Structural, Superconducting and Magnetic Properties of La(3-x)R(x)Ni2B2N3 (R = Ce, Pr, Nd)

We report on structural and superconducting properties of La(3-x)R(x)Ni2B2N3 where La is substituted by the magnetic rare-earth elements Ce, Pr, Nd. The compounds Pr3Ni2B2N3 and Nd3Ni2B2N3 are characterized for the first time. Powder X-ray diffraction confirmed all samples R3Ni2B2N3 with R = La, Ce, Pr, Nd and their solid solutions to crystallize in the body centered tetragonal La3Ni2B2N3 structure type. Superconducting and magnetic properties of La(3-x)R(x)Ni2B2N3 were studied by resistivity, specific heat and susceptibility measurements. While La3Ni2B2N3 has a superconducting transition temperature Tc ~ 14 K, substitution of La by Ce, Pr, and Nd leads to magnetic pair breaking and, thus, to a gradual suppression of superconductivity. Pr3Ni2B2N3 exibits no long range magnetic order down to 2 K, Nd3Ni2B2N3 shows ferrimagnetic ordering below T_C = 17 K and a spin reorientation transition to a nearly antiferromagnetic state at 10 K.