DOE OSTI2015
The crystal structure of new Mo{sub 2}NiB{sub 2}-type (Gd, Tb, Dy){sub 2}Ni{sub 2.35}Si{sub 0.65} (Immm, No. 71, oI10) and La{sub 2}Ni{sub 3}-type (Dy, Ho){sub 2}Ni{sub 2.5}Si{sub 0.5} (Cmce No. 64, oC20) compounds has been established using powder X-ray diffraction studies. Magnetization measurements show that the Mo{sub 2}NiB{sub 2}-type Gd{sub 2}Ni{sub 2.35}Si{sub 0.65} undergoes a ferromagnetic transition at ~66 K, whereas isostructural Tb{sub 2}Ni{sub 2.35}Si{sub 0.65} shows an antiferromagnetic transition at ~52 K and a field-induced metamagnetic transition at low temperatures. Neutron diffraction study shows that, in zero applied field, Tb{sub 2}Ni{sub 2.35}Si{sub 0.65} exhibits c-axis antiferromagnetic order with propagation vector K=[1/2, 0, 1/2] below its magnetic ordering temperature and Tb magnetic moment reaches a value of 8.32(5) μ{sub B} at 2 K. The La{sub 2}Ni{sub 3}-type Dy{sub 2}Ni{sub 2.5}Si{sub 0.5} exhibits ferromagnetic like transition at ~42 K with coexisting antiferromagnetic interactions and field induced metamagnetic transition below ~17 K. The magnetocaloric effect of Gd{sub 2}Ni{sub 2.35}Si{sub 0.65}, Tb{sub 2}Ni{sub 2.35}Si{sub 0.65} and Dy{sub 2}Ni{sub 2.5}Si{sub 0.5} is calculated in terms of isothermal magnetic entropy change and it reaches a maximum value of −14.3 J/kg K, −5.3 J/kg K and −10.3 J/kg K for a field change of 50 kOe near 66 K, 52 K and 42 K, respectively. Low temperature magnetic ordering with enhanced anisotropic effects in Tb{sub 2}Ni{sub 2.35}Si{sub 0.65} and Dy{sub 2}Ni{sub 2.35}Si{sub 0.65} is accompanied by a positive magnetocaloric effect with isothermal magnetic entropy changes of +12.8 J/kg K and ~+9.9 J/kg K, respectively at 7 K for a field change of 50 kOe. - Graphical abstract: The (Gd, Tb, Dy){sub 2}Ni{sub 2.35}Si{sub 0.65} supplement the series of Mo{sub 2}NiB{sub 2}-type rare earth compounds, whereas the (Dy, Ho){sub 2}Ni{sub 2.5}Si{sub 0.5} supplement the series of La{sub 2}Ni{sub 3}-type rare earth compounds. The variation of alloy’s composition by ~3 at% i.e. from Dy{sub 2}Ni{sub 2.35}Si{sub 0.65} to Dy{sub 2}Ni{sub 2.5}Si{sub 0.5} leads to significant transformation of crystal structure of compound with different variant of distortion of Po-type rare earth sublattice, as in Gd–Co–Ga and Er–Ni–In systems: the Mo{sub 2}NiB{sub 2}-type Gd{sub 2}Co{sub 2}Ga and La{sub 2}Ni{sub 3}-type Gd{sub 2}Co{sub 2.9}Ga{sub 0.1}, and Mo{sub 2}FeB{sub 2}-type Er{sub 2}Ni{sub 1.78}In and Mn{sub 2}AlB{sub 2}-type Er{sub 2}Ni{sub 2}In. Magnetization measurements indicate collinear ferromagnetic ordering of Mo{sub 2}NiB{sub 2}-type Gd{sub 2}Ni{sub 2.35}Si{sub 0.65} and a complex antiferromagnetic ordering with low-temperature metamagnetic nature for Mo{sub 2}NiB{sub 2}-type Tb{sub 2}Ni{sub 2.35}Si{sub 0.65} compounds. However, neutron diffraction study in zero applied field of Tb{sub 2}Ni{sub 2.35}Si{sub 0.65} reveals c-axis pure antiferromagnetic ordering of terbium sublattice with K=[1/2, 0, 1/2] propagation vector. Magnetization measurements indicate ferromagnetic order with coexisting antiferromagnetic interactions and low-temperature metamagnetic state for La{sub 2}Ni{sub 3}-type Dy{sub 2}Ni{sub 2.5}Si{sub 0.5}. We suggest possible polymorphism in other Mo{sub 2}FeB{sub 2}-type, Mo{sub 2}NiB{sub 2}-type, La{sub 2}Ni{sub 3}-type and Mn{sub 2}AlB{sub 2}-type rare earth compounds with corresponding change in their magnetic properties. - Highlights: • (Gd, Tb, Dy){sub 2}Ni{sub 2.35}Si{sub 0.65} compounds crystallize in the Mo{sub 2}NiB{sub 2}-type structure. • (Dy, Ho){sub 2}Ni{sub 2.5}Si{sub 0.5} compounds crystallize in the La{sub 2}Ni{sub 3}-type structure. • Gd{sub 2}Ni{sub 2.35}Si{sub 0.65} shows pure ferromagnetic type ordering. • Tb{sub 2}Ni{sub 2.35}Si{sub 0.65} and Dy{sub 2}Ni{sub 2.5}Si{sub 0.5} show mixed ferro-antiferromagnetic ordering. • Tb{sub 2}Ni{sub 2.35}Si{sub 0.65} and Dy{sub 2}Ni{sub 2.5}Si{sub 0.5} exhibit low-temperature metamagnetic behaviour.
75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗