New cerium cobalt borocarbide synthesized from eutectic metal flux mixture

Abstract

A cerium cobalt borocarbide intermetallic compound was grown as large crystals from reactions of boron and carbon in cerium/cobalt eutectic melt. The complex structure of the product Ce₁₀Co_2.64B_11.70C₁₀ (triclinic, P, a = 8.5131(5) Å, b = 8.5144(5) Å, c = 13.5709(7) Å, α = 100.870(1)°, β = 93.677(1)°, γ = 90.041(1)°, Z = 2, R₁ = 0.0293) features Co₄ squares capped by borocarbide chains. Several disordered sites are also consistently found in the structural refinement of crystals of this phase. Magnetic susceptibility measurements show a ferromagnetic transition at 15 K and also indicate fluctuating cerium valences.