Synthesis And Properties Of Lnxbe (Ln=Lanthanides, X=Si Or Ge)

The crystallographic and magnetic properties of LnXBe (Ln = lanthanides; X = Si or Ge) were investigated. All the samples have a hexagonal structure of space group P63/mmc. LnSiBe (Ln = Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Er) and LnGeBe (Ln = Pr, Nd, Sm, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho) are ferromagnetic (T-c of 6-70 K), whereas LnSiBe (Ln Dy, Ho) are antiferromagnetic and LnSiBe (Ln = La, Lu) and LnGeBe (Ln = La, Eu, Er, Lu) are paramagnetic. Possible existence of superconductivity was observed for paramagnetic LaSiBe. (C) 2011 American Institute of Physics. [doi:10.1063/1.3559470]