title: Magnetic structure of the ferromagnetic new ternary silicide Nd5CoSi2.
abstract: Nd(5)CoSi(2) was obtained from the elements by arc-melting followed by annealing at 883 K. Its investigation by single-crystal x-ray and neutron powder diffraction shows that this ternary silicide crystallizes as Nd(5)Si(3) in a tetragonal structure deriving from the Cr(5)B(3)-type (I4/mcm space group; a = 7.7472(2) and c = 13.5981(5) Å as unit cell parameters). The structural refinements confirm the mixed occupancy on the 8h site between Si and Co atoms, as already observed for Gd(5)CoSi(2). Magnetization and specific heat measurements reveal a ferromagnetic behavior below T(C) = 55 K for Nd(5)CoSi(2). This magnetic ordering is further evidenced by neutron powder diffraction investigation revealing between 1.8 K and T(C) a canted ferromagnetic structure in the direction of the c-axis described by a propagation vector k = (0 0 0). At 1.8 K, the two Nd(3+) ions carry ordered magnetic moments equal respectively to 1.67(7) and 2.37(7) μ(B) for Nd1 and Nd2; these two moments exhibit a canting angle of θ = 4.3(6)°. This magnetic structure presents some similarities with that reported for Nd(5)Si(3).
authors.affiliation: CNRS, Université de Bordeaux, ICMCB, 87 avenue du Docteur Albert Schweitzer, 33608 Pessac Cedex, France.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mayer
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gaudin
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gorsse
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Porcher
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: André
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Chevalier
mesh_terms: D003035:Cobalt / Q000737:chemistry*; D008280:Magnetics; D059346:Magnets / Q000737:chemistry*; D009354:Neodymium / Q000737:chemistry*; D033362:Powder Diffraction; D017655:Silicon Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D017655:Silicon Compounds; D009354:Neodymium; D003035:Cobalt