Synthesis, crystal structure and magnetic properties of R11Ni60C6 (R = Tb, Dy) compounds

Abstract Two metal-rich intermetallic carbides R 11 Ni 60 C 6 were synthesized using arc melting followed with heat treatment of the alloys at 800 °C for 6 months. Crystal structure of both compounds has been refined using powder XRD, including atomic coordinates with their isotropic displacement parameters. R 11 Ni 60 C 6 refer to Yb 11 Ni 60 C 6 structure type, space group Im 3 ¯ m ; for R = Tb: a  = 12.50393 (6) A, for R = Dy: a  = 12.49285 (6) A. New ternary carbide Tb 11 Ni 60 C 6 displays ferromagnetic-like magnetic behavior at temperatures below T C  = 6.6 K Dy 11 Ni 60 C 6 also presents magnetic ordering at low temperature ( T C  = 4.8 K) indicating the absence of Ni magnetic moment. Evaluated effective magnetic moments correspond to respective values of R 3+ ions in these compounds.