${\mathrm{Ce}}_{3-x}{\mathrm{Mg}}_x{\mathrm{Co}}_9$ : Transformation of a Pauli Paramagnet into a Strong Permanent Magnet

Journal Article · 22 February 2018 · Physical Review Applied

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevApplied.9.024023 · OSTI ID:1422758

Lamichhane, Tej N. ^[1]; Taufour, Valentin ^[2]; Palasyuk, Andriy ^[3]; Lin, Qisheng ^[3]; Bud’ko, Sergey L. ^[1]; Canfield, Paul C. ^[1]

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1. Ames Lab. and Iowa State Univ., Ames, IA (United States) and Dept. of Physics and Astronomy
2. Ames Lab. and Iowa State Univ., Ames, IA (United States); Univ. of California, Davis, CA (United States). Dept. of Physics
3. Ames Lab. and Iowa State Univ., Ames, IA (United States)

In this article we report on the synthesis of single-crystal and polycrystalline samples of Ce_3-xMg_xCo₉ solid solution (0 ≤ x ≲ 1.4) and characterization of their structural and magnetic properties. The crystal structure remains rhombohedral in the whole composition range and Mg partially replaces Ce in the 6c site of the CeCo₃ structure. Ferromagnetism is induced by Mg substitutions starting as low as x = 0.18 and reaching a Curie temperature as high as 450 K for x = 1.35 . Measurements on single crystals with x = 1.34 and T_C = 440 K indicate an axial magnetic anisotropy with an anisotropy field of 6 T and a magnetization of 6 μ_B/f.u. at 300 K. Coercicity is observed in the polycrystalline samples consistent with the observed axial magnetic anisotropy. Our discovery of ferromagnetism with large axial magnetic anisotropy induced by substituting a rare-earth element by Mg is a very promising result in the search of inexpensive permanent-magnet materials and suggests that other nonmagnetic phases, similar to CeCo₃, may also conceal nearby ferromagnetic phases.

• Research Organization: Ames Laboratory (AMES), Ames, IA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE); USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES) (SC-22); Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States). Critical Materials Institute (CMI)
• Grant/Contract Number: AC02-07CH11358
• OSTI ID: 1422758
• Alternate ID(s): OSTI ID: 1422437
• Report Number(s): IS-J--9568; {"","Journal ID: ISSN 2331-7019","Journal ID: ISSN PRAHB2"}
• Journal Information: Physical Review Applied, Journal Name: Physical Review Applied Journal Issue: 2 Vol. 9; ISSN 2331-7019; ISSN PRAHB2
• Publisher: American Physical Society (APS)Copyright Statement
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English