Electronic structure, magnetic and electric properties of Gd(Ni 1− xCo x) 3 compounds

Abstract

The results of measurements of the magnetic susceptibility, the electrical resistivity, the crystal and electronic structures of the polycrystalline intermetallic Gd(Ni 1− x Co x ) 3 compounds are reported. The influence of substitution of Co for Ni atoms is reflected in an increase of the lattice parameters and in the change of the Curie temperature T C between 114 K for GdNi 3 and 615 K for GdCo 3. The electronic structure have been studied by using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The valence band spectra are dominated by the hybridized 3d Co and 3d Ni states. A remarkable decrease of the intensity of states near the Fermi level and a shift of Gd 4f peaks in the energy scale for the Co-rich compounds is observed. These effects are related to different number of 3d electrons of Co and Ni and to different chemical environments in the compounds, respectively.