Magnetic remanence in Yb14−xRExMnSb11 (RE=Tb, Dy, Ho) single crystals

Single crystals of Yb14−xRExMnSb11 (x~0.1, 0.4; RE = Tb, Dy, Ho) have been prepared as a solid solution by Sn flux reactions of the elements. They crystallize in the Ca14AlSb11 structure type in the I41/acd space group. The RE3+preferentially substitutes on the Yb(1) site which is the smallest volume Yb containing polyhedron. In the case of Ho3+, a small amount of Ho3+ also substitutes on the Yb(4) site. The ferromagnetic ordering temperature of Yb14MnSb11 is reduced from 53K to 41K as x increases and dependent on the identity of the RE. This is attributed to the reduction in carriers and reduced screening of the Mn2+ local moment. The effective moments, μeff, agree well with the calculated moments assuming the RE substitutes as a trivalent cation. The largest coercive field is observed for RE = Dy (1000Oe). For the maximum x of Yb14−xRExMnSb11 there are enough carriers for the Ruderman-Kittel-Kasuya-Yosida (RKKY) mechanism of magnetic coupling via conduction electrons to still be valid in describing the ferromagnetic ordering.