Crystal structure and magnetic properties of Pr 5Si 4− xGe x compounds

Abstract

The magnetic properties of Pr 5Si 4− x Ge x ( x=0.0, 1.0, 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, 3.5, 4.0) were investigated by magnetic measurements. The compounds Pr 5Si 4− x Ge x crystallize in the tetragonal Zr 5Si 4-type structure for x=0.0 and 1.0, in the monoclinic Gd 5Si 2Ge 2-type structure for x=2.0 and 2.5; and in the orthorhombic Sm 5Ge 4-type structure for x=3.0–4.0. Unlike the heavy rare earth RE 5Si 4− x Ge x (RE=Gd, Tb, Dy) system, the Curie temperature of this system exhibits the following features: the Curie temperature of the compound increases with the increasing of the Ge content in the tetragonal phase region, whereas it shows a weak dependence on the Ge content in the monoclinic phase region and decreases in the orthorhombic phase region. All of the compounds in this system may have a canted magnetic structure.