Exchange bias behavior and magnetocaloric effect in Ni2In-type Mn7Sn4 alloy

摘要

In this work, the exchange bias behavior and magnetocaloric effect have been studied in Mn7Sn4 alloy. The X-ray powder diffraction pattern recorded at room temperature indicates that the sample crystallizes in a single phase with Ni2In-type hexagonal structure (space group P6(3)/mmc). The maximum magnetic entropy change value across paramagnetic/ferrimagnetic transition is about 3.3 J kg(-1) K-1 under the magnetic field change of mu(0)Delta H = 0-5 T. With further cooling, the reentrant spin-glass-like state is obtained below 150 K, for which the exchange bias effect has been observed. The exchange bias field is similar to 7.8 mT and similar to 6.7 mT at T =10 K when the cooling field is mu H-0(CF) = 0.1 T and 0.5 T, respectively. The magnetic behavior and the origin of exchange bias in Mn7Sn4 are discussed. (C) 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.