MAGNETIC PROPERTIES OF NEW SERIES R-Mo-Fe NITRIDES WITH THE ThMn₁₂-TYPE STRUCTURE AT A LOWER Mo CONTENT

A systematic study has been made on formation condition, crystallographic structure and magnetic properties of RMo_1.5Fe_10.5N_x, where R=Y, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er. The interstitial nitrogen atom effects on Curie temperature, saturation magnetization and magneto-crystalline anisotropy have been investigated. Two important preliminary results have been obtained. (1) A single phase crystallized in the ThMn₁₂-type structure was stabilized with a smaller content of molybdenum, thus, the compounds possess a higher Curie temperature and a larger spontaneous magnetization. (2) A complete system of compounds with 1:12 type structure containing the light rare earth cerium and praseodymium was synthesized, which will be favorable for developing new rare earth hard magnetic materials.