Magnetic properties of Y1−xGdxFe2By [x = 0, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1; y = 0, 0.1, 0.15, 0.2]

The structural and magnetic properties of Y1−xGdxFe2By [x = 0, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75 and 1; y = 0, 0.1, 0.15 and 0.2 for x = 0.25, 0.5, 0.75] have been investigated through X-ray diffraction and magnetization studies. The compounds with x = 0 and 1 are found to form in single phase with C15-type cubic Laves phase structure while those with x = 0.25, 0.5 and 0.75 are observed to form with small quantities of RFe3 phase as impurity phase. The compounds Y1−xGdxFe2B0.2 [x = 0.25, 0.5 and 0.75] seem to form without the RFe3 phase. The lattice parameter is found to decrease with increasing boron concentration due to the occupation of boron at Fe sites. The magnetization and Curie temperature are found to change insignificantly with the addition of boron due to the low lying (compared to the Fermi level) 2p levels of B.