BARC/PUB/2023/0232

 
 

4d element induced improvement of structural disorder and development of weakly reentrant spin-glass behavior in NiRuMnSn

 
     
 
Author(s)

Gupta, S.; Chakraborty, S.; Bhasin, V.; Amit Kumar; Das, A.; Jha, S. N.; Bhattacharyya, D.; and others
(A&MPD;SSPD)

Source

Physical Review-B, 2023. Vol. 4: pp. 569-582: Article no. 54405

ABSTRACT

The pursuit of efficient spin polarization in quaternary Heusler alloys with the general formula XX′YZ (where X, X′ ,and Y are transition metals and Z is a p-block element) has been a subject of significant scientific interest. While previous studies showed that isoelectronic substitution of a 4d element in place of a 3d element in quaternary Heusler alloys improves the half-metallic ferromagnetic characteristics, our research on the quaternary Heusler alloy NiRuMnSn reveals a strikingly different scenario. In this study, we present a detailed structural analysis of the material using x-ray absorption fine structure and neutron diffraction techniques which confirms the formation of a single-phase compound with 50:50 site disorder between Ni and Ru atoms at 4c and 4d sites. Contrary to expectations, our density functional theory calculations suggest a considerable decrease in spin polarization even in the ordered structure. Additionally, we report on the compound’s exceptional behavior, displaying a rare reentrant spin-glass property below ~60 K, a unique and intriguing feature for quaternary Heusler-type compounds.

 
 
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