Structure and magnetic behaviors of Gd₆FeBi₂ compound

Gd-based compounds have attracted a great deal of interest as materials with large magnetocaloric effect and as materials for spintronic applications. Fe₂P-type Gd₆FeBi₂ alloy was synthesized successfully, and the compound shows good soft magnetic behavior at room temperature with a Curie temperature ∼350 K. The compound exhibits non Curie-Weiss behavior in a large temperature range above Curie temperature, and slightly enhanced Gd moment at low temperature. The elevated Curie temperature and enhanced Gd magnetic moment were discussed based on measured electronic structure and the results from another isostructural compound Gd₆CoTe₂. The magnetocaloric effect was also measured in terms of the maximum magnetic entropy change of -4.3 J kg^-1 K^-1 at 50 kOe and -2.3 J kg^-1 K^-1 at 20 kOe, respectively.