Magnetic properties and hyperfine field at Sn site in GdCo3Sn

Abstract The magnetic properties of the novel compound GdCo 3 Sn have been investigated with susceptibility, magnetization and 119 Sn Mossbauer spectroscopy measurements in the 4.2–300 K range. The sample was prepared in an arc furnace and annealed for 30 days. XRD data showed the presence of Gd 2 Co 17 and GdCoSn in addition to the compound of interest. Magnetization curves showed ferromagnetic behavior. The Mossbauer spectra consisted of two magnetic subspectra, one corresponding to each Sn-containing compound. Magnetic ordering temperatures of both GdCo 3 Sn ( T C =133±2 K) and GdCoSn ( T N =27±2 K) have been determined from the hyperfine field thermal dependence. The corresponding hyperfine fields at 4.2 K were 16.0 and 11.5 T, respectively. The GdCo 3 Sn saturation moment was estimated as 6.3 μ B /f.u.