Magnetism and structure of Fe- and Co-substituted Mn2NiSn

• Published in: Journal of magnetism and magnetic materials Vol. 537; no. C; p. 168157
• Main Authors: Zhang, W.Y., Skomski, R., Valloppilly, S.R., Khatri, Y., Kashyap, A., Sellmyer, D.J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01.11.2021; Elsevier BV; Elsevier
• Subjects: Actuators; Automation; Cobalt; Core loss; Curie temperature; Electron transport; Element substitution; Heusler; Heusler alloys; Hysteresis; Industrial robots; Iron; Magnetic measurement; Magnetic properties; Magnetism; Magnetization; Manganese; Manufacturing engineering; Melt spinning; Robotics; Shape memory alloys; Structure; Substitutes; Thermodynamic properties; Yttrium; Structure; Element substitution; Heusler; Magnetic properties
• ISSN: 0304-8853; 1873-4766
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jmmm.2021.168157

•Mn2NiSn-type Heusler shape-memory alloys are produced by melt-spinning.•Co and Fe substitution for Mn improve the magnetization of Mn2NiSn.•The Curie temperature is enhanced and reduced by Co and Fe, respectively.•The Curie-temperature trends are explained as a nearest-neighbor exchange effect. Mn-containing Heuslers are importantmagnetic shape-memoryalloys for fast and precise actuators in manufacturing, robotics, surgery, and other applications. Among the key requirements are a high magnetization and favorable thermal properties, especially a high Curie temperature. In this work, the effect of Fe and Co substitution on the structure and magnetism of Mn2NiSn alloys is investigated. The Heusler alloys have been produced by melt spinning and characterized by X-ray diffraction, magnetometry, and electron-transport measurements. It was found that Co substitution for Mn enhances the Curie temperature of Mn2NiSn and both Co and Fe substitution improve its magnetization. These improvements are accompanied by reduced thermal and magnetic hysteresis losses and by interesting structural changes, namely improved chemical order and site occupancies characteristic of quaternary (Y-ordered) Heuslers.