Crystal structure, coloring problem and magnetism of Gd5−xZrxSi4†
Abstract
Ternary Gd5−xZrxSi4 silicides were synthesized by arc melting of the constituent elements and subsequent heat treatments. The Gd5−xZrxSi4 phases adopt the orthorhombic Gd5Si4-type (space groupPnma) structure for x ≤ 0.25 and the tetragonal Zr5Si4-type (space groupP41212) structure for x ≥ 1.0, respectively. The samples with intermediate compositions contain two phases.