Abstract
Structural and magnetic properties have been studied across the Gd-5(Si1-xGex)(4) and (Gd1-xRx)(5)Si-4 series, with R=Ce Nd, Er, and Ho, in the context of their use as ferromagnetic materials in the self-controlled hyperthermia treatment of cancer. The study shows that these materials have high magnetization values and their magnetic ordering temperatures (T-C) can be varied linearly over a broad range by adjusting the composition of the constituent elements. The magnetization values of these materials are close to the bulk value of alpha-Fe and are substantially higher than other transition metal and Fe based magnetic materials, e. g., oxide and ferrites. The high magnetization and optimality of T-C values for self-controlled hyperthermia applications observed in these materials distinguish them as magnetic material of choice for such applications. (C) 2009 American Institute of Physics. [doi: 10.1063/1.3190556]