Magnetic and transport properties of the R 3Ni system (R = Y, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er)

Abstract

The electrical resistivity and magnetic susceptibility have been measured for Y 3Ni, Gd 3Ni, Tb 3Ni, Dy 3Ni, Ho 3Ni and Er 3Ni single crystals in a wide temperature range. A T 3-dependence and a strong negative curvature of the electrical resistivity were observed for lower temperatures and a saturation effect for higher ones. Y 3Ni exhibits also a very pronounced temperature dependence of the magnetic susceptibility. After subtracting the temperature independent term, Y 3Ni obeys a Curie-Weiss law with μ eff=1μ B per formula unit for the temperature range 10–50 K and with μ eff=0.68μ B for the range 50–420 K. It may indicate the existence of a magnetic moment for the Y-Ni system in spite of such a low Ni concentration. A complex magnetic behaviour and enhancement of the effective magnetic moment in relation to the theoretical value, calculated assuming only R 3+-ion contribution, for Gd 3Ni, Tb 3Ni, Dy 3Ni, Ho 3Ni and Er 3Ni, was observed.