Preparation and properties of gadolinium/noble metal fine particle compounds

G. Kroņkalns¹ - E. Blūms¹ - M. M. Maiorov¹ - V. Serga² - A. Krūmiņa²

¹ Institute of Physics, University of Latvia, 32 Miera, Salaspils, LV- 2169, Latvia }
² Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, Riga Technical University, 7 Paula Valdena, Riga, LV-1048, Latvia

Abstract
Fine Gd/Pt and Gd/Ag composites have been produced by the pyrolysis of organic compounds of noble metals in the presence of fine powder of gadolinium with the aim to produce a material with a tunable Curie temperature and good stability to oxidation. The dependence of the composite physical properties on the morphology, content and size of noble metals was studied. The phase composition, the size and the magnetic properties of all samples were investigated using an X-ray diffractometer and a sample vibration magnetometer. The study showed that the magnetic ordering temperature could be varied over a wide range by adjusting the composition of the constituent compound. Tables 1, Figs 5, Refs 5.