Magnetothermal study of La1-xNdxMn2Si2 (x=0.35 and 0.40) compounds

Magnetic properties of La1-xNdxMn2Si2 (x=0.35 and 0.40), crystallizing with the tetragonal ThCr2Si2-type crystal structure, are investigated by means of magnetic and calorimetric measurements. La1-xNdxMn2Si2 (x=0.35 and 0.40) compounds have complex magnetic states. Anomalies are observed in the heat capacity data which refer to different magnetic states. In addition, the electronic, magnetic and lattice contributions to the heat capacity of the compound are determined. Moreover, the characteristic Debye (Theta(D)) temperatures of both compounds are estimated. We present the comparative results of magnetothermal properties of several compounds in the R1-xR'xMn2Si2 family which show reentrant ferromagnetism at low temperatures due to rare-earth elements. (c) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.