Phase relations, crystal chemistry, and physical properties of MgZn2-type Laves phases in the Mn-Cu-Si and Mn-Ni-Si systems

Author(s)
X. Yan, M. W. Pieper, H. Michor, G. Hilscher, Michael Reissner, A. Grytsiv, P. Rogl, V. Pomjakushin, G. Giester, Ernst Bauer, S. Paschen
Abstract

In this study, we present the phase relations, crystal structure, and physical properties of the MgZn2-type Laves phases in the Mn-Cu-Si and Mn-Ni-Si systems. Our results evidence that the homogeneous regime of the Laves phase in the Mn-Cu-Si system at 800∘C ranges from 32.5 to 36.7 at.% Mn and from 11.5 to 13.5 at.% Si, indicating the Laves phase in this system having an ideal stoichiometry AB2, inconsistent with previous reports. For structural and physical property investigations, two alloys with compositions MnCu1.65Si0.35 and MnNi1.25Si0.75 are considered. In both alloys, Mn atoms are preferably situated at the 4f site and Cu(Ni) and Si share the 2a and 6h sites. Both are antiferromagnets with TN≈800 K for MnCu1.65Si0.35 and TN≈630 K for MnNi1.25Si0.75. Rietveld refinements of the room-temperature neutron diffraction data demonstrate that in both cases only the Mn atoms carry magnetic moments, which are aligned antiferromagnetically along the c axis. The magnetic moments at room temperature are 2.7μB/Mn for MnCu1.65Si0.35 and 2.9μB/Mn for MnNi1.25Si0.75, respectively. The magnetic properties are confirmed by transport, magnetization, NMR measurements, and band-structure calculations.

Organisation(s)
Department of Physical Chemistry, Department of Mineralogy and Crystallography
External organisation(s)
Karl-Franzens-Universität Graz, Technische Universität Wien, Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich, Paul Scherrer Institute
Journal
Physical Review B
Volume
88
No. of pages
13
ISSN
1098-0121
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.88.174416
Publication date
11-2013
Peer reviewed
Yes
Austrian Fields of Science 2012
104017 Physical chemistry, 105113 Crystallography
Keywords
Portal url
https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/en/publications/ede97f08-666c-4155-839a-d6c26416849f