Crystal structures and magnetic performance of nanocrystalline Sm-Co compounds

A variety of intermetallic compounds in the binary Sm-Co system were reviewed, and the contents were focused on the crystal structures, magnetic properties and the nanoscale effects. The representative nanocrystalline Sm-Co compounds were introduced in details, the diagrams for their lattice structures and the atomic sites and occupancies were provided. Moreover, the magnetic properties of the nanocrystalline Sm-Co compounds were compared with those of the conventional polycrystalline counterparts. It showed that the nanocrystalline Sm- Co compounds exhibit special phase stability and remarkably enhanced magnetic performance, which are promising candidates for the matrix phases to develop permanent magnets, particularly the advanced high- temperature magnetic materials.