Structural and Magnetic Behavior of Dy_1/3Mo_2/3)₂AlC Rare-Earth i-MAX Phase

Rare-earth-containing i-MAX phases have emerged as a new class of layered materials exploring correlated magnetism and structural resilience. The family of compounds with general formula (RE_1/3Mo_2/3)₂AlC exhibits atomically ordered and compositionally tunable architectures that give rise to complex magnetism phenomena, including frustration and multiple ordering phase transitions. In this talk, I will present the successful synthesis of several rare earth i-MAX compounds using the arc melting technique for the first time, with a focus on the (Dy_1/3Mo_2/3)₂AlC composition. To investigate the effects of extreme environments, samples were subjected to Co 60 γ-source irradiation up to 10 MGy. Comprehensive characterization using powder X-ray diffraction, diffrential scanning calorimetry, cyclic voltammetry, specific heat, magnetic susceptibility, and neutron diffraction revealed that γ-irradiation induces subtle local lattice distortions while the bulk magnetic properties of the i-MAX phase remain largely preserved.