Synthesis and magnetic properties of the ternary germanide TbScGe

Abstract: TbScGe is obtained as pure phase after melting of the constituents followed by an annealing at 1173K. Contrary to what was suggested previously, this ternary germanide does not present a high temperature form with the hexagonal Ti5Ga4-type structure after melting and quenching; the as quenched sample is a mixture based on the two solid solutions (Tb1− x Sc x )5Ge3 and Tb1− x Sc x . TbScGe adopts the tetragonal CeScSi-type structure with a =4.219 and c =15.452Å as unit cell parameters. Its investigation by magnetization and specific heat measurements reveals a ferromagnetic behavior below TC =250K inducing a moderate magnetocaloric effect; for a magnetic field change of 2T, the magnetic entropy change ΔSm is equal to −1.6JK−1 kg−1 which corresponds to an adiabatic temperature change ΔTad of 1.25K. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]