Magnetic properties of Gd _x Y _1–x Co ₃ NiB compounds

Abstract

The GdxY1–xCo3NiB compounds form solid solutions in all the composition range having hexagonal CeCo4B-type structure. The saturation magnetizations, at 4.2 K, decrease from 4.56 μB/f.u. (x = 1) up to a composition x = 0.275, when the resultant moment is nil and then increase up to 1.7 μB/fu for YCo3NiB.This behaviour is in agreement with a ferrimagnetic type ordering. The magnetic moments at various sites are analysed in correlation with their local environments. A magnetic moment is induced on Ni atoms. The mean effective cobalt and nickel moments seem to be little dependent on composition. (© 2004 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)