Magnetic properties of PrMn2-xFexGe2 compounds

The structure and magnetic properties of the PrMn2-xFexGe2 (0.0 less than o r equal tox:less than or equal to1.0) compounds have been investigated by m eans of X-ray diffraction and magnetic measurements. All compounds crystall ize in the ThCr2Si2-type structure with the space group I4/mmm. The lattice constants and the unit cell volume obey Vegard's law. The samples with x l ess than or equal to0.4 are ferromagnetic and show an additional increase i n the magnetization due to magnetic ordering of the Pr sublattice, at low t emperatures. Reentrant ferromagnetism has been observed for x=0.6. The comp ounds with x=0.8 and x=1.0 are antiferromagnetic. The results lead to the c onstruction of the partial V-T magnetic phase diagram. (C) 2001 Elsevier Sc ience BY All rights reserved.