ChemInform Abstract: Magnetic Order and Crystal Structure Study of YNi₄Si‐Type NdNi₄Si.

Abstract

Magnetic Order and Crystal Structure Study of YNi 4Si-Type NdNi4Si. -NdNi 4Si is prepared by arc melting of stoichiometric amounts of the elements followed by annealing under Ar (quartz tube, 1070 K, 200 h). The compound crystallizes in the orthorhombic YNi 4Si-type structure (space group Cmmm). The magnetocaloric effect of NdNi 4Si reaches a maximum of -3.3 J/kg K for a field change of 50 kOe near 12 K. Below 12 K, NdNi 4Si exhibits a commensurate b-axis collinear ferromagnetic ordering with the Cmm'm magnetic space group in a zero magnetic field. At 1.5 K, the Nd atoms show a magnetic moment of 2.37  B. The orthorhombic crystal structure and its thermal evolution are discussed in comparison with the CaCu 5-type compound. -(YAO, J.; ISNARD, O.; MOROZKIN*, A. V.; IVANOVA, T. I.; KOSHKIDO'KO, Y. S.; BOGDANOV, A. E.; NIKITIN, S. A.; SUSKI, W.; J. Solid State Chem. 222 (2015) 123-128, http://dx.