Control of magnetic ordering by altering Co–Co distances in La0.9R0.1Co2P2 (R=Ce, Pr, Nd, and Sm) phases with ThCr2Si2-type structures

To clarify the origins of different magnetic behavior in ferromagnetic LaCo2P2 and antiferromagnetic RCo2P2 (R=Ce, Pr, Nd, and Sm), quaternary phases La0.9R0.1Co2P2 have been investigated. While LaCo2P2 orders ferromagnetically at 132 K, the introduction of the small amount of R into the La sublattice increases the ferromagnetic ordering temperature, which correlates with the size of the R3+ ion (TC=144 K, 150 K, 161 K, and 165 K for Ce, Pr, Nd, and Sm, respectively). This change is attributed to the increasing Co–Co separation within the [Co2P2] layer, which results in higher spin polarization of the Co 3d subband. The low-temperature magnetism of La0.9R0.1Co2P2 strongly depends on the nature of the rare-earth metal.