Magnetic and Transport Properties of Multicomponent Laves Phase Intermetallic Compound Gd0.2Tb0.2Dy0.2Ho0.2Er0.2Al2

Polycrystalline, MgCu
₂
-type multicomponent Laves phase intermetallic compound Gd
_0.2
Tb
_0.2
Dy
_0.2
Ho
_0.2
Er
_0.2
Al
₂
(cubic, space group
Fd-3m
,
cF
24) orders ferromagnetically at ~80 K (
$T_{\mathrm {C}}$
). The
$T_{\mathrm {C}}$
is found to be approximately equal to the average of ferromagnetic transition temperatures of the individual components RAl
₂
(R = Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, and Er). Heat capacity shows a
$\lambda $
-type transition around
$T_{\mathrm {C}}$
. The second-order nature of the transition has been confirmed by plotting universal curve with the isothermal magnetic entropy change versus temperature data. Electrical resistivity is metal-like in the paramagnetic region. Both electrical resistance and thermopower shows a slope change near
$T_{\mathrm {C}}$
. Temperature dependence of thermal conductivity of Gd
_0.2
Tb
_0.2
Dy
_0.2
Ho
_0.2
Er
_0.2
Al
₂
is as that of a metal.