Structural and magnetic properties of ErCo_(4.5)Ge_(0.5) intermetallic compound

摘要

We report on the structural and magnetic properties of ErCo_(4.5)Ge_(0.5) intermetallic compound. This phase crystallize in the hexagonal CaCu_5-type structure with P6/mmm space group. Neutron powder diffraction experiments demonstrate that the Ge atoms preferentially occupy the 3g crystallographic site of the CaCu_5 structure. The Ge for Co substitution induces a dramatic decrease of the magnetic ordering temperature down to 785 K. The ErCo_(4.5)Ge_(0.5) compound exhibit a compensation temperature at 100 K where the magnetization of the two sublattices Er and Co cancel out. The influence of Ge for Co substitution on the magnetic properties is discussed.