The influence of Sc substitution on some physical properties of ScxHo1-xNi2 solid solutions

Results of X‐ray diffraction analysis, magnetization measurements, magnetic susceptibility, electrical resistivity, and heat capacity performed on polycrystalline ScxHo1–xNi2 (0 ≤ x ≤ 1) solid solutions are reported. It was found that they crystallize with the formation of the C15 type Laves‐phase superstructure. At low temperatures (below 20 K), the ScxHo1–xNi2 solid solutions with 0 ≤ x ≤ 0.6 are ferromagnets. At higher temperatures, all solid solutions are Curie–Weiss paramagnets. Temperature dependences of the electrical resistivity exhibit the typical behaviour of metals. The heat capacity measurements allowed us to determine the Debye temperature. The magnetocaloric effect was estimated from measurements performed in a low magnetic field of 0.42 T. (© 2005 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)