Structural and magnetic properties of R(Fe1−yCoy)12−xNbx compounds

The magnetic properties of RFe12−xNbx and R(Fe1−yCoy)11.3Nb0.7 compounds with R=Y, Tb, and Dy have been investigated in the concentration region defined by 0.6<x<0.8 and y⩽0.3, where the compounds are single phase with the ThMn12-type of structure. The Curie temperature TC of the RFe12−xNbx compounds is almost independent of the Nb content whereas the saturation magnetization Ms decreases with increasing Nb content. The spin-reorientation temperature Tsr of the TbFe12−xNbx and DyFe12−xNbx compounds decreases monotonically with increasing x. Substitution of Co for Fe in RFe11.3Nb0.7 leads to a remarkable increase of TC and the appearance of a maximum in the Co-concentration dependence of Ms. In contrast, Tsr decreases monotonically with increasing Co content for both R=Tb and Dy. The modification of T- and R-sublattice anisotropy originating from a change of the Nb content and from substitution of Co for Fe was analyzed by combining crystalline electric field theory and the individual-site model.