First-Principles Study of Electronic and Magnetic Properties and Tetragonal Distortion of the Heusler Alloy $Mn_2NiAl$

First-Principles Study of Electronic and Magnetic Properties and Tetragonal Distortion of the Heusler Alloy $Mn_2NiAl$

Year:    2011

Author:    Li-Jin Luo, Chong-Gui Zhong, Jing-Huai Fang, Peng-Xia Zhou, Yong-Lin Zhao, Xue-Fan Jiang

Journal of Atomic and Molecular Sciences, Vol. 2 (2011), Iss. 4 : pp. 368–376

Abstract

The crystal structure, tetragonal distortion, magnetism, electronic structure and pressure response of $Mn_2NiAl$ are calculated by first-principles method based on the density functional theory. The calculations show, the equilibrium structure of $Mn_2NiAl$ in the cubic austenitic phase is the MnMnNiAl structure with Mn atoms occupy $A$ and $B$ sites and two Mn atoms occupy inequivalent positions. In the process of transform  from a cubic to a tetragonal structure, $Mn_2NiAl$ alloys exhibit a stable martensitic phase near $c/a = 1.24.$ In both the austenite and martensite phases, Mn atoms are the main contributors to the magnetism in $Mn_2NiAl,$ $Mn_2NiAl$ alloys show ferrimagnetism due to antiparallel but unbalanced magnetic moments of Mn(A) atom and Mn(B) atom. The direct $d-d$ exchange interactions between Mn(A) atom and Mn(B) atom are weak because of small overlap of $d$-projected DOS of Mn(A) atom and Mn(B) atom nearby the Fermi level, but the intra-atomic interactions in Mn atoms are strong, this is the reason why the $Mn_2NiAl$ alloys show ferrimagnetism. The findings strongly suggests that $Mn_2NiAl$ alloys would behave like a magnetic shape memory alloy.

You do not have full access to this article.

Already a Subscriber? Sign in as an individual or via your institution

Journal Article Details

Publisher Name:    Global Science Press

Language:    English

DOI:    https://doi.org/10.4208/jams.021911.041411a

Journal of Atomic and Molecular Sciences, Vol. 2 (2011), Iss. 4 : pp. 368–376

Published online:    2011-01

AMS Subject Headings:    Global Science Press

Copyright:    COPYRIGHT: © Global Science Press

Pages:    9

Keywords:    first-principles tetragonal distortion martensite phase transformation ferrimagnetism.

Author Details

Li-Jin Luo

Chong-Gui Zhong

Jing-Huai Fang

Peng-Xia Zhou

Yong-Lin Zhao

Xue-Fan Jiang

  1. New insights into the crystal structure and physical properties of the antiferromagnetic Mn2MAl (M = Fe, Co, Ni) alloys

    Chernov, E. D.

    Filanovich, A. N.

    Shreder, E. I.

    Marchenkov, V. V.

    Stashkova, L. A.

    Lukoyanov, A. V.

    Applied Physics A, Vol. 130 (2024), Iss. 11

    https://doi.org/10.1007/s00339-024-07936-3 [Citations: 0]