Magnetic and Crystallographic Properties of SmMn₆₋ₓFeₓGe₆ Intermetallics

Abstract

The magnetic and crystallographic properties of induction-melted SmMn6-xFexGe6 compounds, where x is 0, 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5, have been studied using X-ray diffraction and bulk magnetic measurements between 30 and 490K. All of the samples crystallized in the YCo66 Ge6-type structure with the space group P6/mmm. A small amount, less than 9 mol%, of Sm(MnFe)2 Ge2 was present as an impurity in all samples. The unit cell volume decreases with increasing iron content at an average rate of 2.4% per substituted atom at room temperature. The a and c lattice parameters decrease at an average rate of 1.1 and 0.1% per substituted atom at room temperature, respectively. The magnetic properties deteriorate rapidly as the iron concentration increases beyond x = 0.5. Magnetic behavior of SmMn5 Fe1 Ge6 and SmMn4.5 Fe1.5 Ge6 is indicative of antiferromagnetic or ferrimagnetic coupling. According to X-ray diffraction patterns of magnetically aligned powders, the easy direction of magnetization at room temperature for all of the samples lies close to the basal plane of the unit cell.

Department(s)

Chemistry

Second Department

Physics

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

0018-9464

Document Type

Article - Journal

Document Version

Citation

File Type

text

Language(s)

English

Rights

© 2000 Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), All rights reserved.

Publication Date

01 Jan 2000

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