Structural and magnetic studies on the new Laves phases RE(Co0.667Ga0.333)2 (RE=Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, and Er). Magnetocaloric effect of Gd(Co0.667Ga0.333)2

Several new MgZn2-type Laves phases with the P63/mmc symmetry and RE(Co0.667Ga0.333)2 stoichiometries (RE=Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, and Er) were obtained by arc-melting and subsequent annealing. Single crystals with the MgZn2-type structure were extracted from the annealed RE(Co0.667Ga0.333)2 (RE=Gd, Tb, Dy, and Ho) alloys and Ga flux-grown Er(Co0.667Ga0.333)2 sample. Powder and single-crystal X-ray diffraction methods were used for the phase analysis …