Crystal structure and magnetic properties of Pr5Si4−xGex compounds

The magnetic properties of Pr5Si4−xGex (<f>x=0.0</f>, 1.0, 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, 3.5, 4.0) were investigated by magnetic measurements. The compounds Pr5Si4−xGex crystallize in the tetragonal Zr5Si4-type structure for <f>x=0.0</f> and 1.0, in the monoclinic Gd5Si2Ge2-type structure for <f>x=2.0</f> and 2.5; and in the orthorhombic Sm5Ge4-type structure for <f>x=3.0–4.0</f>. Unlike the heavy rare earth RE5Si4−xGex (RE=Gd, Tb, Dy) system, the Curie temperature of this system exhibits the following features: the Curie temperature of the compound increases with the increasing of the Ge content in the tetragonal phase region, whereas it shows a weak dependence on the Ge content in the monoclinic phase region and decreases in the orthorhombic phase region. All of the compounds in this system may have a canted magnetic structure. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]