Effects of the substitution of gadolinium for neodymium on the crystal and magnetic properties of the Nd1−xGdxCo4B compounds

The crystal and magnetic properties of the Nd1−xGdxCo4B compounds for 0⩽x⩽1 have been studied by X-ray powder diffraction, magnetization and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) measurements. These compounds crystallize in a hexagonal CeCo4B-type structure with the P6/mmm space group. The substitution of Gd for Nd leads to a decrease of the unit-cell parameter a and the unit-cell volume V, while the unit-cell parameter c remains almost constant. Magnetic measurements indicate that all samples are ordered magnetically below room temperature. The Curie temperatures determined by the DSC technique increase linearly as Nd is substituted by Gd. The saturation magnetization at 5 K decreases upon the Gd substitution up to x=0.6, and then increases again.