Comparison of the magnetic properties of Gd7T3 (TÂ =Â Pd and Rh) single crystals

The lattice parameters, the electrical resistivity and magnetic susceptibility of the Gd7Rh3 and Gd7Pd3 single crystals have been measured and the electronic structure of both the compounds has been obtained from a careful analysis of XPS spectra. These two compounds crystallize in the hexagonal Th7Fe3 type of structure with the same ratio c/a = 0.63. However, there are distinct differences in values of the ordering temperature and the type of magnetic ordering. Gd7Rh3 orders antiferromagnetically at 140 K while Gd7Pd3 displays a ferromagnetic transition at about 334 K. The reason of such a different behaviour may originate from the diverse valence bands of both compounds.