Structural chemistry and magnetic properties of R11M4In6 (R = Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Y; M = Si, Ge) compounds

Crystal structure and magnetic properties of R11M4In6 compounds (R = Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Y; M = Si, Ge) were investigated by means of X-ray diffraction and magnetometric measurements. The compounds crystallize in the tetragonal Sm11Ge4In6-type crystal structure (an ordered version of the Ho11Ge10-type; space group I4/mmm). Gd11Ge4In6, Tb11Ge4In6 and Tb11Si4In6 order antiferromagnetically at low temperatures. For the compounds with Dy, Ho and Er magnetic phase transitions to noncollinear magnetic structures with a ferromagnetic component were observed. The magnetocaloric effect, in terms of the isothermal magnetic entropy change ΔSm, was observed for Dy11Si4In6. Both yttrium compounds are Pauli paramagnets.

Graphical abstractFigure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slideHighlights► Physical properties of new ternary R11M4In6 (R = Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Y; M = Si, Ge) intermetallics are reported. ► Compounds were investigated by means of X-ray diffraction and magnetic measurements. ► These intermetallics crystallize in the tetragonal Sm11Ge4In6-type crystal structure (space group I4/mmm). ► At low temperatures the rare earth magnetic moments order antiferromagnetically. ► For some compounds a change of magnetic order to a complex magnetic structure was observed with increasing temperature.