A study of the NdCo2−xFexSi2(0<x<1) solid solution by magnetization and neutron diffraction measurements

The NdCo2−xFexSi2(0<x<1) solid solution has been investigated by magnetization measurements and neutron diffraction experiments. In the whole series, Fe or Co atoms never carry magnetic moments. All studied compounds are antiferromagnetic (14 K<TN<26 K). The iron rich compounds (x≥1.375) behave as metamagnetic (Hc<13 kOe) and the maximum magnetization is close to 2.5 μB. The neutron diffraction study indicates an evolution of the magnetic structures from AFI (x≤0.5) to LSWI (0.5≤x≤0.875) and finally AFII (x≥1.0). This evolution is related to a change of the strength and/or the sign of the nearest neighbour interplane interactions.