Effect of substitution of Ga on the structure and magnetic properties of Dy2Co17−xGax (0≤x≤7) compounds

Abstract

A series of Dy2Co17−xGax polycrystalline samples with x from 0 to 7 were prepared by arc melting. X-ray powder diffraction analysis indicated that these compounds have the hexagonal Th2Ni17 structure for x≤3 and the rhombohedral Th2Zn17 structure for 3.5≤x≤7. The lattice parameters a and c increase linearly with the gallium content until x=5.3. With further increasing the gallium content x up to 7, the lattice parameter c slightly decreases, whereas the lattice parameter a increases more quickly than that for 0≤x≤5.3. The unit-cell volume shows an approximately linear increase of 6.1 Å3/Ga for 0≤x≤3.0 and 10.1 Å3/Ga for 3.5≤x≤7.0, respectively. Rietveld refinement of the Dy2Co11.7Ga5.3 compound reveals that the Ga atoms occupy all the 6c, 9d, 18f, and 18h sites and preferentially occupy the 6c site. The Curie temperature and the saturation magnetization of the rhombohedral Dy2Co17−xGax compounds decrease almost linearly with increasing Ga content.