Synthesis, Magnetization, and Electrical Transport Properties of Mn3Zn0.9Cu0.1N

Abstract EN

We synthesized Mn3Zn0.9Cu0.1N by solid state reaction, and magnetic as well as electrical transport properties were investigated.

It is found that Mn3Zn0.9Cu0.1N exhibits a first-order antiferromagnetism (AFM) to paramagnetic (PM) transition with the Néel temperature TN ~163 K, and substitution of Cu for Zn would favor ferromagnetism (FM) state and weaken AFM ground state, leading to a convex curvature character of M(T) curve.

With high external fields 10 kOe–50 kOe, magnetic transition remains a robust AFM-PM feature while FM phase is completely suppressed.

Thermal hysteresis of M(T) under 500 Oe is also suppressed when the magnetic field exceeds 10 kOe.

Mn3Zn0.9Cu0.1N exhibits a good metallic behavior except for a slope change around TN, which is closely related to AFM-PM magnetic transition.

Compared with the first differential of resistivity with respect to temperature for (dρ/dT)Mn3ZnN in transition temperature range, the absolute value of (dρ/dT)Mn3Zn0.9Cu0.1N is much lower which is close to zero.