Comparative High-Field Magnetization Study of (Sm,Er)₂Fe₁₇ and Er₂Fe₁₇ Compounds and their Nitrides

Magnetic properties of the R₂Fe₁₇ compounds are sensitive to the atomic substitutions and interstitial absorption of nitrogen. In our work, both were combined and their effect on the magnetization behavior of Er₂Fe₁₇ compound in magnetic fields up to 58 T was studied. Er₂Fe₁₇N₂, Sm_1.2Er_0.8Fe₁₇N2 and Sm_1.8Er_0.2Fe₁₇N_2.1 nitrides were prepared. Magnetization measurements were carried out, mainly on powder samples (excluding Er₂Fe₁₇ single crystal). Nanopowders of Sm_1.2Er_0.8Fe₁₇N₂ were obtained by mechanical grinding. The grinding time was varied from 0 to 60 minutes. The strength of the inter-sublattice coupling in samples is estimated by analyzing high-field magnetization data.