Magnetic ordering and magnetic properties of ErAuxNi1-xIn (0≤x≤1) solid solution

The ErAuxNi1-xIn (0 <= x <= 1) quasiternary compounds crystallize in the hexagonal layered crystal structure of ZrNiAl-type. ErAuIn was reported to be an antiferromagnet with T-N = 3 K and magnetic moments having triangular arrangement within the basal plane (the magnetic order is described by the propagation vector (k) over right arrow = [0, 0, 1/2]). On the contrary ErNiIn is a ferromagnet with T-C = 9 K and magnetic moments pointing along the c-axis. The magnetic ordering in ErAuxNi1-xIn (0 < x < 1) solid solution, has been investigated by neutron diffractometry in the temperature range between 1.5 and 15 K. Moreover, bulk magnetic measurements have been carried out in the range 1.72-400 K. All alloys of intermediate composition were found to be antiferromagnets with T-N between 4.6 and 7 K. Below 2 K their magnetic order is described by the propagation vector (k) over right arrow = [1/2, 0, 1/2] and magnetic moments are aligned along the c-axis. However, for alloys with 0.2 <= x <= 0.7 the propagation vector was found to turn into (k) over right arrow = [1/3, 1/3, 1/2] with increasing temperature. (C ) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.