The crystal structure and magnetic properties of a Zintl phase EuIrIn4: the first member of the Eu-Ir-In in family

Abstract

The indium-rich intermetallic compound EuIrIn4 was synthesized using indium as the active metal flux. The crystal structure of EuIrIn4 was investigated by X-ray powder and single crystal diffraction. EuIrIn4 crystallizes in the YNiAl4 type, Cmcm space group, with lattice parameters, a = 4.5206(9) angstrom. b = 16.937(3) angstrom, c = 7.2661(15) angstrom. Europium atoms in EuIrIn4 are surrounded by three dimensional [IrIn4] polyanionic networks. EuIrIn4 shows two successive antiferromagnetic transitions at 5.4 and 10.8 K. Modified Curie-Weiss fitting on the magnetic susceptibility data within the temperature region 15-300 K gives the effective magnetic moment of 8.45 mu(B)/Eu. EuIrIn4 shows pronounced magnetic anisotropy perpendicular to the direction of the applied magnetic field.