Magnetic properties of RE5Ir2X (RE = Y, Gd–Ho, X = Sn, Sb, Pb, Bi) and magnetocaloric characterization of Gd5Ir2X

• New Mo5B2Si type intermetallics.
• High magnetic ordering temperatures.
• Magnetocaloric characterization of Gd5Ir2X (X = Sn, Pb, Sb, Bi).

Systematic phase analytical studies of the systems RE-Ir-X (X = Sn, Pb, Sb, Bi) led to 15 new stannides, plumbides, antimonides and bismuthides with the composition RE5Ir2X. The compounds have been synthesized and characterized by X-ray powder diffraction. The structures of Gd5Ir2Sb and Dy5Ir2Bi have been refined from single crystal X-ray diffractometer data: Mo5SiB2 type, I4/mcm, a = 775.2(2), c = 1361.3(5) pm, wR2 = 0.0933, 404 F2 values, 16 variables for Gd5Ir2Sb and a = 767.5(1), c = 1368.9(3) pm, wR2 = 0.0694, 571 F2 values, 16 variables for Dy5Ir2Bi. Magnetic measurements of Gd5Ir2X (X = Sn, Pb, Sb, Bi), Tb5Ir2X (X = Sn, Pb, Sb, Bi), Dy5Ir2Pb, Dy5Ir2Bi and Ho5Ir2Pb indicate ferromagnetic transitions at TC = 154.3, 159.3, 124.4, 119.3, 99.2, 98.2, 65.5, 68.6, 45.1, 35.6 and 23.5 K, respectively. Gd5Ir2Bi and Gd5Ir2Sb show an additional antiferromagnetic transition at TN = 118.5 and 91.0 K. The magnetocaloric effect of Gd5Ir2X (X = Sn, Pb, Sb, Bi) in terms of the isothermal entropy change ΔSm is −7.3(3), –6.5(3), –8.7(3) and −9.0(3) J kg−1 K−1 at temperatures of 153, 157, 120 and 126 K for a 5 T field change. 119Sn Mössbauer spectra of Gd5Ir2Sn at 78 K show a huge transferred hyperfine field of 21.9(1) T and an isomer shift of 1.94(1) mm s−1, typical for stannides. 121Sb Mössbauer spectra of Gd5Ir2Sb at 78 K show a transferred hyperfine field of 14.2(3) T and an isomer shift of −7.45(8) mm s−1 reflecting the antimonide character.

Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide