Structural and Magnetic Properties of the New Type of Rare Earth-Iron-Nitrogen Intermetallic Compounds

We succeed in inserting a number of nitrogen atoms into the R_2Fe_(17)and RTiFe_(11)intermetalliccompounds.The nitrides retain original Th_2Zn_(17)(or Th_2Ni_(17_)and ThMn_(12)structures,but with an increase inthe unit cell volume.The interstitial nitrogen atoms are found to have an effect of increasing the Curie tempera-ture and saturation magnetization.Moreover,a distinct effect on the magnetocrystalline anisotropy is also ob-served in these nitride compounds.Especially,NdTiFe_(11)N_(0.5)and SmTiFe_(11)N_2 have excellent intrinsic magneticproperties favourable for permanent magnet applications.