Structural and magnetic properties of ErFe 2D 3.1

Abstract

The crystal structure and magnetic properties of ErFe 2D 3.1 have been studied by means of magnetic measurements and neutron powder diffraction in a wide temperature range from the highest temperature T = 450 K down to the lowest one T = 12 K. The crystal structure of ErFe 2D 3.1 is found to be strongly modified by temperature: the high-temperature cubic structure decomposes to the deuterium-deficient cubic and deuterium-rich distorted phases which coexist in a wide temperature range below 400 K and exhibit successive structural transitions. The neutron powder diffraction patterns analysis revealed ordering of deuterium atoms over preferential A 2B 2 interstitial sites upon cooling. Below the Curie temperature ErFe 2D 3.1 is a ferrimagnet. Two separate magnetic ordering temperatures for Er and Fe magnetic sublattices were observed. A large magnetic anisotropy has been found in ErFe 2D 3.1 at low temperature. © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.