Structure and magnetostriction of high Pr/Ce-content (Tb0.2Pr0.8)1–xCexFe1.93 Laves compounds

• Published in: Journal of rare earths Vol. 40; no. 4; pp. 670 - 675
• Main Authors: Shen, Yihao, Liu, Jinjun, Ding, Qilin, Wang, Mingkun, Pan, Zhongbin, Du, Juan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.04.2022
• Subjects: Intermetallics; Laves phase; Light rare earth; Magnetic properties; Magnetostriction; X-ray diffraction; Light rare earth; Intermetallics; X-ray diffraction; Magnetostriction; Laves phase; Magnetic properties
• ISSN: 1002-0721; 2509-4963
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jre.2021.03.010

The light rare earth Pr/Ce-contained (Tb0.2Pr0.8)1–xCexFe1.93 (0 ≤ x ≤ 1.0) intermetallics were arc melted and magnetoelastic properties were investigated. The compounds of x ≥ 0.40 are found to stabilize at ambient pressure in a single Laves phase with MgCu2-type C15 structure, which is attributed to the strong Ce 4f bonding. The mixed-valence behavior, with a support of the deviation from the linear Vegard’s law for both lattice parameter a and saturation magnetization MS, is observed at room temperature. The easy magnetization direction (EMD) was determined by the analysis of XRD on both magnetically aligned samples and the (440) splitting, that is, EMD lies toward axis for x ≤ 0.50 rotating to for x = 0.60, accompanied with the structural distortion from rhombohedral to orthorhombic. The substitution of Ce for Tb/Pr is conductive to the reduction of magnetocrystalline anisotropy, giving rise to an improvement of the low-field magnetostriction. The excellent magnetoelastic properties can be tailored by the Ce introduction, e.g., the spontaneous magnetostriction coefficient λ111 as large as 1150 × 10−6 for x = 0.40, and the low-field induced magnetostriction achieving a high value of λa = 180 × 10−6 at 80 kA/m for x = 0.60. The excellent magnetoelastic properties and the combination in high Pr-content with low cost, suggest promising prospects in applications. A mixed-valence behavior of Ce ion is observed, helping to form a single C15 Laves phase in (Tb0.2Pr0.8)1–xCexFe1.93 alloys. The excellent magnetoelastic properties, i.e., the easy magnetization direction (EMD) lying along axis, λ111 = 1150 × 10−6 and λa = 180 × 10−6 at 80 kA/m, are achieved. [Display omitted] •A mixed-valence behavior of Ce ion is observed, helping to form a single C15 Laves phase.•EMD rotates from to axis with a structural transition from rhombohedral to orthorhombic.•A high low-field induced magnetostriction λa = 180 × 10−6 at 80 kA/m is obtained.