Investigation of the interaction of the components in the RE_1-xRE'_xCu₂In (RE = Y, La, Ce, Gd) systems

Chem. Met. Alloys 8 (2015) 91-97

https://doi.org/10.30970/cma8.0314

Anton Kharkhalis, Oleksandr Bednarchuk, Galyna Nychyporuk, Dariusz Kaczorowski, Vasyl Zaremba

Four pseudo-binary RE_1-xRE'_xCu₂In systems were investigated at 870 K using X-ray diffraction: (La,Y)Cu₂In, (La,Ce)Cu₂In, (La,Gd)Cu₂In, and (Y,Gd)Cu₂In. The formation of continuous solid solutions with MnCu₂Al-type structure was observed in all cases. In agreement with the atomic radii of the rare-earth elements, the composition dependencies of the unit cell parameters of these Heusler phases exhibit a monotonous decrease when La is replaced by Y, Ce, or Gd, but a slight increase when Y is replaced by Gd. An investigation of the magnetic properties of single-phase alloys belonging to the La_1‑xGd_xCu₂In solid solution (x = 0.1-0.4) showed Curie-Weiss paramagnetism with predominantly antiferromagnetic interactions between Gd³⁺ ions, but no magnetic ordering down to 1.72 K.

Unit cell parameters of the phases with MnCu₂Al-type structure (squares) and MgCu₄Sn-type structure (circles) observed in the La_1‑xY_xCu₂In system, as a function of the yttrium content.

Keywords

Ternary indides / Solid solution / X-ray powder diffraction