Crystal structure and ferromagnetism of the CeFe$_9$Si$_4$ intermetallic compound

Koželj, Primož (author), Boulet, Pascal (author), Dolinšek, Janez (author)

We have determined the crystal structure and the magnetic state of the CeFe$_9$Si$_4$ intermetallic compound. Our revised structural model (fully ordered tetragonal unit cell, I4/mcm) agrees with the previous literature report, except for some minor quantitative differences. Magnetically, the CeFe$_9$Si$_4$ undergoes a ferromagnetic transition at the temperature TC ≈ 94 K. Ferromagnetism in the combined Ce−Fe spin system is a result of interplay between the localized magnetism of the Ce sublattice and the Fe band (itinerant) magnetism. Ferromagnetic ordering obeys the rather general rule that the exchange spin coupling between atoms possessing more than half-full d shells with atoms possessing less than half-full d shells is antiferromagnetic (where the Ce atoms are considered as light d elements). Since in rare-earth metals from the light half of the lanthanide series, the magnetic moment is directed opposite to the spin, this results in ferromagnetism. The magnetoresistance and the magnetic specific heat show an additional temperature-dependent feature (a shoulder) deep inside the ferromagnetic phase that is considered to originate from the influence of the magnetization on the electronic band structure via the magnetoelastic coupling, which alters the Fe band magnetism below T$_C$. The ferromagnetic phase of CeFe$_9$Si$_4$ is magnetically soft.

• Language: English
• Keywords: crystal structure, diffraction, magnetic properties, phase transitions, intermetallic compounds, quantum mechanics
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: FMF - Faculty of Mathematics and Physics
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2023
• Number of pages: Str. 6169-6180
• Numbering: Vol. 62, iss. 15
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-147223
• UDC: 537
• ISSN on article: 1520-510X
• DOI: 10.1021/acs.inorgchem.3c00547
• COBISS.SI-ID: 148177411
• Publication date in RUL: 27.06.2023

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Inorganic chemistry
• Shortened title: Inorg. chem.
• Publisher: American Chemical Society
• ISSN: 1520-510X
• COBISS.SI-ID: 512805401

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: kristalna struktura