Structural and magnetic properties of Nd2Co17-xVx compounds

The effect of substitution of V for Co on the structure and magnetic properties of Nd2Co17-xVx compounds (x = 0, 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2) has been investigated by means of XRD and magnetic measurements. It is found that all Compounds with x from 0 to 2 are almost single phase with the Th2Zn17-type of structure. The lattice constants a, c and the unit-cell volume V show a tendency to increase with increasing V content. The Curie temperature decreases linearly with increasing V content at a rate of 240 K per V atom substituted in Nd2Co17. A spin reorientation is observed in all compounds investigated and the spin-reorientation temperature T-sr changes from 147 K for x = 0 to 474 K for x = 1.0 and is almost independent of the V content above x = 1.0. The saturation magnetization M-s of Nd2Co17-xVx compounds and the Co moment mu(Co) in these compounds decreases monotonically with increasing V content. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.