Influences of vanadium on magnetocrystalline anisotropy and magnetic properties of Gd[sub 2]Co[sub 17-x]V[sub x].

Single-phase Gd[sub 2]Co[sub 17-x]V[sub x] compounds (x = 0.0-1.5) crystallizing in the rhombohedral Th[sub 2]Zn[sub 17] structure have been synthesized. The lattice parameters a and c of the compounds increase linearly with increasing V content, and the rate of increase of c is about 2.5 times as large as that of a. Substitution of a small amount of V atoms (x = 0.3) for Co atoms leads to the occurrence of uniaxial magnetocrystalline anisotropy of Gd[sub 2]Co[sub 17-x]V[sub x]. The anisotropy field H[sub A] increases drastically with increasing V content. The variations of both the lattice parameters and the magnetocrystalline anisotropy with V content suggest a preferential occupation of the V atoms at the 6c dumbbell site. The Curie temperature T[sub C], saturation moment M[sub S], and average Co moment 〈μ[sub Co]〉 of the compounds decrease greatly as the V content increases. The rapid decrease of T[sub C] is essentially attributed to a serious weakening of the Co-Co interactions due to the preferential occupation of the V atoms at the 6c site. The effect of a strong hybridization between the V and Co atoms is plausibly responsible for the decreases of the Ms and 〈μ[sub Co]〉. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]