Magnetic and structural properties of the intermetallic Ce(1−x)LaxCrGe3 series of compounds

Abstract

The Ce(1−x)LaxCrGe3 (x = 0, 0.19, 0.43, 0.58, and 1) intermetallic compound system has been investigated by magnetization measurements and neutron scattering techniques to determine the effect of La doping on the magnetic ordering and exchange interaction between Cr ions. The structural and magnetic characterization in this series was first verified by x-ray diffraction and bulk magnetization measurements. The samples exhibit the known hexagonal perovskite structure (P63/mmc space group) and have a single magnetic phase according to magnetizationmeasurements. In this paper, the ferromagnetic ordering temperature for Cr evolves smoothly from a range of 68 K to 77 K for CeCrGe3 to a range of 91 K to 96 K for LaCrGe3 as La replaces Ce. Magnetization results indicate the formation of domain walls below the transition temperature for all Ce(1−x)LaxCrGe3 systems investigated. Neutron results indicate ordered magnetic Cr moments aligned along the c axis for the x = 1 LaCrGe3 system, as well as for x = 0.19, 0.43, and 0.58, which contrasts with the x = 0 CeCrGe3 where the moments order in the ab plane.