Crystallographic Disorder and Strong Magnetic Anisotropy in Dy₃Pt₂Sb_4.48

Abstract

We report the crystal growth and characterization of a rareearth-containing material, Dy 3.00(1) Pt 2 Sb 4. 48(2) . This compound possesses a similar structure to the previously reported Y 3 Pt 4 Ge 6 , but it lacks two layers of Pt atoms. Crystallographic disorder was found in Dy 3.00(1) Pt 2 Sb 4.48(2) . Additionally, the Dy−Dy framework was found to have both square net and triangular lattices. Dy 3.00(1) Pt 2 Sb 4.48(2)8 was determined to be antiferromagnetically ordered around ∼15 K while a competing antiferromagnetic sublattice also exists at lower temperature. Strong magnetic anisotropy was observed, and several metamagnetic transitions were seen in the hysteresis loops. Furthermore, the Curie−Weiss fitting revealed an unusually small effective moment of Dy, which is far below the expected value of Dy 3+ (10.65 μ B ). This material might provide a new platform to study the relationship between crystallographic disorder and magnetism.