Impact of hydrogen and carbon insertion on the fundamental characteristics of ErMn12−xFex compounds

Abstract The structural and magnetic properties of ErMn 12− x Fe x X y compounds (X=H, C) have been studied by neutron diffraction experiments. After hydrogenation and carburisation, thanks to the extension of the 3d–3d distances, a subsequent increase of the 3d–3d exchange forces leads to markedly higher ferromagnetic ordering temperatures. Important modifications of the magnetocrystalline anisotropy of the starting compounds are observed to directly depend on the nature of the inserted element.