Gd 3+ and Eu 2+ local environment in Ca 1-xEu xB 6 (0.0001 ≤ x ≤ 0.30) and Ca 1-xGd xB 6 (0.0001 ≤ x ≤ 0.01)

Local environment of Gd 3+ and Eu 2+ 4f 7 ions, S =7/2, in Ca 1-xEu xB 6 (0.0001 ≤ x ≤ 0.30) and Ca xGd xB 6 (0.0001 ≤ x ≤ 0.01) is investigated by means of electron spin resonance (ESR). For x ≤ 0.001 the spectra show resolved fine structures due to the cubic crystal electric field and, in the case of Eu, the hyperfine structure due to the nuclear hyperfine field is also observed. The resonances have Lorentzian line shape, indicating insulating host for the Gd 3+ and Eu 2+ ions. As x increases, the ESR lines broaden due to local distortions caused by the Ca/Gd,Eu ions substitution. For Gd (x ≈ 0.001) and Eu (x ≈ 0.02), the spectra present superposition of Lorentzian and Dysonian resonances, suggesting a coexistence of insulating and metallic hosts for the Gd 3+ and Eu 2+ ions. The Gd 3+ and Eu 2+ fine structures are still observable up to x ≈ 0.003 for Gd and x ≈ 0.15 for Eu. For larger values of x the fine and hyperfine structures are no longer observed, the line width increases, and the line shape becomes pure Dysonian anticipating the metallic and semimetallic character of GdB 6 and EuB 6, respectively. These results clearly show that in the low concentration regime the Ca 1-xR xB 6 = Gd, Eu) systems are intrinsically inhomogeneous. No evidence of weak ferromagnetism (WF) was found in the ESR spectra of either metallic or insulating phases of these compounds, suggesting that, if WF is present in these materials, the Gd 3+ and Eu 2+ 4f 7 -electrons are shielded from the WF field. © 2006 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA.