Electronic structure, magnetic and electric properties of Gd(Ni1−xCox)3 compounds

The results of measurements of the magnetic susceptibility, the electrical resistivity, the crystal and electronic structures of the polycrystalline intermetallic Gd(Ni1−xCox)3 compounds are reported. The influence of substitution of Co for Ni atoms is reflected in an increase of the lattice parameters and in the change of the Curie temperature TC between 114 K for GdNi3 and 615 K for GdCo3. The electronic structure have been studied by using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The valence band spectra are dominated by the hybridized 3d Co and 3d Ni states. A remarkable decrease of the intensity of states near the Fermi level and a shift of Gd 4f peaks in the energy scale for the Co-rich compounds is observed. These effects are related to different number of 3d electrons of Co and Ni and to different chemical environments in the compounds, respectively.