Formation, structure and magnetic properties of TbFe12−xMox (x=0.5-3.0) compounds

TbFe12−xMox compounds (x=0.5-3.0) with the tetragonal ThMn12-type structure have been synthesized. The structural and the magnetic properties of the compounds have been investigated by means of X-ray diffraction and magnetic measurements. The lattice parameters a, c and the unit-cell volume V increase with increasing Mo content. Both the Curie temperature TC and the saturation magnetization MS at 5 K decrease monotonically with increasing Mo content. The molecular field coefficients nFeFe and nRFe have been estimated from a mean-field analysis of the Curie temperature of the compounds. The easy magnetization direction at room temperature changes with increasing Mo content from planar to probably cone and finally to uniaxial. The decrease of saturation magnetization with increasing Mo content may be caused by the reduction of the μFe due to hybridization of the Fe and Mo d-bands.