Crystal and magnetic structures of Laves phase compound NdCo2 in the temperature range between 9 and 300 K

The crystal and magnetic structures of the Laves phase compound NdCo2 in the temperature range from 9 to 300 K are determined by Rietveld refinement technique, using high-resolution neutron powder diffraction data. The compound crystallizes in space group Fd3¯m above the magnetic ordering temperature TC (≈100 K), in space group I41/amd below TC and in space group Imma below the tetragonal–orthorhombic structural/magnetic transitions at TM ≈ 42 K. The assignment of the space groups to the crystal structures of NdCo2 in different temperature ranges complies with the reported Mössbauer studies. Detailed information of the crystal and magnetic structures of NdCo2 at different temperatures are reported.