Magnetic properties and crystal structure of ErRh311B2

Single crystals of (ErRh3B2)-B-11 were grown using the high temperature solution method. The crystal structure was determined and refined by the powder technique. The compound crystallizes in the space group C2/m with cell dimensions a = 5.3561(4) angstrom, b = 9.2819(7) angstrom, c = 3.1013(3) angstrom and beta = 90.898(8)degrees. The final unweighted profile R value is 6.4% and the conventional Bragg R value 4.8%. Magnetic measurements indicate ferromagnetic order below T(C) = 27 K, but the magnetic data show considerable anisotropy. The highly anisotropic magnetic properties are probably due to the Er atom chains along the c axis.