Crystal Structure and Ferromagnetism of the CeFe₉Si₄ Intermetallic Compound

We have determined the crystal structure and the magnetic state of the CeFe₉Si₄ intermetallic compound. Our revised structural model (fully ordered tetragonal unit cell, I4/mcm) agrees with the previous literature report, except for some minor quantitative differences. Magnetically, the CeFe₉Si₄ undergoes a ferromagnetic transition at the temperature T ≈ 94 K. Ferromagnetism in the combined Ce-Fe spin system is a result of interplay between the localized magnetism of the Ce sublattice and the Fe band (itinerant) magnetism. Ferromagnetic ordering obeys the rather general rule that the exchange spin coupling between atoms possessing more than half-full d shells with atoms possessing less than half-full d shells is antiferromagnetic (where the Ce atoms are considered as light d elements). Since in rare-earth metals from the light half of the lanthanide series, the magnetic moment is directed opposite to the spin, this results in ferromagnetism. The magnetoresistance and the magnetic specific heat show an additional temperature-dependent feature (a shoulder) deep inside the ferromagnetic phase that is considered to originate from the influence of the magnetization on the electronic band structure via the magnetoelastic coupling, which alters the Fe band magnetism below T. The ferromagnetic phase of CeFe₉Si₄ is magnetically soft.