Magnetic behavior of the Al–Gd–Ni hexagonal compounds

Abstract

Abstract X–ray photoelectron spectroscopy, magnetization and magnetic susceptibility of seven Al–Gd–Ni ternary hexagonal compounds are reported. Magnetic states of Ni atoms and Gd–Ni interactions strongly depend on the nearest neighborhood of Ni ions, as well as, on the distances Ni–Ni and Ni–Gd. The hybridization between the 3d Ni and 5d6s Gd states leads to a charge transfer from Gd to Ni and consequently to a partial or complete filling of the Ni 3d-band.