Structural and magnetic properties of non-stoichiometric Fe2Zr

The lattice parameters and magnetic properties of the C15 Laves phase Fe2Zr vary systematically within the homogeneity range of the compound from 66.7 at.% to 74.5 at.% Fe. In the non-stoichiometric compounds Zr is partly substituted by the excess Fe. Themagnetic moment per iron atom increases with the Fe content. Electronic structure calculations show an enhanced magnetic moment of the excess Fe at the Zr site, which explains well the composition dependence.