Structural and magnetic properties of the new ternary silicide Gd3Co2.48Si1.52

Highlights: ► The existence of the new intermetallic Gd3Co2.48Si1.52 is reported. ► Its structure derives from the W3CoB3-type structure. ► Mixed occupancy between Co- and Si-atoms is observed for two crystallographic sites. ► A ferromagnetic transition occurs at 180 K. - Abstract: Gd3Co2.48Si1.52 was obtained by arc-melting of the elements and subsequent annealing at 1073 K during 1 month. Its structure, determined from single-crystal X-ray diffraction data, derives from the W3CoB3-type structure with the space group Cmcm and the unit cell parameters a = 4.1185(3), b = 10.2970(7) and c = 12.8166(8) Å. Mixed occupancy between Co- and Si-atoms is observed for two crystallographic sites. Only few ternary compounds are known to crystallize with this structure-type. Magnetization measurements reveal at least one ferromagnetic transition at 180 K.