Crystallographic and magnetic properties of the quaternary rare-earth-transition-metal boron nitrides R2Fe14BN0.1 (R = Nd and Sm)

Quaternary rate-earth-transition-metal boron nitrides, R2Fe14BN0.1 (R = Nd and Sm), have been synthesized by ate melting. The bond of boron nitride (B N) can be broken by are melting to allow combination with rare-earth and tr ansition-metal atoms. The structure and magnetic properties of these quater nary compounds have been studied by means of x-ray diffraction, neutron dif fraction, and alternating-current initial-susceptibility and magnetization measurements. The R2Fe14BN0.1 (R = Nd and Sm) compounds have the tetragonal Nd2Fe14B-type structure with space group P4(2)/mnm,. The Curie temperature and magnetic anisotropy of the compound Nd2Fe14B are slightly enhanced by introducing nitrogen into the lattice of Nd2Fe14B. The spin-reorientation t emperature of Nd2Fe14BN0.1 is the same as that of Nd2Fe14B.