Structural, Superconducting and Magnetic Properties of La(3-x)R(x)Ni2B2N3 (R = Ce, Pr, Nd)

TL;DR

This study investigates how substituting La with magnetic rare-earth elements in La3Ni2B2N3 affects its structural, superconducting, and magnetic properties, revealing suppression of superconductivity and emergence of magnetic order.

Contribution

First comprehensive analysis of Pr3Ni2B2N3 and Nd3Ni2B2N3, expanding understanding of magnetic and superconducting interplay in this compound family.

Findings

La3Ni2B2N3 is superconducting at ~14 K.

Substitution with Ce, Pr, Nd suppresses superconductivity.

Nd3Ni2B2N3 exhibits ferrimagnetic order below 17 K.

Abstract

We report on structural and superconducting properties of La(3-x)R(x)Ni2B2N3 where La is substituted by the magnetic rare-earth elements Ce, Pr, Nd. The compounds Pr3Ni2B2N3 and Nd3Ni2B2N3 are characterized for the first time. Powder X-ray diffraction confirmed all samples R3Ni2B2N3 with R = La, Ce, Pr, Nd and their solid solutions to crystallize in the body centered tetragonal La3Ni2B2N3 structure type. Superconducting and magnetic properties of La(3-x)R(x)Ni2B2N3 were studied by resistivity, specific heat and susceptibility measurements. While La3Ni2B2N3 has a superconducting transition temperature Tc ~ 14 K, substitution of La by Ce, Pr, and Nd leads to magnetic pair breaking and, thus, to a gradual suppression of superconductivity. Pr3Ni2B2N3 exibits no long range magnetic order down to 2 K, Nd3Ni2B2N3 shows ferrimagnetic ordering below T_C = 17 K and a spin reorientation transition to a nearly antiferromagnetic state at 10 K.