounds

Neutron diffraction measurements, made on powder samples, show that Ho₄Co₃ and Er₄Co₃ intermetallic compounds are ferrimagnetic at 4.2 K. The magnetic moments of the 2 holmium sites are 8.7 and 2.1 μ_B and those of the erbium sites are equal to 8.7 and 8.1μ_B. The cobal⁺ magnetic moment is 0.2μ_B for both compounds. The easy magnetization direction lies on the hexagonal plane for Ho₄Co₃ while for Er₄Co₃ there are 2 anisotropy directions. Exchange interactions between rare-earth ions of both sites are very weak compared with the total crystal field splitting of the ground state multiplet J. The crystal field parameters are calculated and the magnitude and direction of the rare-earth magnetic moments in each site is determined.     

Large magnetic entropy change and refrigerant capacity in rare-earth intermetallic RCuAl (R=Ho and Er) compounds

The magnetic properties and the magnetocaloric effects of RCuAl (R=Ho and Er) compounds have been investigated. Both HoCuAl and ErCuAl just undergo a second-order ferromagnetic–paramagnetic phase transition at T_C. Large reversible magnetic entropy changes (ΔS_M) are observed around their respective Curie temperatures due to the ferromagnetic–paramagnetic phase transition. For a field change of 0–5 T, the peak values of −ΔS_M of RCuAl (R=Ho and Er) compounds are 23.9 and 22.9 J kg⁻¹ K⁻¹ at T_C, with the values of refrigerant capacity of 393 and 321 J kg⁻¹, respectively. These properties suggest that RCuAl (R=Ho and Er) compounds could be considered as attractive magnetic refrigerants working in low temperature range.     

Magnetic order and hyperfine interactions in RFe6Al6 (R = rare earth)

The systems RFe₆Al₆(R = Y, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm and Yb) crystallize in the tetragonal body centered I4/mmm structure. In striking contrast to the magnetic behaviour of RFe₄Al₈ (weakly coupled R and Fe sublattices, complicated magnetic structure, low T_c ~ 130 K), in the RFe₆Al₆ systems all magnetic sublattices order simultaneously at a relatively high temperature. The magnetization curves start with low values at low temperatures and rise to very high values at T_max ~ 230 K and then drop to 0 at T_c ~ 330 K. All samples show strong hysteresis effects at temperatures just below T_max. Mossbauer studies of ⁵⁷Fe in the (f) and (j) sites and ¹⁵¹Eu, ¹⁵⁵Gd, ¹⁶¹Dy, ¹⁶⁶Er and ¹⁷⁰Yb in the (a) site yield all hyperfine interaction parameters and temperature dependence of the local magnetic moments. All Mossbauer and magnetization experimental results can be explained in a self consistent way with a simple molecular field model. The Fe in the (j) site plays the dominant role in its strong intrasublattice ferromagnetic exchange and its strong antiferromagnetic exchange with the rare earth site. The Fe in the (f) site have an antiferromagnetic intrasublattice exchange, they have a canted strcuture with the ferromagnetic component parallel to the (j) sublattice magnetization.     

Magnetic phase transitions in Nd7Rh3 single crystal

Magnetic phase transitions in rare earth intermetallic compound Nd₇Rh₃ have been investigated using a single crystal. Measurement results of magnetization, magnetic susceptibility, specific heat, and electrical resistivity reveal that Nd₇Rh₃ has two magnetic phase transitions at T_N=34 K, T_t2=9.1 K and a change of the magnetic feature at T_t1=6.8 K in the absence of an external magnetic field. Antiferromagnetic orderings exist in all the three magnetic states; a large magnetic anisotropy between the c-axis and the c-plane is observed. In the magnetic phase below T_t2, an irreversible field-induced magnetic phase transition takes place in the c-plane; after removing external magnetic field, a coexistence state of ferro- and antiferromagnetic ordering or a ferrimagnetic state having a remanent magnetization M_R is stabilized. The M_R decays to a certain value for several hours after the first process; a magnetic field cooling effect was also observed in the c-plane below T_t2. In the antiferromagentic state above T_t2, the irreversibility disappears and an ordinary antiferromagnetic state takes place. As the origin of this phenomenon, a kind of martensitic structural transition that is observed in Gd₅Ge₄ can be considered.     

Magnetic properties of the rare-earth diborodicarbides (RB2C2)

The magnetic susceptibility of RB₂C₂ has been measured in the temperature range of 3–300 K. Curie-Weiss fits to the susceptibilities led to effective moments in agreement with those expected for R³⁺ ions. The RB₂C₂ (R = Ce, Nd, Sm, Gd, Tb, Er, and Tm) compounds are antiferromagnetic. Metamagnetic transitions at low fields were observed for CeB₂C₂ and TbB₂C₂. The compounds, DyB₂C₂ and HoB₂C₂, are ferromagnets with complex magnetic structures. Praseodymium borocarbide becomes a Van Vleck paramagnet at low temperature. The magnetic ordering temperatures of these compounds are discussed in terms of their crystal structure and the RKKY theory.     

Magnetic properties of R4Co3 (R = Gd, Y) compounds as observed by NMR

The zero field spin echo nmr spectrum of Gd₄Co₃ taken at 4.2 K is analysed and discussed on the basis of having magnetic moments of Co atoms at different structural lattice sites. For Y₄Co₃ the spin echo nmr spectrum taken as a function of the external field is discussed and explained on the basis of the coexistence of Co atoms carrying localized magnetic moments and paramagnetic Co atoms in this compound at determined structural sites.     

Raman scattering from 2H and 3R–NbS2

Raman scattering experiments have been carried out on 2H-NbS₂ crystals and 3R-NbS₂ crystals. The spectra obtained from both compounds have been found to contain all the Raman active modes predicted by group theory. A nearest-neighbour lattice dynamics model has also been used to analyze the spectra and qualitative agreement with the experimental results is obtained. The results are also discussed in terms of the modifications expected in the Raman spectra obtained from different polytypes of the same layered compound. Some discrepancies with previously reported results are found.     

Magnetic properties of RAuNi4 rare earth compounds

Magnetization studies of new f.c.c. RAuNi₄ intermetallic compounds were performed. The compounds with R = Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho and Er are ferromagnetically ordered at temperatures ranging from 14 to 38K. Two ferromagnetic transitions were observed in the magnetization curves. TmAuNi₄ and YbAuNi₄ exhibit paramagnetic behaviour for temperatures as low as 4.2 K.     

The crystal structures of the ion conductors (NH+4)Zr2(PO4)3and (H3O+)Zr2(PO4)3

The crystal structures of (NH⁺₄)Zr₂(PO₄)₃ and (H₃O⁺)Zr₂(PO₄)₃ have been determined from neutron time-of-flight powder diffraction data obtained at 15 K. Both compounds are rhombohedral, $\text{R}\text{3}\text{c}$, with cell parameters a=8.7088(1) and c=24.2197(4) Å for the ammonium compound and a=8.7528(2), c=23.6833(11) Å for the hydronium compound. In both cases the ions are completely localized in the type I cavities and hydrogen bonded to lattice oxygens. The measured unit cell parameters are relatively large for this class of compounds but the entrance ways into the cavities are still too small to allow for unrestricted movement of the ions. Thus the low conductivity of the hydronium ion is related to this and other structural features.     

Relation between anisotropy and crystal structure in rare-earth (3d) transition compounds (R2M17)

The ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer effect in Fe-rich compounds of the series Tm₂Fe_17?xCo_x was studied, using enriched iron. It was found that there exists a preference for occupancy by the Fe atoms for the f site. This fact proves useful to explain the changes in sign and magnitude of the anisotropy constant observed in other series of rare-earth transition compounds like Y₂Fe_17?xCo_x.     

Magnetic ordering in rare earth iron silicides and germanides of the RFe2X2 type

Rare earth iron silicides and germanides of the RFe₂Si₂ or RFe₂Ge₂ type with R = La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Gd and Dy were measured for their magnetic susceptibility. The silicides and germanides of Nd and Gd are antiferromagnetically ordered below a Neel point of, respectively, 11 and 7°K for the silicides and 13 and 11 for the germanides. The Nd sublattice under-goes a spin-flop transition which at 4.2°K is at 11 KOe. Although the Fe sublattice is diamagnetic, all the samples showed a weak ferromagnetic ordering below a temperature of about 700°K. The ratio between the dia- and ferromagnetic phases is 94:6 per cent in the silicides and 80:20 in the germanides, as determined by Mössbauer spectroscopy and supported by magnetization measurements.