Slater–Pauling dependence of Dy[(Fe0.4Co0.6)1−xAlx]2 intermetallics

Abstract

It was previously found, that the magnetic hyperfine fields of the Dy(Mn–Fe)2 and Dy(Fe–Co)2 series form the two-branches of the Slater–Pauling curve based on the average number of 3d electrons per site of the transition metal sublattice. This curve results from the 3d-metal/3d-metal substitution. The compound Dy(Fe0.4Co0.6)2 corresponds to the right branch of this curve. The Al-dilution of 3d-sublattice of this compound was experimentally tested in the present paper. For this purpose new intermetallic compounds Dy[(Fe0.4Co0.6)1−xAlx]2 were prepared and data of a detailed X-ray analysis are presented (300 K). 57Fe Mössbauer studies of the Dy[(Fe0.4Co0.6)1−xAlx]2 intermetallics were performed (4.2 K). The hyperfine interaction parameters were determined from the experimental Mössbauer spectra. It was found that, as a result of the (Fe0.4Co0.6)/Al substitution, the magnetic hyperfine field forms a new 3d4s/3sp branch of the above mentioned Slater–Pauling dependence. The possible influence of the Al-substitution on the 3d-band structure is qualitatively discussed.