Magnetic properties of a new series of rare-earth iron nitrides (R = Ce, Nd, Sm, Gd, Tb, Dy or Y)

Abstract

A series of interstitial nitrides with has been prepared for R = Ce, Nd, Sm, Gd, Tb, Dy or Y. The nitrides have structures related to , but the unit-cell volumes are 4.7 - 6.6% greater and the magnetic ordering temperatures some 224 - 361 K higher than those of the parent compounds, and the saturation magnetizations are also higher than those of the corresponding parent compounds. All compounds investigated exhibit easy-plane anisotropy at room temperature, except for which is of an easy-axis nature.