Magnetic and electrical properties of RCo2Mn (R=Ho, Er) compounds

TL;DR

This study investigates the magnetic, electrical, and heat capacity properties of RCo2Mn (R=Ho, Er) compounds, revealing higher Curie temperatures and altered magnetization compared to related RCo2 materials.

Contribution

It provides new insights into the structural and magnetic behavior of RCo2Mn alloys, highlighting the effects of Mn occupancy on their properties.

Findings

Curie temperatures are 248 K (Ho) and 222 K (Er), higher than RCo2.

Saturation magnetization is lower than in RCo2.

Heat capacity fits suggest Debye temperature of 250 K.

Abstract

The RCo2Mn (R= Ho and Er) alloys, crystallizing in the cubic MgCu2-type structure, are isostructural to RCo2 compounds. The excess Mn occupies both the R and the Co atomic positions. Magnetic, electrical and heat capacity measurements have been done in these comounds. The Curie temperature is found to be 248 K and 222 K for HoCo2Mn and ErCo2Mn respectively, which are considerably higher than that of the corresponding RCo2 compounds. Saturation magnetization values calculated in these samples are less compared to that of the corresponding RCo2 compounds. Heat capacity data have been fitted with the nonmagnetic contribution with Debye temperature =250 K and electronic coefficient=26 mJ mol^-1K^-2.