First-order ferromagnetic transition in single-crystalline (Mn,Fe)2(P,Si)

• Published in: Applied physics letters Vol. 107; no. 16
• Main Authors: Yibole, H., Guillou, F., Huang, Y. K., Blake, G. R., Lefering, A. J. E., van Dijk, N. H., Brück, E.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Melville American Institute of Physics 19-10-2015
• Subjects: Applied physics; Crystal growth; Crystal structure; Crystals; Curie temperature; Diffraction; Ferromagnetic phases; Ferromagnetism; Magnetic anisotropy; Magnetization; Manganese; Phase transitions; Single crystals; X-ray diffraction
• ISSN: 0003-6951; 1077-3118
• DOI: 10.1063/1.4934500

(Mn,Fe)2(P,Si) single crystals have been grown by flux method. Single crystal X-ray diffraction demonstrates that Mn0.83Fe1.17P0.72Si0.28 crystallizes in a hexagonal Fe2P crystal structure (space group P6¯2m) at both 100 and 280 K, in the ferromagnetic and paramagnetic states, respectively. Magnetization measurements show that the crystals display a first-order ferromagnetic phase transition at their Curie temperature (TC). The preferred magnetization direction is along the c axis. A weak magnetic anisotropy of K1 = 0.28 × 106 J/m3 and K2 = 0.22 × 106 J/m3 is found at 5 K. A series of discontinuous magnetization jumps is observed far below TC by increasing the field at constant temperature. These magnetization jumps are irreversible, occur spontaneously at a constant temperature and magnetic field, but can be restored by cycling across the first-order phase transition.