Magnetic properties Mössbauer study and MCE in compounds RE2Fe17−Cr (RE=Pr, Gd)

Abstract We have prepared the RE 2 Fe 17– x Cr x compounds for RE=Pr, Gd and x =0, 1 in polycrystalline form and characterized by the powder X-ray diffraction and the 57 Fe Mossbauer spectroscopy. The Pr 2 Fe 17– x Cr x compounds are rhombohedral with the space group P-3m and the Gd 2 Fe 17– x Cr x ones are hexagonal with space group P/6 3 mmc. The magnetization and the 57 Fe Mossbauer spectra were measured as functions of temperature and the applied magnetic field. All the studied compounds are ferromagnetic. The doping by Cr yields enhancement of the Curie temperature by ≈50 K in both systems. In the vicinity of the magnetic ordering transition, the magnetocaloric effect was studied, as well.