Investigation of magnetic ordering in ErCo10Mo2−xSix compounds

The structure and the magnetic properties of ErCo10Mo2−xSix (0 ≤ x ≤ 2) compounds have been investigated by means of X-ray powder diffraction and magnetization measurements in the temperature range of 5-800 K. Substitution of Si for Mo led to a linear decrease in the lattice constants and the unit-cell volume. With increasing Si content the Curie temperatures shifted from 425 K (x = 0) to 719 K (x = 2). For the temperature range 5-350 K magnetization measurements were carried out in an applied magnetic field of 50 Oe. The spin reorientation temperature decreased from 139 K to 74 K as the Si content was increased from x = 0 to 1.5. No spin reorientation was observed for x = 0.5 and 2. Below the spin reorientation temperature, the compounds exhibit ferrimagnetic ordering.