Magnetic and electrical properties of Gd5M3 (MSn and Sb) single crystals

Abstract Magnetic and electrical properties of Gd 5 Sn 3 and Gd 5 Sb 3 single crystals have been studied. Gd 5 Sn 3 possesses an antiferromagnetic state below T N =60 K and another antiferromagnetic phase transition has been found at T t =35 K. On the other hand, Gd 5 Sb 3 shows ferromagnetic state below T C =187 K and a canted or ferrimagnetic state could exist below T t =50 K. Both compounds have no magnetic anisotropy in the paramagnetic susceptibility indicating Curie–Weiss law. Though the effective magnetic moment μ eff is in reasonable agreement with the theoretical value of Gd 3+ in Gd 5 Sn 3 , a large μ eff value was obtained in Gd 5 Sb 3 . Electrical resistivity shows anomalies at the transition temperatures. In the c -plane of Gd 5 Sn 3 , electrical resistivity increases slightly with decrease in temperature below about 200 K.