DOE OSTI2017
Three series of intermetallic compounds Eu( T 1, T 2) 5 In (T = Cu, Ag, Au) have been investigated in full compositional ranges. Single crystals of all compounds have been obtained by self-flux and were analyzed by single X-ray diffraction revealing the representatives to fall into two structure types: CeCu 6 ( oP 28, Pnma , a = 8.832(3)–9.121(2) Å, b = 5.306(2)–5.645(1) Å, c = 11.059(4)–11.437(3) Å, V = 518.3(3)–588.9(2) Å 3 ) and YbMo2Al4 ( t I 14, I 4/ mmm , a = 5.417(3)–5.508(1) Å, c = 7.139(2)– 7.199(2) Å, V = 276.1(2)–285.8(1) Å 3 ). The structural preference was found to depend on the cation/anion size ratio, while the positional preference within the CeCu 6 type structure shows an apparent correlation with the anion size. Chemical compression, hence, a change in cell volume, which occurs upon anion substitution appears to be the main driving force for the change of magnetic ordering. While EuAg 5 In shows antiferromagnetic behavior at low temperatures, mixing Cu and Au within the same type of structure results in considerable changes in the magnetism. The Eu(Cu,Au) 5 In alloys with CeCu 6 structure show complex magnetic behaviors and strong magnetic field-induced spin-reorientation transition with the critical field of the transition being dependent on Cu/Au ratio. The alloys adopting the YbMo 2 Al 4 type structure are ferromagnets exhibiting unusually high magnetic moments. The heat capacity of EuAu 2.66 Cu 2.34 In reveals a double-peak structure evolving with the magnetic field. Furthermore, low-temperature X-ray powder diffraction does not show a structural transition.