Unveiling the structural phase transition and magnetic structure of ternary boride PrIrB.

We present a comprehensive study of PrIrB, which includes a detailed investigation of its crystal and magnetic structure using neutron diffraction. AC and DC magnetization and heat capacity data reveal antiferromagnetic ordering at= 10 K. The heat capacity measurements further exhibit a broad peak near 270 K which is related to a structural transition from6/to2/seen in low temperature x-ray diffraction and neutron diffraction. High intensity neutron diffraction data confirm the long-range ordering of Prspins, with no apparent magnetic moment on either of the Iridium sites. Two possible magnetic structures with either= [1,0,0] or= [½,½,0] fit nearly equally well the neutron diffraction data. However, based on previous magnetization studies on a single crystalline sample it is argued that the second solution withcorresponds to the appropriate magnetic structure of PrIrBbelow 10 K. In this magnetic structure, the Prmoments are oriented at ∼45° to both theandaxes, with the-axis being the hard axis of magnetization. Overall, our results provide new insights into the magnetic and structural properties of PrIrB.