High-resolution neutron powder diffraction study on nitrogenated Nd2Fe17

High-resolution neutron powder diffraction measurements with λ=1.8232 Å and collimation of 6′-20′-6′ on Nd2Fe17Nx with x=0, 2.85, and 2.91 were carried out at room temperature. Structural parameters and magnetic moments were determined by the Rietveld profile-fitting calculation. The magnetic moments of iron atoms increased with increasing nitrogen concentration; e.g., the magnetic moments of iron located at 6c, 9d, 18f, and 18h sites increase from less than 0.7μB in the x=0 sample to about 2.1μB in the x=2.91 sample. It is noticed that a local atomic group composed of two Fe(1) atoms at the 6c site plus six Fe(3) atoms at the 18f site keeps its shape against the nitrogen uptake.