Magnetic ordering in UCoNiSi2 and UCoCuSi2 studied by ac-susceptibility and neutron-diffraction measurements

Abstract

Polycrystalline samples of intermediate solid solutions of the UM2Si2 compounds (M=Co,Ni,Cu), namely UCoNiSi2 and UCoCuSi2, were prepared and were found to have body-centered tetragonal ThCr2Si2-type crystallographic structure. In UCoNiSi2 ac susceptibility indicates a single antiferromagnetic (AF) transition at TN=115±5 K, confirmed by neutron-diffraction observation of the AF-I structure down to 10 K (with uranium moments of 1.6±0.2μB, along the tetragonal c axis). In UCoCuSi2 ac susceptibility indicates ferromagnetic transition at TC=107±5 K, and implies an AF transition at lower temperature, confirmed by the AF-I structure, observed in neutron diffraction below T0=95±5 K down to 10 K (with uranium moments of 1.6±0.1μB, along the c axis). The magnetic properties are discussed in comparison with UM2X2 and U(M,M′)2X2 materials (X=Si,Ge).