Synthesis, Structures, and Magnetic Properties of Rare-Earth Cobalt Arsenides, RCo2As2 (R = La, Ce, Pr, Nd)

Abstract

Four rare-earth cobalt arsenides, RCo2As2 (R = La, Ce, Pr, Nd), were obtained by reactions of constituent elements in molten Bi. The use of Bi flux also allowed the growth of representative single crystals. All compounds are isostructural and belong to the ThCr2Si2 type (space group I4/mmm). The formation of Co vacancies is observed in all structures, while the structures of La- and Ce-containing compounds also show incorporation of minor Bi defects next to the R crystallographic site. Correspondingly, the general formula of these materials can be written as R1–xBixCo2−δAs2, with x/δ = 0.03/0.1, 0.05/0.15, 0/0.2, and 0/0.3 for R = La, Ce, Pr, and Nd, respectively. All compounds exhibit high-temperature ferromagnetic ordering of Co magnetic moments in the range 60–200 K. Electronic band structure calculations revealed a high peak in the density of states at the Fermi level, thus supporting the itinerant nature of magnetism in the Co sublattice. The magnetic ordering in the lanthanide sublattice takes place...