Synthesis and properties of NaZn13-type interstitial compounds

The effect of interstitial nitrogen and hydrogen atoms on the structural and magnetic properties of LaCo11Al2 and CeNi8.5Si4.5 was studied. Synthesis of LaCo11Al2H3 and LaCo11Al2N2.5 was performed under a pressure of 30bar hydrogen and nitrogen and at the temperatures 623 and 773K. Synthesis of CeNi8.5Si4.5H0.9 and CeNi8.5Si4.5N0.5 was realized under a pressure of 30bar hydrogen and nitrogen at the temperatures 723 and 923K. Magnetic measurements were made for randomly oriented and aligned samples in the temperature range 4.2–750K and at magnetic fields up to 140kOe. The saturation magnetization of LaCo13 is decreased by a partial substitution of the transition metal in the 3d sublattice by Al and further reduced by hydrogenation of LaCo11Al2.