Crystal structures and phase relationships in magnetostrictive Tb1-x Dy x Co2 system.

The crystal structures and phase relationships of Tb1-x Dy x Co2 alloys with 0  ⩽  x  ⩽  1 were investigated by synchrotron-based high-resolution x-ray powder diffraction. Three different crystal structures are observed in the system: all the compositions show cubic structure with space group [Formula: see text] at temperatures above the Curie temperature T C; the Tb-rich side sample shows a rhombohedral structure with space group [Formula: see text] and the Dy-rich side sample has a tetragonal [Formula: see text] space group. In situ measurements on the intermediate compound Tb0.3Dy0.7Co2 show a rhombohedral to tetragonal structural transition, and the two phases coexist from 99 K to 111 K, where the so-called magnetic morphotropic phase boundary (MPB) is found. The coexisting phases are believed to induce the anomalous magnetostrictive effect in the MPB regime.