Abstract
Abstract The preparation of a new rare earth carbide fluoride, Ho 2 CF 2 , is described. Ho 2 CF 2 is trigonal, space group P 3 m1 , Z =1, with a=3.6567(2) A and c=6.3171(5) A at room temperature. On cooling below the Neel temperature of 3.7 K, Ho 2 CF 2 transforms to an antiferromagnet with magnetic space group P a 1 ′ . The phase transition from the paramagnetic to antiferromagnetic state is accompanied by a distortion of the lattice to P 1 due to magnetoelastic effects. The nuclear and magnetic structures have been fully determined from high resolution powder neutron diffraction measurements at 1.5 and 50 K. Evidence for critical scattering above T N is shown from specific heat, magnetic susceptibility and temperature-dependent neutron diffraction studies. Electrical conductivity measurements show that Ho 2 CF 2 is an insulator. The relationship between the low dimensionality of the structure and the magnetic and physical properties of Ho 2 CF 2 is discussed.
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