Features of thermal and magnetic properties of nonstoichiometric DyB50 boride: The influence of the magnetic phase transition and crystal electric field

The specific heat, thermal expansion and magnetic properties of polycrystalline sample of nonstoichiometric dysprosium boride DyB50, that was synthesized by boron-thermal reduction of the metal from its oxide in vacuum, were studied at 2-300 K. The measurements revealed a heat capacity and magnetic susceptibility anomalies at about TN ≈ 6.3 K, caused by the transition to an antiferromagnetic state. The anomalies of studied properties of DyB50 at higher temperatures have been ascribed to the influence of crystal electric field (CEF). The scheme of CEF-splitting of Dy3+ ion ground level in boride has been proposed.