Magnetic properties and specific heat of Dy1−xLaxNi2 compounds

Magnetic and specific heat measurements have been carried out on polycrystalline series of single-phase Dy1−xLaxNi2 (0⩽x⩽1) solid solutions. The compounds have a Laves-phase superstructure (space group F4¯3m) with the lattice parameter gradually increasing with decreasing Dy content. The samples with x⩽0.8 are ferromagnetic with the Curie temperature below 22K. At high temperatures, all solid solutions are Curie–Weiss paramagnets. The Debye temperature, phonon and conduction electron contributions as well as a magnetic contribution to the heat capacity have been determined from specific heat measurements. The magnetocaloric effect was estimated from specific heat measurements performed in a magnetic field of 0.42 and 4.2T.