Magnetic properties of the intermetallic compound Ce5Ge4

Magnetic and magnetocaloric properties of the compound Ce₅Ge₄ have been studied. This compound has orthorhombic Sm₅Ge₄-type structure (space group Pnma, no. 62) and orders ferromagnetically at ~12 K (T_C). The paramagnetic Curie temperature is ~−20 K suggesting the presence of competing ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic interactions in this compound. The magnetization does not seem to saturate even in fields of 90 kOe at 3 K consistent with the presence of competing interactions. Saturation magnetization value (extrapolated to 1/H→0) of only 0.8μ_B/Ce³⁺ is obtained compared to the free ion value of 2.14μ_B/Ce³⁺. This moment reduction in the ordered state of Ce₅Ge₄ could be due to partial antiferromagnetic/paramagnetic ordering of the Ce moments and may also be due to crystalline electric field effects. Magnetic entropy change near T_C, calculated from the magnetization vs. field data, is found to be moderate with a maximum value of ~9 J/kg/K at ~11 K for a field change of 90 kOe.     

Magnetic phase transition and the corresponding magnetostriction of intermetallic compounds RMnsGe2（R=Sm,Gd）

The temperature dependence of lattice constants a and c of intermetallic compounds RMn₂Ge₂ (R=Sm, Gd) is measured in the temperature range 10－800K by using the x-ray diffraction method. The magnetoelastic anomalies of lattice constants are found at the different kinds of spontaneous magnetic transitions. The transversal and longitudinal magnetostrictions of polycrystalline samples are measured in the pulse magnetic field up to 25T. In the external magnetic field there occurs a first-order field-induced antiferromagnetism－ferromagnetism transition in the Mn sublattice, which gives rise to a large magnetostriction. The magnitude of magnetostrictions is as large as 10^-3. The transversal and longitudinal magnetostrictions have the same sign and are almost equal. This indicates that the magnetostriction is isotropic and mainly caused by the interlayer Mn－Mn exchange interaction. The experimental results are explained in the framework of a two-sublattice ferrimagnet with the negative exchange interaction in one of the sublattices by taking into account the lattice constant dependence of interlayer Mn－Mn exchange interaction.     

Crystal structure and magnetic properties of TbFe0.4Ge2 compound

Neutron diffraction and magnetic measurements were performed on polycrystalline TbFe_0.4Ge₂ which crystallizes with the orthorhombic structure of the CeNiSi₂-type. Despite the presence of some clear anomalies in the low-temperature magnetic susceptibility, the neutron diffraction experiment did not reveal any long-range magnetic ordering of the Tb magnetic moments down to 1.57 K.     

金属间化合物DyMn2Ge2的自发磁相变和场诱导的磁相变

在10—800K的温度范围内用X射线衍射方法测量了DyMn₂Ge₂化合物的晶格常数与温度的变化关系,观察到高温时DyMn₂Ge₂由顺磁状态到反铁磁状态的自发磁相变伴随着晶格常数a的负的磁弹性异常现象.在4.2K—200K的温度范围内测量了DyMn₂Ge₂的交流磁化率.在交换相互作用的分子场模型近似下,从理论上分析讨论了DyMn₂Ge₂的低温自发磁相变和场诱导的磁相变.计算了DyMn₂Ge₂单晶的磁化强度与温度的变化关系以及不同温度下外磁场沿晶轴c方向时的磁化曲线.理论分析和计算结果表明,温度低于33K时在DyMn₂Ge₂中观察到的场诱导的一级磁相变为由亚铁磁状态(Fi)到中间态(IS)相变. 关键词： 稀土-过渡族金属间化合物 磁结构 磁相变     

Magnetoelastic properties of GdMn6Sn6 intermetallic compound

We studied the thermal expansion and magnetostriction of polycrystalline samples of GdMn₆Sn₆ intermetallic compound with hexagonal HfGe₆Fe₆-type structure in the temperature range of 77-520 K. The thermal expansion measurement of the sample shows anomalous behavior around its T_C=434 K and T_M=309 K, possibly the point of collapse-like reduction of Mn moments. In addition, the isofield curves of anisotropic and volume magnetostriction reveal anomalies around paramagnetic to ferrimagnetic phase transition. The obtained experimental results are discussed in the framework of two-magnetic sublattices by bearing in mind the lattice parameter dependence of interlayer Mn-Mn exchange interaction in this layered compound. From the temperature dependence of magnetostriction values and considering the magnetostriction relation of a hexagonal structure, we attempt to determine the signs of some of the magnetostriction constants as well as a comparison of their orders of magnitude for this compound.     

Magnetic structure of the Sm5Ge4-type Tb2Ti3Ge4

The orthorhombic Sm₅Ge₄-type Tb₂Ti₃Ge₄ shows square modulated non-collinear magnetic ordering with wave vector K=[±1/3, 1/2, 1/2] at 2 K. The terbium magnetic moments lie in the bc plane and magnetic moment value of 7.5(2) μ_B/Tb is obtained at 2 K.     

Magnetic structure of the Mn5Si3-type Er5Ge3 compound

The Er₅Ge₃ compound (Mn₅Si₃-type, hP16, P6₃/mcm) at 4 K shows magnetic ordering of the antiferromagnetic type. Its magnetic structure consists of sine modulated collinear magnetic moments of Er that are parallel to the c axis (with a propagation vector k=[0 0 ±0.3]). This corresponds to the magnetic unit cell (a a 10c), the values of the magnetic moment of the Er atoms being, as a general formula, M_z≈M₀ cos [2π(Z–1/4)(1–kZ)], with M₀=9.2(2) μ_B at 4 K.     

Magnetic properties and magnetocaloric effect in compound PrFe12B6

Magnetic properties and magnetocaloric effect of compound PrFe 12 B 6 are investigated.The coexistence of hard phase PrFe 12 B 6 and soft phase α-Fe causes interesting phenomena on the curves for the temperature dependence of magnetization.PrFe 12 B 6 experiences a first order phase transition at the Curie temperature 200 K,accompanied by an obvious lattice contraction,which in turn results in a large magnetic entropy change.The Maxwell relation fails to give the correct information about magnetic entropy change due to the first order phase transition nature.The large magnetic entropy changes of PrFe 12.3 B 4.7 obtained from heat capacity method are 11.7 and 16.2 J/kg.K for magnetic field changes of 0-2 T and 0-5 T respectively.     

(Nd1－xErx)3Fe25Cr4.0(0≤x≤1.0) 化合物的结构与磁性

合成了(Nd1-xErx)3Fe25Cr4.0(0≤x≤1.0)系列化合物并采用x射线衍射和磁测量等手段研究了它们的结构和磁性.发现当0≤x≤0.8时化合物保持Nd3(Fe,Ti)29型结构,属于单斜晶系,A2/m空间群,当0.8＜x≤1.0时,化合物形成一种哑铃对Fe-Fe无序替代Th2Ni17结构,P63/mmc空间群.随着Er含量的增加,化合物的居里温度TC和饱和磁化强度Ms单调下降.当x=0时,Nd3Fe25Cr4.0化合物的易磁化方向非常靠近[040]方向,仅略微偏离15结构的基面,但随Er含量的增加,(Nd1-xErx)3Fe25Cr4.0化合物的易磁化方向从靠近[040]方向转向靠近[4 0 2]方向,同时与15结构的基面所成的倾角也增大.通过测量交流磁化率发现,x=0-0.4和x=1.0的化合物在低温下出现自旋重取向.在x=0-0.4的化合物中,自旋重取向温度Tm随Er含量增加单调升高.用高达13T的磁场测量难磁化方向的磁化曲线发现,在0≤x≤0.8的化合物中发生了一级磁化过程(FOMP),其临界场Bcr随Er含量的增加而降低.     

Magnetic structure of the La3NiGe2-type Tb3NiGe2 and Mn5Si3-type Tb5NixGe3−x (x=0 and 0.3)

We present a neutron powder diffraction investigation of the magnetic structure of La₃NiGe₂-type Tb₃NiGe₂ and Mn₅Si₃-type Tb₅Ni_xGe_3−x (x=0, 0.3) compounds. It is found that below∼135 K Tb₃NiGe₂ exhibits a commensurate b-collinear ferrimagnetic ordering with C_2h′={1, m_z, 1′×2_z, 1′×1?} magnetic point group. The Mn₅Si₃-type Tb₅Ge₃ and Tb₅Ni_0.3Ge_2.7 compounds are found to present a flat spiral type antiferromagnetic ordering at 85 and ≥89 K, respectively. The Ni for Ge substitution is found to decrease the flat spiral ordered magnetic unit cell from a×a×40c of Tb₅Ge₃ (below 40 K) down to a×a×5c for Tb₅Ni_0.3Ge_2.7 (below ∼10 K).     

Magnetostructural phase transitions of DyFe4Ge2: Part II Neutron diffraction

We present the temperature magnetic phase diagram of the compound DyFe₄Ge₂ determined from neutron diffraction data for the entire magnetically ordered regime. DyFe₄Ge₂ undergoes at a simultaneous structural and magnetic transition of second order (or weakly first order) followed by two subsequent isostructural first-order magnetic transitions at and T_ic1=28K:

The re-entrant lock-in magnetic phase is stable in the high-temperature range T_ic2–T_N and in the low-temperature range 1.5 K–T_ic1 while the incommensurately modulated magnetic phase is sandwiched in the intermediate range T_ic1–T_ic2 between the two commensurate phases. The wave vector q₂ has a temperature-dependent length with a minimum in the middle of the incommensurate range and corresponds to a multiaxial amplitude modulated phase. Symmetry analysis leads for both propagation vectors in Cmmm to a twofold and fourfold splitting of the tetragonal Dy 2b site and the Fe 8i sites, respectively. The low temperature and the phases correspond to 3D canted magnetic structures described by the irreducible representations (Irreps) Γ₂+Γ₃ while the high-temperature q₁ phase to 2D canted magnetic structures described by a single Irrep Γ₂. The T_ic2 transition is connected with reorientations of both Fe and Dy moments.     

Magnetocaloric and barocaloric effects in a Gd5Si2Ge2 compound

The first-order phase transition in Gd₅Si₂Ge₂ is sensitive to both magnetic field and pressure. It may indicate that the influences of the magnetic field and the pressure on the phase transition are virtually equivalent. Moreover, theoretical analyses reveal that the total entropy change is almost definite at a certain Curie temperature no matter whether the applied external field is a magnetic field or a pressure. The entropy change curve can be broadened dramatically under pressure, and the refrigerant capacity is improved from 284.7 J/kg to 447.0 J/kg.     

Magnetic properties of antiferromagnetic YMn2 and magnetic structure of GdMn2

Electronic structure of d-electrons in antiferromagnetic YMn₂ is calculated in the tight-binding approximation. By making use of the calculated density-of-state curve, various magnetic properties of this compound are discussed and a good agreement between the calculated and observed results is obtained. A new model of the magnetic structure of GdMn₂ is proposed.     

Magnetic and structural investigations of GdMn2-GdNi2 intermetallic compounds

Magnetic and structural properties of the intermetallic system Gd(Mn_1-xNi_x)₂ were investigated. The 0?x?0.4 and 0.7<x?1 compounds are Laves phases of the MgCu₂ type. The remaining compounds 0.4?x?0.7. crystallize with the hexagonal structure. For single crystal GdMn_0.8Ni_1.2 the P6₃/mmc space group and the lattice parameters a=5.175 Å and c=16.731 Å are obtained. The magnetic properties of investigated series are investigated in stationary and in pulsed magnetic fields in the temperature range 2.6–700 K. For 0.4?x?0.8 two magnetic transitions are observed. In the paramagnetic range the χ^-1_M (T) is described by a Néel type variation and the molecular field coefficients N_{i j} are calculated. The localized character of the magnetic moment of Mn is observed.     

Magnetoelastic properties of ErMn6Sn6 intermetallic compound

The thermal expansion and magnetostriction of polycrystalline sample of the ErMn₆Sn₆ intermetallic compound with hexagonal HfFe₆Ge₆-type structure are investigated in the temperature range of 77 K to above 400 K. The thermal expansion measurement of the sample shows anomalous behavior around its T_N=340 K. The isofield curves of volume magnetostriction also reveal anomalies at paramagnetic-antiferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic-ferrimagnetic phase transitions. In the antiferromagnetic state, the transition to ferrimagnetism can be induced by an applied magnetic field. The threshold field for the metamagnetic transition H_th increases from 0.18 T at 84 K to about 1 T around 220 K, and then decreases monotonously to T_N. This behavior is well consistent with that observed earlier on magnetization curves attributed to exchange-related metamagnetic transition rather than the anisotropy-related one. Furthermore, the low H_th values suggest that the Mn-Mn coupling in ErMn₆Sn₆ is not so strong. The experimental results obtained are discussed in the framework of two-magnetic sublattice by bearing in mind the lattice parameter dependence of the interlayer Mn-Mn exchange interaction in this layered compound. From the temperature dependence of magnetostriction values and considering the magnetostriction relation of a hexagonal structure, we attempt to determine the signs of some of the magnetostriction constants for this compound.     

The magnetic structure of the compound Ho5Sb3

We have investigated the magnetic behavior of Ho₅Sb₃ compound (Mn₅Si₃-type, hexagonal; a=0.8865(1) nm, c=0.6232(1) nm, as derived from X-ray Guinier powder pattern) by using the techniques of magnetization, electrical resistivity, heat capacity and neutron diffraction. We find that Ho₅Sb₃ exhibits a ferrimagnetic type (Ferrimagnet I) ordering below 60 K with propagation vectors K₀=[0, 0, 1] and K₁=[±K_x, 0, 0]. Below 40 K, the thermal variation of magnetic reflections and the appearance of an additional magnetic component with propagation vector K₂=[0, 1/2, 0] show the onset of an antiferromagnetic type of ordering in the magnetic structure; which evolves into yet another ferrimagnetic structure (Ferrimagnet II) as the temperature is lowered down to 2 K. The magnetic moments of the Ho atoms at the (4d) and (6g) sites with magnitudes of nearly 7.4 and 6.3 μ_B at 2 K, respectively, are inclined approximately at 70° to the c-axis.     

Magnetic order of Mn5Si3-type Tb5Sb3 and Tb5Si1.5Sb1.5

Neutron diffraction study has been performed on the Tb₅Sb₃ and Tb₅Si_1.5Sb_1.5 compounds (hexagonal Mn₅Si₃-type, hP16, P6₃/mcm) to understand their magnetic structures. The temperature dependence of neutron diffraction results proves that these intermetallics show a complex magnetic ordering. The Tb₅Sb₃ presents five subsequent changes in magnetic structure at ∼150, 119, 85, 70 and 54 K on cooling: paramagnet→antiferromagnetic flat spiral→ferromagnetic cone→antiferromagnetically canted ferromagnetic cone→canted AF→sine modulated AF. The Tb₅Si_1.5Sb_1.5 shows two subsequent changes in magnetic structure at 123 and 66 K: paramagnet→sine modulated antiferromagnet I→sine modulated antiferromagnet II. The Tb₅Si₃, Tb₅Sb₃ and Tb₅Si_1.5Sb_1.5 have the different magnetic structure in the full temperature range.     

Magnetic structure of TmCu2Ge2

TmCu₂Ge₂ compound crystallizes in the tetragonal ThCr₂Si₂-type crystal structure. The neutron diffraction reveals the presence of an incommensurate antiferromagnetic order below T_N=2.5 K. The Tm magnetic moment of 5.0(1) μ_B at 0.47 K is parallel to the c-axis. The order is described by the propagation vector k=[k_x, k_x, 0], where k_x=0.117(3). The increase of the values of the components k_x near the Néel temperature is observed.     

Magnetic properties of NdCo2Ge2, ErCo2Ge2 and PrFe2Ge2 compounds

Magnetometric and neutron diffraction studies of polycrystalline NdCo₂GE₂, ErCo₂Ge₂ and PrFe₂Ge₂ compounds were carried out in the temperature range between 4.2 and 300 K. All samples are antiferromagnetic with Néel temperature 26.5, ～ 4.2 and 13 K, respectively. The RECo₂Ge₂ compounds have collinear antiferromagnetic order of +?+? type. For PrFe₂Ge₂ a sinusoidal magnetic structure is observed. Magnetic moment is localized on RE atoms only and is equal to that of RE³⁺ free ion value. In ErCo₂Ge₂ the magnetic moment of Er atoms is perpendicular to the c-axis, whereas for remaining compounds it is parallel to the c-axis.