Magnetocrystalline anisotropy of Sm 2Fe 17N 2

Abstract

The magnetocrystalline anisotropy of Sm 2Fe 17N 2 was investigated from room temperature up to the Curie temperature, T c . By introducing interstitial N in Sm 2Fe 17, which has the Th 2Zn 17 crystal structure, the easy magnetization direction (EMD) changes from the basal plane to the c-axis. The anisotropy field, μ 0 H A, at temperature is found to be 14 T. The temperature dependence of the anisotropy field was measured up to 700 K by the singular point detection (SPD) method and by magnetization measurements on aligned powder samples. The anisotropy field, H A , decreases monotonically with increasing temperature up to T c and thus the EMD lies always parallel to the c-axis. The high anisotropy field in combination with the high saturation magnetization and Curie temperature of this material is very promising with respect to its application as a new permanent magnet.