“…Analysis by X-ray diffraction (XRD, X'PERT MPD, Philips) with a Cu K α radiation source (λ¼ 0.154056 nm) and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM, S-4700, Hitachi) were performed for phase identification and microstructural observation respectively.Magnetic hysteresis curves were measured using a physical property measurement system-vibrating sample magnetometer (PPMS-VSM, Quantum Design) at room temperature (300 K) with a maximum applied field of 5 T. The main peak intensity ratio of the S-phase to the M-phase (I S /I M ) gradually increases from 0.15 to 0.55 as x varies from 0 to 0.3, implying that the relative amount of S-phase increases greatly as x increases in the N 2 -annealed samples. It is remarkable that the M-phase can coexist with the S-phase when they are formed in a reducing atmosphere of N 2 even though the M-phase is not compatible with the S-phase in air according to the phase diagram [13]. It is also understandable that the Ce is not fully soluble in the M-phase when x is over 0.1 regardless of the atmospheres.…”