Variation of the magnetic ordering in GdT$_2$Zn$_{20}$ (T= Fe, Ru, Os, Co, Rh and Ir) and its correlation with the electronic structure of isostructural YT$_2$Zn$_{20}$

TL;DR

This study investigates how the magnetic ordering in GdT$_2$Zn$_{20}$ compounds varies with transition metal T and correlates these changes with electronic structure, revealing the influence of 3d band filling on magnetism.

Contribution

It provides new insights into the relationship between electronic structure and magnetic ordering in GdT$_2$Zn$_{20}$ compounds, highlighting the role of 3d band filling and Stoner criterion proximity.

Findings

Fe and Ru compounds are ferromagnetic with enhanced Curie temperatures.

Co compounds exhibit antiferromagnetic ground states.

Electronic structure calculations link magnetic behavior to density of states at Fermi level.

Abstract

Magnetization, resistivity and specific heat measurements were performed on the solution-grown, single crystals of six GdT$_2$Zn$_{20}$ (T = Fe, Ru, Os, Co, Rh and Ir) compounds, as well as their Y analogues. For the Gd compounds, the Fe column members manifest a ferromagnetic (FM) ground state (with an enhanced Curie temperature, $T_{\mathrm{C}}$, for T = Fe and Ru), whereas the Co column members manifest an antiferromagnetic (AFM) ground state. Thermodynamic measurements on the YT$_2$Zn$_{20}$ revealed that the enhanced $T_{\mathrm{C}}$ for GdFe$_2$Zn$_{20}$ and GdRu$_2$Zn$_{20}$ can be understood within the framework of Heisenberg moments embedded in a nearly ferromagnetic Fermi liquid. Furthermore, electronic structure calculations indicate that this significant enhancement is due to large, close to the Stoner FM criterion, transition metal partial density of states at Fermi level, whereas the change of FM to AFM ordering is associated with filling of electronic states with two additional electrons per formula unit. The degree of this sensitivity is addressed by the studies of the pseudo-ternary compounds Gd(Fe$_x$Co$_{1-x}$)$_2$Zn$_{20}$ and Y(Fe$_x$Co$_{1-x}$)$_2$Zn$_{20}$ which clearly reveal the effect of 3d band filling on their magnetic properties.