Synthesis of nanostructured Ho(Ni0.5Fe0.5)3 compound via ball-milling

• The ball-milling method is suitable for producing RT3 nanopowders based on Ho
• As-milled powders are composed of nanoflakes with thickness dependent on milling t
• The decrease in crystallites size via pulverization is confirmed by XRD, TEM and AFM
• The prolonged milling is reflected in the variation of magnetic parameters

The morphology and magnetic properties of the crystalline and ball-milled Ho(Ni0.5Fe0.5)3 intermetallic compounds are studied. The presence of PuNi3 type of crystal structure was confirmed in crystalline as well as powdered samples. The emergence of a partly amorphous phase was confirmed at the end of the pulverization process. The use of the ball-milling method for various grinding time is reflected in the fabrication of nanostructured flakes, with a thickness of less than 100 nm. Prolonged milling favors an assemblage of as-prepared nanopowder. The increase of pulverization time leads to the reduction in crystallites sizes confirmed by a variety of complementary measurement methods. Moreover, the increase in comminution duration results in the enhancement of the coercivity (HC), non-linear dependence of remanence (Mr) and emergence of Mr./MS ratio to values higher than 0.5. A quantitative analysis of XPS spectra shows an increase of Fe concentration versus sputtering which is in coincidence with magnetic measurements.

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