Crystal structures and magnetic properties of the RFe_1-xGe₂ (R = Gd, Er) compounds

Chem. Met. Alloys 3 (2010) 126-131

https://doi.org/10.30970/cma3.0131

Mosbah JEMMALI, Siwar WALHA, Henri NOËL, Rached BEN HASSEN

In the course of an investigation of solid solutions with RFe_1-xGe₂ (R = Gd, Er) stoichiometry we have isolated two new phases. Their compositions are GdFe_0.37Ge₂ and ErFe_0.27Ge₂, and they have been synthesized by arc melting of pure components and studied by means of X-ray diffraction, SEM analysis and magnetic measurements. They crystallize in the orthorhombic space group Cmcm, with defect CeNiSi₂-type structures. Magnetic susceptibility measurements performed in the temperature range 2–300 K showed conventional Curie-Weiss paramagnetic behaviour for both compounds above 25 K. At low temperature, magnetic susceptibility data revealed magnetic phase transitions.

Perspective view of the structure and coordination polyhedra of the Fe atoms for GdFe_0.37Ge₂.

Keywords

Intermetallic compounds / Chemical synthesis / X-ray diffraction / Electron microscopy