Magnetic studies on RCo3B2 (R=Sm,Gd, Er)

Compounds RCo₃B₂ withR=Sm, Gd, and Er were prepared and identified structurally by X-ray diffraction. Magnetic properties of these materials were studied down to liquid He temperature. The materials order ferromagnetically (e.g.,T _c for GdCo₃B₂ is 58 K). The magnitude of saturation moments indicates that Co is nonmagnetic in this environment. Bulk specimens of the compound SmCo₃B₂ show extraordinarily high coercive forces at 4.2 K (H _c =50 kOe). The second-order crystal field term of Sm in this compound is calculated on the point charge crystal field model and is found to be considerably larger than the one of Sm in SmCo₅. This is mainly due to the unusual ratio of the lattice constants. This work was supported by a grant from the National Science Fundation.