Electrochemical formation of Yb–Ni alloy films by Li codeposition method in a molten LiCl–KCl–YbCl3 system
摘要:
Electrochemical formation of Yb-Ni alloy films at a Ni cathode was investigated in a molten LiCl-KCl-YbCl3 (0.5 mol%) at 723 K. A very thin YbNi2 film ( similar to 100 nm) was formed by potentiostatic electrolysis at 0.10 V (vs. Li+/Li) for 24 h. A much thicker YbNi2 alloy film ( similar to 7 mum) was formed by Li codeposition method (cathodic galvanostatic electrolysis at 50 mA cm(-2)) for 1 h. The formed YbNi2 films were changed to Yb2Ni17 and alpha-Ni phases by anodic potentiostatic electrolysis depending on the applied potentials. The formation potentials of Yb2Ni17 and YbNi2 were found to be 0.75 and 0.25 V, respectively. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
Measurements of the magnetization and specific heat of YbNi2 binary alloy are reported. The DC magnetic susceptibility displays a ferromagnetic behavior with a Curie temperature T-C = 10.5 K, one of the highest found in Yb compounds. Moreover, the temperature dependence of the specific heat exhibits a lambda anomaly with a peak of 5.12 J/mol K at 9.4K. The analysis also shows an additional magnetic contribution around 32 K stemming from the crystalline electric field of a quartet at Delta(1) = 72 K and a doublet at Delta(2) = 126 K, according to the splitting of the Yb3+ ion in cubic symmetry. From the magnetic contribution to the specific heat, a relatively high Kondo temperature T-K = 27 K is estimated. Below the magnetic transition, the specific heat shows a huge value of the electronic coefficient gamma(LT) = 573 mJ/mol K, which is a signature of a heavy fermion behavior. Therefore, this alloy is a fine example of enhanced ferromagnetism and heavy fermion behavior among Yb compounds. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.