Magnetic Properties of the Hydrides of Selected Rare‐Earth Intermetallic Compounds with Transition Metals

Abstract

ErFe2, TmFe2 and HoFe2 have been found to form stable hydrides of composition ErFe2H3.9, TmFe2H4.3, and HoFe2H4.47, when exposed to hydrogen at 3.6 × 106 Pa at room temperature. X‐ray diffraction reveals an expansion of the ErFe2 lattice parameter from 7.282 ± 0.001 to 7.828 ± 0.001 Å, the expansion of the TmFe2 lattice parameter from 7.238 ± 0.001 to 7.839 ± 0.001 Å, and the expansion of the HoFe2 lattice parameter from 7.284 ± 0.001 to 7.880 ± 0.001 Å with hydrogen absorption. Magnetization measurements as a function of temperature and field were made on these hydrides. The compensation temperature observed at 480 K for ErFe2 and 233 K for TmFe2 was shifted to 42 K and 8 K, respectively, upon hydriding. Magnetic moments measured at 4.2 K in an applied field of 120 kOe are 6.45 and 5.60 μB/FU for TmFe2 and HoFe2, respectively. These large moments arise due to the reduction of the iron moment. Results on hydrides of NdCo5 and DyCo5.2 are also presented.