Crystal growth and magnetic properties of Ln-Mn-Al (Ln=Gd, Yb) compounds of the CaCr{sub 2}Al{sub 10} and ThMn{sub 12} structure types

• Published in: Journal of solid state chemistry 2012-10, Vol.194
• Main Authors: Fulfer, Bradford W., Haldolaarachchige, Neel, Young, David P., Chan, Julia Y.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: ALUMINIUM; CRYSTAL GROWTH; INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY; MAGNETIC MOMENTS; MAGNETIC SUSCEPTIBILITY; MANGANESE; MONOCRYSTALS; SYNTHESIS; X-RAY DIFFRACTION; YTTERBIUM
• ISSN: 0022-4596; 1095-726X
• DOI: 10.1016/J.JSSC.2012.05.002

We report the growth and characterization of LnMn{sub 2+x}Al{sub 10-x} (Ln=Gd, Yb) crystals adopting the CaCr{sub 2}Al{sub 10} and ThMn{sub 12} structure types. Single crystals of LnMn{sub 2+x}Al{sub 10-x} were synthesized via the self-flux method and characterized with single crystal X-ray diffraction. We compare LnMn{sub 2+x}Al{sub 10-x} compounds adopting the CaCr{sub 2}Al{sub 10} and ThMn{sub 12} structure types, and outline synthesis methods to obtain each polymorph. Magnetic susceptibility measurements show paramagnetic behavior down to 3 K for both CaCr{sub 2}Al{sub 10}- and ThMn{sub 12}-type compounds, with observed magnetic moments of 1.3{mu}{sub B} for compounds adopting the CaCr{sub 2}Al{sub 10} structure type to 4.2{mu}{sub B} for those adopting the ThMn{sub 12} structure type. Compounds of both structure type exhibit metallic resistivity, with upturns at low temperature attributed to Kondo scattering. - Graphical abstract: We report the growth and characterization of LnMn{sub 2+x}Al{sub 10-x} (Ln=Gd, Yb) crystals adopting the CaCr{sub 2}Al{sub 10} and ThMn{sub 12} structure types. Single crystals of LnMn{sub 2+x}Al{sub 10-x} were synthesized via the self-flux method and characterized with single crystal X-ray diffraction. We compare LnMn{sub 2+x}Al{sub 10-x} compounds adopting the CaCr{sub 2}Al{sub 10} and ThMn{sub 12} structure types, and outline synthesis methods to obtain each polymorph. Magnetic susceptibility measurements show paramagnetic behavior down to 3 K for both CaCr{sub 2}Al{sub 10}- and ThMn{sub 12}-type compounds, with observed magnetic moments of 1.3{mu}{sub B} for compounds adopting the CaCr{sub 2}Al{sub 10} structure type to 4.2{mu}{sub B} for those adopting the ThMn{sub 12} structure type. Compounds of both structure type exhibit metallic resistivity, with upturns at low temperature attributed to Kondo scattering. Highlights: Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer We have grown Ln (Mn,Al){sub 12} (Ln=Gd, Yb) single crystals of the ThMn{sub 12} and CaCr{sub 2}Al{sub 10} structure types by flux growth methods. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Synthetic parameters to stabilize two structure types are discussed. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Compounds exhibit metallic resistivity with Kondo upturns below 50 K.